“Canneries, Prince said. “They could pass out copies to their fishermen. In case he tried to hitch a ride downriver.

“Most of the canneries are closed for the winter, Liam said shortly.

“Oh. Right.

“Shit, Liam said.

They thanked Leonard for the loan of the four-wheelers, made vague noises when he asked them what they had discovered, and got the hell out of there.

The Cessna 185 had been in the air less than twenty minutes when the call came in. Liam, as usual preoccupied with holding the plane up in the air by sheer effort of will, didnt hear it until Prince turned up the volume. “This is eight-two Victor November to the distress call, say again?

A calm, confident female drawl repeated, “This is Alaska Airlines one-three-three calling any small aircraft in the area of Nenevok Creek.

Prince and Liam exchanged glances, and simultaneously looked down at their watches. It was seven minutes past six. “Whats the last flight into Anchorage? Liam said.

Prince keyed the mike while Liam looked up through the windshield, trying to locate the other plane. “Alaska one-three-three, this is Cessna eight-two Victor November. I am twenty minutes out of Kagati Lake on a heading for Newenham. How may I assist you?

“Eight-two Victor November, this is Alaska one-three-three, I have received a distress call from someone in Nenevok Creek. I repeat, I have intercepted a distress call from Nenevok Creek. The caller did not identify himself.

“Alaska one-three-three, eight-two Victor November, did he identify the problem?

“Eight-two Victor November, Alaska one-three-three, he said someone had been shot and that they need help now.

Prince looked at Liam, who was already unfolding the map. She watched his forefinger locate Kagati Lake and trace a line south-southeast, until it stopped at Nenevok Creek.

He looked up. Her face was flushed, her eyes were bright and it looked as if her short dark hair was curling into even tighter curls. “Go, he said.

She stood the plane on one wingtip and keyed the mike at the same time. “Alaska Airlines one-three-three, this is Alaska State Trooper Diana Prince on board eight-two Victor November. Well take it from here. Eight-two Victor November out.

NINE

Nuklunek Bluff, September 2

“Well, hell, Wy said grumpily. “I wasnt that late.

The fishermen at the lodge had been packed and waiting for pickup. She had deposited them in Newenham, refueled and flown straight back to the overgrown strip on the edge of the bluff. She found the camp easily, festooned with tents and a card table and bagged moose and caribou haunches, and congratulated herself on the fact that it was barely half an hour past the time she had said she would be there.

She climbed out and no one was there. She walked to the camp and it appeared deserted. She was confused until she saw the two cases of beer, one empty and the other halfway there.