Jeff and Marcy Ninkasi, friendly with everyone, sold beer to everyone, and still would if UNESCO declared the entire lower Kenai a World Heritage Site or RPetCo turned the Bay into the next North Slope. Didn’t live in the neighborhood so no stake in the right of way controversy. Outer edge.

Hilary Houten. Rival archeologist. Liam had seen the dislike between the two of them at Backdraft and the Chamber and heard of it at the party. Houten had forty years on Berglund and Berglund had at least a hundred pounds on Houten. Brillo said Berglund had been struck hard on the side of the head and that the rest of his injuries might have come afterward. Liam couldn’t imagine a scenario involving a physical confrontation between the two, certainly not one that ended with Berglund dead. But professional jealousy was a powerful motivator. He put Houten’s name on a square next to Berglund’s.

Aiden Donohoe and wife Shirley. Classic Alaska Boomer. Dismissive of Berglund’s alleged discoveries. Didn’t live in the neighborhood but would undoubtedly want to cater to Blewestown’s most famous citizen. If Blue Jay Jefferson had just donated fifty large to the Chamber to spur development along, what fantastic sum could be hoped for from Gabe McGuire? That would be worth at least one phone call to the borough in support of vacating the right of way. Wouldn’t hurt Donohoe’s feelings any to see Berglund and his touchy-feely notions of preserving the Bay for all posterity dead and gone, but he wouldn’t at all like a murder tarnishing the rep of his perfect little community by the sea, either. Outer edge, with Shirley, who ran a local beauty salon.

And speaking of Blue Jay Jefferson. Another quintessential Alaskan old fart, like Moses Alakuyak, yet not at all like that obstreperous old timer. For one thing Jefferson was white and Moses had been Yupiq, and although Moses would have repudiated the notion in incendiary language a gulf of privilege would have separated the two. According to Ms. Petroff, Blue Jay Jefferson was a boomer, a charter member of the Spit and Argue Club, a former state legislator, chair of (pick one) the Alcohol Beverage Control board, the Alaska Industrial Development and Economic Authority, and the state Republican Party. In his day he’d been a lobbyist for every oil company who’d punched a hole anywhere in the state. He’d been set to run for governor until he came out against the PFD and it was too much to ask Alaskans to vote for someone who wanted to sideline their gravy train. Boomers like Jefferson and Donohoe regarded any economic activity as good economic activity. Pissed at Berglund for holding that up, but again, another creaky old guy who barely had enough strength to stand up on his own two legs. Outer edge.

Alexei and Kimberley Petroff went right into separate boxes next to Berglund before Liam even thought about it, based on nothing but his interview with them the day before. There was something there, he just didn’t know what. Yet.