7

The ride back to Quinton was a killer. Traffic out of the city was a parking lot of red taillights, wind blowing dirt and debris onto the cars and roadways. Stoically, lifelessly, Jonathan sat at the helm, eyes fixed ahead-an inert driving machine. Decker hadn’t meant to, but he found his eyes closing. When he opened them next, the van was pulling off the highway. His mouth tasted like sawdust, his stomach long past hungry. He just felt empty.

Jonathan handed him a bottle of water. Decker drank voraciously.

“Thanks.”

“I’ve got some fruit in back. Apples, pears, oranges.”

Decker reached over and devoured an apple in four bites. He then went to work on a pear.

“I should have bought you a sandwich,” Jonathan remarked. “I’m sorry.”

“No, this is fine.” Decker finished the bottle. “I’ll be hungry for Shabbat. I’m sure the Lazaruses will have plenty of food to help me out.”

“That’s true.”

They zipped past Liberty Field.

Decker started peeling an orange. “Are you coming into Brooklyn?”

“For Shabbos? Yes. Mrs. Lazarus invited my parents. I told Raisie we needed to be there for you.”

“That’s all right, Jon. I’m used to it-”

“Actually, that’s a lie. It isn’t for you; it’s for me, Akiva. I need to see you in a different context, in a family context. I have real misgivings about this whole thing… dragging you into it. I don’t know what I was thinking. I called in a moment of weakness.”

“That’s what family’s for.”

“So far, it’s been very one-sided. You’ve never once called me for a favor.”

“That’s because I’m an oldest child. I dispense; I don’t take.”

“But we’re all adults.”

“It’s ingrained patterns, Jon, and I’m okay with it. My boys are coming in for the weekend. If they weren’t here, I might not have come. But they are coming, and I’m here, and let’s all make the most of it.”

“You’re being charitable. That’s my job, not yours.”

Within minutes, they made the transition to the poorer side of the tracks. The van cut through the near-empty roadways. Decker’s wristwatch read two-thirty. “When does Shabbos start?”

“Five-thirty.”

“And how long will it take us to get back to Brooklyn?”

“At least an hour, maybe longer. Why?”

“If we have time, I’d like to stop by the Quinton Police… ask a few questions.”

“That’ll be tight, although we’ve been making record time.” Jonathan turned onto the Liebers’ street, then pulled the van curbside. “You’ve never met Minda. She’s difficult under the best of circumstances.”

“I’ll tread lightly.”

“It won’t matter,” Jonathan stated flatly. “She’s just who she is.” He got out and slammed the car door. Decker winced at the noise, then opened the passenger door and stepped out. He had to fast-walk to keep up with his brother. Jon was resentful. So that made two of them.

Chaim opened the door even before Jonathan knocked. “She’s awake, but it isn’t good, Yonasan. I think we should call the doctor.”

“Can we come in first?” Jonathan asked.

“Oh, sure, sure.” Chaim had put on a freshly starched shirt. He had bathed, too. Even though he was technically in mourning for his brother, the official period usually didn’t start until after the funeral. Plus, it was permissible to bathe before the Sabbath. Lieber stepped away from the threshold. Everyone went inside.

Chaim said, “What did you find out?”

Decker sat down on one of the twelve dining-room chairs. “Are you talking to me?”

“Yes, of course. Weren’t you with the police all this time?”

“For most of the time, yes.”

“So what did you find out?”

Decker rubbed his forehead. “Mr. Lieber-”

“Chaim.” He began to pace. “What is this? We’re family. Why are you calling me Mr. Lieber? Is it bad news?”

“Right now, it’s no news,” Decker said.

“But you were there for four hours.”

“Three,” Jonathan said. “There was a lot of travel time-”

“Three, four… you must have learned something!” Lieber spun around and faced Decker with fiery eyes. “What did the police tell you? Anything at all?”

“It’s at the very early stages of the investigation-”

“Ach!” Lieber waved him off. “C’mon, c’mon. Now you’re stalling-”

“Chaim!” Jonathan broke in. “If he knew something, don’t you think he’d tell you?”

“I’ll tell you one thing,” Decker said. “I saw the crime scene. I can’t swear to it, but, personally, I don’t think Shaynda was in the hotel room with your brother.”

“So where was she? Where is she?”

“That I don’t know.”

“C’mon! She’s an innocent! Where would she go?”

“I don’t know, Chaim,” Decker said. “I’m from L.A., not New York. I guarantee you the police are looking for her.”

“Ach!”

Decker’s head pounded. He tried a different approach. “Chaim, can I take a look at Shaynda’s room, please?”

“Why?”

“Just to get a feel for the girl.”

A shrill voice barked out Chaim’s name. He looked up at the staircase. “I’ll be right up, Minda.”

“I’m coming down. Who are you talking to?”

“The detective.”

“What does he want?” A woman materialized on the staircase. Her head was wrapped in a towel; her body was covered head to toe in a black caftan. Her eyes were swollen pink and raw, her skin red and blotchy. Her fingers played with one another-constant motion.

Chaim bounded up the stairs and offered the woman his arm. She shook it off. “I’m not an invalid!” She stared at Decker with feral eyes. “Did you find her?”

Chaim said, “This is my wife, Minda-”

“He knows who I am. Who else would I be? Did you find her?”

“No, Mrs. Lieber, not yet.”

“So what are you doing here?” She glared at him. “If you didn’t find her, why are you here?”

“I wanted to look in Shaynda’s room, Mrs. Lieber. It will give me a better understanding of who she was.”

“I don’t have time for this kind of nonsense.” Once she reached the ground floor, she began to pace like a caged feline. “Just get out there and find her.”

“Going through her room might help me find her, Mrs. Lieber.”

“No, it won’t help you find her because she shares a room and I’ve already cleaned it and it’s right before Shabbos and I’ve got a lot on my mind. I don’t need another person under this roof! Chaim, why are you still here? You’re going to be late for Mincha!”

“I’m trying to get ready, Minda.” Abruptly, Lieber turned to Decker. “Will you please leave?”

Jonathan’s face was beyond shocked. He was clearly appalled. “Chaim, don’t speak to him like that. You asked me to bring him out here!”

“Then maybe I made a mistake.”

“Maybe you did,” Decker said quietly.

Suddenly, Minda broke into tears. She screamed, “Just get out of my way. That’s what I need. I need everyone to get out of my way!”

Decker sighed and tried to think like a professional. A girl’s life was at stake. “Just let me have a quick look-”

“There’s nothing in the house!” Minda insisted. “Don’t you think I’d tell you if I found something.”

“I’m not saying you overlooked anything on purpose.”

“She’s out there!” Minda’s voice was high and squeaky. “Why are you here? Go look out there and do some good! Search the streets!” Her eyes became globes of fire. “Why can’t you find her?”

“I’m doing what I can-”

“No, you’re not. You’re here instead of out there!”

“Because of the lateness of the hour, Mrs. Lieber, I think my time would be better spent here.”

“What do you care about the lateness of the hour? Shabbos isn’t your problem.”

That sure put Decker in his place. “What does that mean?”

She glared at him. “Don’t play stupid with me! You know what it means.”

Decker was so angry he could barely focus. He willed himself to keep his voice under control. “Yes, Mrs. Lieber, I suppose I do know what it means. Shabbat shalom.”