“I never mentioned Sarah Sanders to him.”

“I told younotto talk to him. Stone told younotto talk to him. The DA told younotto talk to him.”

“Actually, it was justimpliedthat I shouldn’t talk to him.”

Brill almost spat at me. “I just drove down here for nothing becauseyoujust fucked up the case.”

“I didn’t want Renaldes to go down for a rape he didn’t commit.”

“You fucked upeverything!”His eyes tore into mine. “Do you have a single brain cell in your head, Decker?”

I crossed my arms, my eyes slicing into Justice’s orbs. My voice was low and menacing. “Someone shot at me, Brill. You think I’m going to wait around and let some dickhead DA call the moves when it’s my life on the line? So yeah, I went and talked to Renaldes. I wanted to know who was using me for target practice. And if he couldn’t tell me that, at least maybe he’d lead me to the Nova. Which he did.”

“You’re an idiot!”

“You say idiot, I say survivor. The tag line here is I’m pretty sure I can get Renaldes to roll against Fedek and Chatlin. If we get Renaldes and El Paso telling the same story, we can probably lock up Fedek and Chatlin for a very long time with charges of rape and attempted murder of a police officer, and that’s whatIwant because one or both of those assholes tried to kill me!”

I was covered in ripe sweat. Brill was still glaring at me, but the intensity was gone. He said, “So what do we do with the DA?”

“We tell him that we got El Paso to confess and name names. Then we tell him that we’re going to visit Renaldes and bring him on board. We know he’ll cooperate because he didn’t participate in the rape. So that means we’ve got El Paso’s and Renaldes’s testimonies against Fedek and Chatlin. And we can tell the DA that we found out about Renaldes because El Paso gave him up. That’s it! Done! Okay?”

“No. Not okay. If you ever, ever, ever pull shit like this again, you’re going to be writing traffic tickets for a very long time.”

“I am duly warned-”

“I mean it, Decker!”

I lowered my eyes, then returned them to Justice’s face. “I know you do. Thank you for going with me on this.”

“Who said I’m going with you?” The rage had returned to his eyes. “If I back you up, you’ll owe me big time.”

I spoke softly and with deference. “I know and I will return the favor. I am nothing if not loyal.”

“Maybe sooner than you think.” His eyes moved up and down my body.

“No, no, no,” I said. “That is out of the question.”

A smile came across his lips. “What on earth are you talking about, Decker?”

I wasn’t amused. “Sorry. My head’s a little scrambled.”

“I think so.” He rubbed his forehead. “If shit falls, I’m not getting dirty.”

“I’ll take the crap.”

“For a two-year vet, you’ve got steel. I’m surprised.” Brill’s eyes tore into my face. “You know what I think? I think you had help with Renaldes. And I think you know what kind of help I’m talking about. Or should I saywhoI’m talking about.”

“And I think you should ask El Paso about Fedek and Belinda Syracuse.”

A blank look.

“The hit-and-run I witnessed?”

“Oh, that.” He was taken aback. “Why would Fedek have anything to do with Belinda Syracuse?”

“Both Belinda and Sarah Sanders lived at Fordham Community Center. Maybe Sarah told Belinda about the rape. Maybe Belinda was about to go to the cops.”

“You have nothing to back that up. The hit-and-run was a different vehicle and a different MO. Why would a shit like Fedek take out Belinda with a car instead of a gun?”

“You’re probably right, Justice, but it’s still a remote possibility. Just throw it at El Paso and Renaldes and let them deny it.”

“You’re full of good ideas today.” His expression was sour. “Why thefuckam I putting up with you?”

“Maybe because you want me for your partner instead of that piece of dead meat you’ve been riding with for the last eighteen months.”

“Henry’s not dead meat.”

“Henry is two months from retirement. When was the last time he put himself on the line?”

Justice frowned. “I don’t want you. You’re too damn impetuous. You need to slow down.”

“So be my rabbi, Justice.” I sighed. “Forget it. We’d better get back to El Paso.”

“Yeah, we’ve been gone so long, he probably thinks we’re doing it.” He smiled. “There’s still time.”

I held in a scream. “Brill, stop trying to get play. I’ve got a very serious boyfriend; you’ve got a wife; let’s both be constructive, all right?”

He continued to stare at me.

“You want me to partner with you. I’m dying to do it. But if I have to worry about this kind of garbage, I’m going to ask for a transfer. And then they’ll ask why.”

He thought about it and shrugged. “You still owe me.”

“I know, I know…” I patted his shoulder. “Patience, Brill. The time will come. It always does. Shall we get a move on?”

He pointed to the door. “Ladies first.”

I went first.

It was nice to know that chivalry wasn’t dead. It just had been redefined.

43

As summer waned,bleeding out the last bits of extended daylight, I found that time took on an urgency of purpose, all the pressure self-imposed, of course, because no one was rushing me to the next step. But there I was on the threshold, one foot in the air, ready to cross the line. When I pulled up at my father’s house that radiant Sunday morning, I still had reservations. Someone, please tell me what important decisions were ever made easily?

He answered the door, a surprised look on his face. “Hi, baby. Did you tell me you were coming?”

“Nope. This is a pop-in, one of those times I get to catch you in dirty clothes and in need of a shave.”

He stroked his chin. “The shave, yes; the clothes are clean. Come in, honey.”

Dad was in a white T-shirt and jeans. I wore white cotton pants and a deep green blouse-the type of outfit that could be for business or pleasure. I continued to stand outside. “How are you doing?”

“I’m fine.” He was perplexed. “Any reason you’re still at the door?”

“How about we take a walk?”

My father’s expression turned more quizzical. “If you want privacy, I’m the only one home.”

“In that case…” I came into the living room-quiet and peaceful. “Where is everyone?”

“Rina and the kids went to an Israel rally in town.”

“And you?”

“What can I say? My Zionistic fervor can’t compete with Sunday baseball.” He smiled. “Sometimes I just need to do something mindless. Let someone else handle the strategy while I criticize.”

“Boy, do I know that feeling. You work hard, Dad, you’re entitled.”

The Loo studied my face. “Cindy, you look bothered. Is everything all right?”

“Great. I haven’t had a street dream in two months. Pretty good, no?”

Decker frowned. “Very good, except I didn’t know you were having them.”

“Well, they’re gone, so why worry you?” I smiled. “No feedback yet on my application to Detectives. But at this point, I’ll assume that no news is good news.”

“It’s early, and by that I mean early in your career. If it comes, great. If not, don’t be the least discouraged, especially not after what you did with those punks Chatlin and Fedek.”

“It was Brill’s bust.”

“It was your legwork. Even Brill’s not denying it.”

“Yeah, Brill’s been okay.”

“Sit down.”

“You know, I’d rather stand. I’m a little antsy.”

My father studied me. “If it isn’t work, it must be personal. Is everything all right with Koby?”

“Great.” I didn’t make eye contact with him. “We’re planning some vacation time together. We’re going away.”

“Fabulous. Where?”

“Israel.”

“What?” Dad was horrified. “Now?”

“Yes, now.” I took in Decker’s worried eyes. “Koby wants me to meet his family.Iwant to meet his family.”