Page 141 of One Last Stand

“Hey, Oak,” Axel said. “Nice wheels.”

“Thought I’d need something sturdy for Alaska.”

“Couldn’t have gone with a Ford?” Axel said. “Just sayin’.”

“Leave the rock star alone,” Moose said.

Oaken smiled, shook his head. “I was coming to meet Boo, but she texted to say we’re meeting at your place?”

“Engagement party,” said Axel.

“About time,” Oaken said. He stuck his hand out the window, grabbed Moose’s in a handshake.

So maybe it hadn’t been a terrible idea to say yes to the reality show last fall. Yes, it had had some serious ripple effects—like Tillie’s ex tracking her down, and maybe London’s past also finding her. But it had also given Boo a future, and they’d tracked down a serial killer, and Axel had miraculously found someone who could put up with him. Okay, that wasn’t fair—Axel was a catch. He just needed the right person.

They all did.

“I’ll follow you to the house,” Oaken said.

Moose headed over to his truck and threw his bag in the back. Axel had gotten into the passenger seat. The lights of the city shone upon wet pavement, a slight wind off Cook Inlet sprinkling snow like fairy dust into the air.

“I think Shep might be leaving us,” Axel said quietly as they drove up the highway. “He offered to sell me his condo.”

Moose looked at him. “Really? I thought he’d taken it off the market.”

Axel lifted a shoulder. “I don’t know. He seemed pretty jazzed about it, so maybe he’s headed back to Montelena?”

“He’s been in love with London for years, I think. I don’t know why I didn’t see it before, but yeah, once you find the one . . . well, if I were him, I would do anything to be with the woman I loved.”

“Even give up Air One?”

Moose looked at Axel. Frowned. “What are you saying?”

Silence.

They turned off the highway onto Moose’s road.

“Are you thinking of leaving too?” The question sat in Moose’s gut.

“What? No. Just thinking about how life can turn, just like that. And what you do when it does.”

“I think you stand on what you know. Circumstances and even life plans aren’t your foundation, right? God is,” Moose said. “So I guess, yes, I’d give up Air One if I had to. But I think Tillie is happy in Anchorage, so . . .”

They’d turned down Moose’s driveway, dark, the trees hovering overhead. It occurred to him as they drew closer to the house that the motion lights hadn’t flicked on. Maybe a fuse was out.

He pulled up, Oaken’s headlights behind him, and then Oaken pulled up next to him. The house sat in darkness, the front porch light off.

“The power out?” Oaken said as he got out. He’d turned his cell phone light on.

“Guess so. Happens sometimes after a storm.” Moose grabbed his gear. “I’ll check on the fuses in the garage before the ladies get here.”

He walked up the front steps, pressed the key code for the door, and let himself in, followed by Axel and Oaken.

He missed Hazel’s cheery voice greeting him when he walked in the door. Tomorrow wouldn’t be soon enough.

He tried the light. Nothing.Weird. “The house is off too.”

“Where’s the fuse box?” Oaken said. “I’ll take a look.”

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