“Hell, Teddy said, “we deserve six, and opened the case of Miller Genuine Draft with bloodstained hands.

Newenham, September 1

Liam did what he had to do without compunction, without reconsideration, without, in fact, any thought of his sworn oath to uphold the law and Constitution and parental rights. He ordered his usual fatburger and fries at Bills and ate them to the accompaniment of Bills countdown of Things to Be Done While Im Gone. The recipient of all this good advice, Dottie Takak, took it as she took most things in life, stolidly, silently, without question or expression on her wide brown face. Shed been cooking for Bill for nine years, shed subbed for Bill when Bill went on Costco runs to Anchorage, when Bill and Moses took time out for trysts during walrus hunts or purse seining or New Years jaunts to the Kenai Princess Lodge, where once Bill claimed she had actually talked Moses onto cross-country skis. Dottie listened stoically as Bill told her not to forget to restock the beer, wash the glasses, sweep the floor, unplug the jukebox (currently floating Ivan Nevilles “Why Cant I Fall in Love out over the room, definitely not one of Liams many problems, so he tuned it out), scrub the grill, take out the trash and lock the doors, the front and the safes. Count the till each night, keep each days take in a separate envelope, messages should be entered in the Daily Diary for Bill to peruse when she chose to return. As far as magistrating went, shed keep a schedule at ten a.m. every morning on the shortwave at the fish camp; tell the hyperventilating to call her there. If there was a murder, she might come back. Otherwise, they could wait.

Finally Bill ran down. Dottie, still silent, took the list and vanished into the kitchen. Bill looked at Liam. “You werent gone long. She found a saltshaker and passed it over the counter.

He anointed his fries. Could never have too much salt on potatoes and popcorn. He could feel Bills eyes on his face as he continued to eat.

“What happened? she said.

He rubbed a fry in the pile of salt on his plate. “Case Ive got.

“You werent gone long enough to acquire a new case, she said. “Must be one of the old ones.

He ate the fry.

“What, Im supposed to guess?

“No, he said, swallowing. He put half his burger down, his appetite gone. “Just this woman, beat up on her son, she came back into town carrying a court order says she can visit him. Its limited, supervised, but...

“What pea-brain judge signed that order?

“Legere.

Bills snort said that she shared Liams opinion of the jurist in question.

“The kids terrified of her, doesnt want to have anything to do with her, and hes just starting to settle in where hes at now. This is really going to shake him up.

“Whos got him?

Liam raised his eyes. “Wy.