Not only was the gold nugget missing that had sat on the burlwood table for seventy years, but walrus bookends carved from jade, a hair clasp made of ivory and baleen carved in the shape of a whale, the ivory tusks that had hung from one wall, the collection of Yupik ivory animal charms from the mantelpiece, and a couple of the masks. Leonard pointed out the empty nails on the walls, his face dark with rage. “Somebody must have been ripping us off, and Opal caught him. Son of a bitch! He rounded on Liam and said fiercely, “You got any idea who did this?

“No, Liam said.

Leonard glared. “Then what good are you?

Prince opened her mouth and Liam waved her to silence. “Ill need the names and locations of all your neighbors, Mr. Nunapitchuk.

“Oh bullshit, Leonard said. “Aint one of them going to do something like this. Weve been living side by next to most of them for years.

“Any of them you dont get along with?

“No!

“Dad, one of the sons said. “What about Dusty Moore?

“Whos he? Liam said.

Leonards lips tightened, and the son said, “Dad and Dusty have been mad at each other for ten years, ever since Mom won the postmasters contract. Dusty wanted it, and he wasnt a good loser.

“He make any threats?

“He made threats all over the place, Leonard said, “but he wouldnt kill over something like this.

To the son Liam said, “Do you have a map of the area, with the settlements marked?

“You going to try finding them tonight?

“No, we have to get your mothers body back to Newenham tonight so we can get it into Anchorage first thing tomorrow morning.

“I can do that, sir, Prince said, and from the expression on her face immediately regretted it. Shed rather be in hot pursuit than ferrying a body.

To Wy Liam said, “You give me a ride back in the morning?

She hesitated. “What about Tim?

Hed completely forgotten about Tim, and the reminder made him uncomfortable. “Tim, he said. “Right. He turned to Prince. “Give Bill a call, tell her to tell Moses that hes got baby-sitting duty.

Prince nodded crisply. Natalie Gosuk had never mentioned Wys name, so Prince had probably not made the connection, Natalie to Tim to Wy. Liam was relieved. Prince was a straight arrow. She wasnt going to take kindly to him helping to flout a court order, and he would just as soon put that evil day off as long as possible.

“Certainly, sir, she said.

“Okay? he said to Wy.

“Okay. To Prince she said, “Tell Bill to tell Moses to tell Tim Ill be back before noon tomorrow.

Prince nodded.

“About that map, Liam said to the son.

Later, the dinner dishes cleared away, Liam and Wy stepped outside to allow the family to mourn in private. “Poor Leonard, Wy said.

“I would have said, poor Opal.

Wy shook her head. “Thats not what I meant. This is the second time in eight years hes lost a member of his family.