Northern Lights

deposited after he left that time. If there was any big money, which I tend to doubt, he might've banked it there, or just as likely stuffed it in a shoe box."
    "I'll go with Ed on the second," Hopp said. "Pat never did think twice about money."
    "People who come from it usually don't." Ed gave a shrug. "Then there's us," he said with a wink at Hopp, "who have to do some finagling if we want to have a town library."
    "I'll let you get back to that." Nate scooted out. "Thanks for the time."
    "He ought to spend his time on town business." Ed shook his head as he lifted his coffee.
    "I guess he figures this is."
    "We need May Day, Hopp, if we're going to get that library."
    "Agreed. So far he's keeping it low-key. He's just going to have to see
    it through until he's satisfied it was Max who killed Pat. Tenacious Ignatious," she said. "That's how I'm thinking of him these days. Boy just won't let go. It's a good quality to have in your chief of police."
     
     
    JACOB HAD BEEN RIGHT: Some people wouldn't talk to cops. Even with Jacob there, Nate hadn't been able to squeeze any more juice out of the trip he took to Anchorage.
    Not that it was a wasted trip.
    He hadn't gone to see Coben. He should have, he admitted as Jacob skimmed over the lake. He should have taken the earring in, but he hadn't.
    He wanted a little more time there. A little more time to pull it together.
    He let his shoulders relax when the plane was on the water. "Thanks for going with me. You want me to secure the plane? You coming in?"
    "You know how?"
    "It's a boat with wings at this point. I know how to secure a boat to dock."
    Jacob nodded toward Meg, who walked down to meet them. "You have other business."
    "Yeah, I do. See you later then."
    He stepped out onto the flotation, praying he didn't lose his balance and mortify himself by pitching into the lake. But he stepped safely on one end of the dock just as Meg stepped on the other.
    "Where's he going?" she called out, when Jacob glided away.
    "Said there was other business." He reached for her hand. "You're back early."
    "No, you're back late. It's nearly eight."
    He looked up at the sky, still bright as noon. "I'm not used to it yet. Woman, where's my supper?"
    "Ha ha ha. You can throw a couple of moose burgers on the grill."
    "Moose burgers, a personal favorite."
    "You get anything more in Anchorage?"
    "No, at least not investigationally. And how was your day?"
    "Actually, I was in Anchorage briefly myself. And since I was there, I happened to wander into this shop where they happened to have wedding dresses."
    "Really?"
    "Stop grinning. I'm still firm on not wanting a big, fancy deal. Just a wild party right here at the house. But I decided I do want a kick-ass dress. One that'll make your eyes pop out."
    "Did you find it?"
    "That's for me to know and you to find out." She stepped up on the porch ahead of him, then gave him a smacking kiss. "I like my moose burger well-done and the bun lightly toasted."
    "Check. But before we dine, I did a little marriage shopping today myself."
    "Oh yeah?"
    "Oh yeah." He pulled the ring box out of his pocket. "Guess what this is."
    "Mine. Gimme."
    He flipped the top open and had the pleasure of seeing her eyes pop when she saw the full-cut solitaire flanked by sparkling channel cuts on a platinum band.
    "Holy shit!" She grabbed it out of the box, held it aloft and jumped off the porch. She danced around the yard, crowing out sounds he took as approval.
    "Does that mean you like it?"
    "Sparkly!" She spun laughing circles all the way back to him. "This, Chief Burke, is a ring. How much did it set you back?"
    "Jesus, Meg."
    She kept laughing, like a loon. "I know, tacky. And I don't really want to know. It's a killer, Nate, an absolute killer. It's stupid and extravagant, so it's perfect. Absolutely perfect."
    She held it out, then dropped it into his open palm. "Okay, put it on me, and hurry up."
    "Excuse me, but can we have a little dignity for this part?"
    "I think we've already crossed the point of no return on that." She wiggled her fingers. "Come on. Give it up."
    "Good thing I didn't wrack my brain trying to come up with something poetic to say when I did this." He slipped it on her finger where it sparkled insanely. "Be careful you don't put your eye out with that thing."
    "When do I go splat?"
    "Sorry?"
    "I just keep falling more and more in love with you. When do I finally hit bottom and go splat?" She framed his face in the way that always made his