“I can sit on your lap the whole meal?”

“Most of the meal.”

The child stared at her mother. Rina took her hand. “He’ll come, Hannah. He just has a few details-”

“I know, I know,” she interrupted. “I hope Grandma will bake with me.”

“I’m sure Grandma will bake with you.”

“I like her cookies.”

“She makes very good cookies.”

“We’re here.” Jonathan scanned the various areas to park. Most of the signs registered full. “It’s going to be tough finding a space.”

“Just drop us off,” Rina told him. “We’ll be fine.”

Decker said, “You’ve got a heavy suitcase.”

“I’ll manage,” Rina answered. “There’s a spot right over there, Jonathan. Pull over and drop us off.”

Decker knew she was upset. “I’ll help-”

“I don’t need help.” Rina tried to keep the tension out of her voice. It wasn’t working. “I need you to be okay.”

“I’m okay.”

“You don’t look okay.” Then she silenced herself. Jonathan eased the van curbside. Rina bounded out and lifted open the hatch.

Decker was at her side. “I’ll get it.”

“I can get it-”

He held her arm. “Rina, please, don’t be this way. I love you. Please!”

Her heart relented. Gently, she touched his eye. “Does it hurt a lot?”

“Not nearly as much as your anger.”

She kissed him softly. “I love you. So do your children. And your parents. And your sibling… siblings. You have lots of people who love you.”

“I know that.” He grabbed the suitcase handle and hefted the valise out of the van. “I’m not going to do anything stupid.”

“I hope you mean that. I’m skeptical of your story about being punched.”

“You think I’m lying?”

“The verdict’s still out.” Rina yanked up the handle and wheeled the suitcase over to the entrance, showing the security guard the tickets.

Decker picked up his daughter and gave her a big hug. “I love you, muffin.”

“I love you, too.” She kissed his cheek. “I’ll miss you.”

“Take care of your mother.”

“I think she’s ’posed to take care of me.”

“How about if you take care of each other? Sound good?”

“I guess.”

Decker lowered his daughter to the sidewalk. Rina hugged Jonathan, then kissed her husband. “We’ve got to go.”

Jonathan offered Rina ten dollars. “Tzedaka money.”

Rina took the bill. “Next time, Jonathan, it will be under better circumstances. Auf simchas.”

“Amen!”

Decker kissed his daughter, then his wife. “I love my girls. Take care.”

Rina took Hannah’s hand in her right, the luggage in her left, and fast-walked through the glass doors. After standing in a line for check-in, she made it through security with time to spare.

The flight had been delayed.

But in this case, the respite was welcome. She took a hard bench seat in the terminal. Hannah unleashed her backpack from her shoulders, took out a book, and began to read.

“Do you want something to eat?” Rina asked her.

“No, Eema, I’m fine.”

Rina sat back and closed her eyes. Then they sprang open, and she bolted upright.

“Are you okay?” Hannah asked her.

“Uh…” Think of something quick. “I forgot something. Not important. I’ll get it at Grandma’s.”

Hannah shrugged and went back to her book. Rina chided herself. How could she possibly relax? This afternoon, someone had fired bullets in her direction-although the shots were clearly meant for Donatti… most likely meant for Donatti. Or…

A warning for Peter?

The problem was that she just didn’t know!

If she wanted resolution, she was going to have to out-Peter Peter in the legwork department, because there was only one way to find out.

“I have to make a private call, Hannaleh.”

The little girl looked up.

“I’m going to move a couple of seats away.”

“I won’t listen, Eema.”

“I know, sweetheart. But it’s better if you don’t hear.” Rina took an empty seat across from her, then fished the cell phone from her purse. Randy answered right away.

“Hey, sis. You’re delayed. Big surprise, huh.”

“An hour so far. Is this going to be stressful on Mom? We’re not getting in until nearly one.”

“No, because I’m going to pick you up. I already sent Mom and Dad to bed.”

Silence.

Randy said, “What is it, Rina? Is he all right?”

“Someone punched his face, Randy.”

More silence.

“He insists on staying. I’m worried.”

“Want me to come to New York?”

“It may come to that. We’ll talk when I get there.”

“Don’t worry, Rina. He’s been around long enough to know his limits. He’s not a reckless man.”

“I hope you’re right.” She summoned up her courage. “Randy, I’m very tired. Since the flight is delayed for who knows how long, I was thinking that maybe… could you maybe just pick us up in the morning?”

Silence.

“Would that be possible?”

“Anything’s possible.”

“I figured I’ll go back to Brooklyn-”

“Rina, you’re bluffin’ me. What are you up to?”

“Randy, I need to talk to someone-”

“Who?”

She didn’t answer him. “It shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours. I’ll catch an early-morning flight. Get into Orlando around nine. Will that work?”

“Yeah, it’ll work. But I don’t like it.”

“Then you won’t like the next part, either. I don’t want Peter to know about it. I’ll call him tonight. But if he calls tomorrow to check up on things, or to talk to Hannah, can you cover for me?”

No response over the line.

“Randy-”

“I heard you. Rina, letting Pete poke around is one thing. You’re a completely different story. What in heaven’s name are you thinking?”

“Please, Randy! It’s just until tomorrow morning.” A pause.

“Please?”

“You two deserve each other.” Displeasure in his voice. “What are you going to do with Hannah?”

“I’ll take her back to Brooklyn. That’s a given-”

“You and me need to have a good, long talk when you get in tomorrow.”

“I’ll tell you everything I know. Start to finish, Randy, I promise.”

“I love that guy. He’s the only brother I got. And I’m rather fond of you.”

“I won’t do anything stupid.”

“I wish I believed that.” A pause. “Okay.” More resolute this time. “Okay, I’ll cover for you. I have to talk to Pete anyway. He asked for some information, and I may have something for him tomorrow morning.”

“He called you?”

“A couple of days ago, yeah.”

“What did he ask you about?”

“That’s not for me to say. Rina, I swear to God, you better know what you’re doing, because I’m Hannah’s legal guardian. If something happens to both of you, do you want me raising your daughter?”

Randy was on wife number four. He was making a very strong point.

“I think you’re a fine man.”

“That may be, sis, but we have differing styles. I’m bringing it down to a level you can understand.”

“I hear you. Thank you very much.”

“I’ll feel a lot better when you thank me in person.”

By the time she got back to Manhattan, it was almost midnight. To her surprise, she made it uptown in twenty minutes, amazed at how fast she could cross the city without traffic as an impediment. Still, she didn’t get out right away, sitting in Sora Lazarus’s old Honda, staring at the building. She was on a tight schedule. It was do or die. Finally, she pulled the door handle and made the plunge, locking the car with the remote. A quick glance around, then she ran over to the building’s lobby.

No listing for Donatti.

Either he was unlisted or she had the wrong numbers. By now, it was way too late to start pushing random buzzers, but having come this far, she wasn’t quite ready to admit defeat. Noting that the fifth and sixth floors were taken up by one tenant, MMO, she figured that maybe that was her best bet. But before she could depress the corresponding white button, the door barked out an irritating drone.