Decker walked a few more paces, then did a double take. Sitting at a front table, drinking and hollering like an ace, was Quinton Police chief Virgil Merrin. His ultrablond hair was plastered wet against his pink scalp, his belly jiggling as he laughed and whooped.

Decker stopped moving. “Wait a sec, Jon.”

“What?”

“Just wait here for a sec.” Decker went over to Merrin. “Hi, Merrin, remember me?”

Merrin turned and looked up. He was in civilian clothing, his face and armpits wet, his body reeking of musty sweat. He stared at Decker, his pale eyes without recognition. It could have been the bruises.

“Lieutenant Peter Decker… LAPD. I asked you some questions about Shaynda Lieber.”

“Ah! Yeah, sure, I remember you, young man.” A stare. “What happened to your face?”

“Gotta watch those baseball bats.” He smiled. “I’m kidding.”

“I hope so.” A smile, but something behind it. “Have a seat.”

“No thanks. I was on my way out.”

The chief winked at him. “I won’t tell if you won’t tell.”

Decker winked back. “How about this? You can tell-and I can tell.”

Merrin’s expression turned chilly. Decker continued to smile.

Locking eyes, but only for a few moments.

Then Decker left.

He glanced over his shoulder just the one time.

23

I know you’re upset-”

“Of course I’m upset! I’m very upset! This is horrible!”

Decker took a deep breath and let it out. “I’m sorry, honey.”

Rina wiped her eyes, then transferred the phone receiver to the other ear. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. But still, I kept hoping…”

“I know, honey, I know.”

“I don’t want to go to Florida without you, Peter. Why do you have to stay here? Can’t the police handle it?”

“Sure they can handle it.”

Silence.

Rina placed the receiver back on the original ear. Both ears were now hot. “You promise you’ll come out on Friday?”

Her disappointment was audible. Decker said, “I promise.”

“And you’ll be careful?”

“Absolutely.”

“If you truly love your daughter, you’ll take extra precautions.”

“I will.”

“Am I going to see you before Hannah and I leave?”

“Yes, of course. I just have to finish up this business in Fort Lee; then I’ll come back to Brooklyn and take you two to the airport.”

“Are you in New Jersey now?”

“No, Jonathan and I are just leaving Quinton. I’m sorry you had to find out like this. I’m sorry I couldn’t be the one to tell you.”

“It’s all right.”

“Was Chaim rude to you?”

“I didn’t speak to Chaim; I spoke to Raisie. She was wondering where you were. She told me that all of them were wondering where you were. If you’re in Quinton, why don’t they know where you are?”

“Because I’m not with them. I’m with Jonathan. We had to speak in private.”

“They said you left in a huff.”

“No.” Decker kept his patience. “Not in a huff, in a hurry. I thought it would be kinder to the family to let them grieve alone.”

But Rina was skeptical. He left because he had somewhere to go. But she didn’t push it.

Decker said, “Can you change my plane ticket or should I do it?”

“I can do it. I really wish you’d reconsider.”

“Maybe I will. Maybe I won’t last until Friday. But I’d like the option. Should I call up the airline?”

“I’ll do it, Peter.” She blew her nose. “All this arranging and rearranging. I should become a travel agent.”

“I’m sure you’d be the best.”

Rina smiled despite herself. “As long as you’re in Quinton, you should drop by Mr. Lieber’s house. I have a feeling the family would like to see you.”

“Why do you say that? Chaim practically kicked me out this morning.”

“Well, maybe Raisie would like to see you.”

“I can’t see anyone right now.” Two thirty-seven on his watch. “If we’re going to make it to the morgue in Jersey, we’re going to have to hustle. Jonathan has already spoken to Raisie, although she doesn’t know I’m in Quinton. Nobody does. Like I told you, Jon and I had to talk in private. Don’t mention my presence to anyone.”

“I won’t.”

“I don’t think I’m well regarded by anyone over there,” Decker said.

“What does that mean?”

“I’ll tell you when I see you. I’ve got to go. See you in a couple of hours.”

He hung up before she could tell him to take care.

Rina picked up the packages from the floor of the phone booth and tried to regain her composure. She had been stunned by the news, by the way she had found out. Calling up Raisie just to find out if Peter was there. Hearing all the weeping in the background. It broke her inside and out.

Leaving the city earlier than planned, Rina knew that her ride back to Brooklyn wouldn’t be ready for a couple of hours, so she told her that she’d find her own way home. She had completely lost her desire to shop or eat or do anything other than mope. Her bags were as heavy as her heart, her entire body zapped of its vital juices. All she wanted to do was go into a private corner and weep.

She went through her wallet. There was enough for a cab, but what a waste of money. Instead, she consulted a bus schedule. It was a short hop, but with all the downtown traffic, who knew how long it would take her? She began a slow trudge over to the stop. Her shaytl felt like a helmet on her head, her shoulders aching from toting around pounds of outfits. Why did she always go so overboard? As if L.A. didn’t have children’s clothing? She was a hog, just buying because it was there and because it was cheap.

Where was her restraint?

Lugging her bags as she tried to negotiate a crowded sidewalk, evading the masses of human flesh, trying to pass without bumping into people who were bumping into her. If she were honest, she’d admit that she was thrilled to be leaving. How she wished that Peter would come with Hannah and her. She hoped he would be okay. She truly hop-

Without warning, she was thrust forward with such impetus that she tripped over her feet, her head abuzz from several loud background pings and pops. She found herself flattened against the hood of a parked car, her face smashed against the hard metal, pushed down by an arm. The motion was so sudden and carried out with so much intensity, she had bitten into her lip. Blood filled her mouth. Scarcely able to breathe because something or someone was pressing down on her, covering her, smothering her with horrible, heavy weight. The force of the crash had winded her, sending a deep, searing cramp into her belly. She was gasping for air.

Then, as quickly as she was crushed, she was liberated. Pulled upward and onto her feet-dazed and confused.

“I tripped,” Donatti was telling a crowd of onlookers. He looped his right arm around Rina and drew her against his chest. “Are you okay, darling?”

One second more and she would have yelled for help. Except a sensation stopped her… something warm and wet seeping into her coat. When she looked down, she saw his left hand gripping his jacket as blood was squirting out from a tear in his clothing. Her eyes grew several diameters as her brain integrated what those pings and pops had been. Her lips parted as she opened her mouth to scream.

Donatti grabbed her neck and kissed her hard on the mouth for what seemed like minutes. In fact, it was only a few seconds. But it did the trick. It shut her up.

“Thank God you’re okay!” He liberated a handful of Hannah’s clothing from one of Rina’s packages and wedged it between his jacket and shirt. Kissing her again before turning to the stragglers still gawking at Rina. “Do you fucking mind?”

Quickly, they dispersed, embarrassed by their own curiosity. Donatti pulled her closer, snaking his hand around her shoulder. “Let’s get a cab.”

It was clear to Rina that he was using her for support. She put her arm around his waist and hailed a cab, helping him in first. Then she got in beside him, handing him another handful of clothing. Donatti acknowledged the gesture with a nod, stuffing the clothes against his wound.