The Collected Short Stories by Stabenow Dana

Author:Stabenow, Dana [Stabenow, Dana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Space colonies --Fiction., Shugak, Kate (Fictitious character) --Fiction., Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Werewolves --Fiction., Mystery., Campbell, Liam (Fictitious character) --Fiction., Mars --Fiction., Svensdotter, Star (Fictitious character) --Fiction., Alaska --Fiction.
ISBN: 9781936666973
Publisher: Gere Donovan Press
Published: 2013-06-19T16:00:00+00:00

— 4 —

Sec. 11.41.110. Murder in the second degree. (a) A person commits the crime of murder in the second degree if… (2) the person knowingly engages in conduct that results in the death of another person under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to the value of human life…

—Alaska Statutes, Alaska Marriage Code

"WAS IT ONE or both of them?”

“Who took out the life insurance policy?”

“She did.”

“Who was it through?”

Bill sighed and rolled over to snuggle her head into Moses’ shoulder. “The same people who insure the Jeri A.”

“Quinn’s boat.”

“Yes.”

“How much was the payout?”

“A million five.”

He whistled through his teeth. “Definitely for richer. You can split a million five five ways without anybody feeling short-changed.” He thought. “Given that Alaskan fishers are virtually uninsurable because of their high percentage of violent death, the premiums must have been astronomical.”

“Not as high as the payout. And they only had to pay a year’s worth.”

“Yeah. How did Reynoldson find out?”

“Somebody owed him a favor who called somebody else. Moses?”

“What?”

“I’m sorry.”

He was silent. She waited, listening to the slow, strong beat of his heart. “No,” he said finally. “You were right. It was fact of death you were looking for, not cause or manner. In law, you were absolutely right to ignore anything I said. And you didn’t know me, then.” She could hear the smile in his voice. “Can’t say that’s the case now, can you, girl?”

She sighed again. “Doesn’t make me feel any better.” Another silence. “How did he do it?”

Moses snorted. “Dying on a crabber is easy, Bill, it’s staying alive that’s hard. He probably watched, waited for just the right moment. The story they all told was most probably true, they were icing up, Horrell was using the bat, the rest of the crew was pulling and baiting pots. All Quinn had to do was wait until just the right moment to jerk the bow around crossways of the swell. The hull would thump down and the boat would roll and Horrell would lose his balance and go over. It happens often enough when it really is an accident. It would be easy to make it happen. Make it murder.”

She flinched. “I suppose that is what it is. Murder.”

“You can’t prove it.”

“That’s what Reynoldson said. What about the rest of the crew?”

“They might suspect something, you mean? Well, so they might, especially now that the boss has married the beneficiary. Suspecting is different than knowing, though, and like I said, even split five ways, there’s enough to go around with a million five.”

“You think they were in on it?”

He shrugged. “The JERI A. is one of the high boats in the Bering. Pulls a lot of pots, catches a lot of crab, makes a lot of money, pays a high crew share. They’re not going to risk losing that by accusing their captain of premeditated murder.”

She thought of Mrs. Horrell’s endless tears, which in hindsight looked more like tears of guilt than tears of sorrow. Quinn’s queasiness now looked like fear of discovery and punishment.

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