Liam was sitting on the edge of the dock, feet dangling over the side a foot above the water. Watermarks on the pilings showed that he would have been nearly up to his knees during spring runoff. “I figured youd want a six-inch strip of my hide before breakfast.

She was sitting next to him, legs dangling next to his, one foot swinging slowly back and forth, sneakered toe pointed with the elegant and unconscious grace of a ballet dancer. Her head was turned away. She seemed to be looking toward the north end of the lake. All he could see of her face was the tip of her ear, revealed by the loose braid that pulled back her dark blond hair. The morning sun picked out gold and bronze and red highlights. It was very pretty, but hed rather see her expression, have some clue as to what he was dealing with.

He sighed and faced forward. Who understood mothers?

An eagle flew high and slow straight up the center of the lake, heading for home after a summer spent fishing the rivers and streams for salmon. When winter came the eagles would have to work for a living, hunting rabbits and other small mammals, follow the ravens to a downed moose or caribou and share in the pickings, or find a Dumpster. The prospect didnt seem to worry the eagle over Kagati Lake.

Liam watched him until he was out of sight. September meant the mosquitoes were gone. They needed their jackets, though. Everythings a trade-off.

“Thank you, she said.

“Excuse me?

She turned to face him squarely. “Youre an officer of the court, sworn to uphold the Constitution, and the judicial system, enforce their powers.

“Yes, he said cautiously.

“If youd done that, you would have enforced Natalies writ.

He shifted. The plank surface of the dock was hard and far from clean. It was probably messing up the seat of his uniform pants, and his two tailor-made uniforms had seen hard use over the past summer. “Yeah. Well.

“John Barton will eat your ass if he finds out.

“John Barton eats my ass all the time anyway.

She smiled. “True. She paused. “Liam?

He stared out at the mist hovering indecisively over the surface of the lake. “Yeah?

“Thank you. She reached for his chin and pulled his face around. Her eyes stared straight into his. “Thank you.

He almost squirmed. “Yeah. Well.

“Hell be safe with Moses. And you were right, Natalie never lasts long away from the bottle. She gave a faint sigh.

“What?

Her shoulders moved up and held. “I dont hate her anymore. I feel sorry for her. She cant stay off the sauce, every time she hooks up with a guy he beats on her, and now Ive taken away her son.

“Shes a drunk and a child abuser, Liam said.

Wy smiled at him, eyes narrowed against the first direct rays of the sun, which was just cresting the V between Alayak and Outuchiwenet. “Theres the cop I know.