Faye Kellerman - Sanctuary

“They said specifically that someone else killed their parents?”

Tziril spoke in Hebrew. Rina said, “She said they sounded too frightened to make much sense.”

Tziril spoke again.

“She-Mrs. Yalom-asked the boys where they were. They wouldn’t say.”

“Which one did she talk to?” Decker asked.

“Both,” Tziril answered. “They talk to me for five minutes maybe. They told me they are alive and in Israel. I tried to find out where are they. But they spoke too fast. They said they will call me later. But they don’t…didn’t.” The tears came back. “I’m very frightened. Maybe something happened to them.”

Decker said, “Has anyone else been here? Anyone else asked you questions about your grandsons?”

“No. Just you. I only said I would talk to you because Oritie said you were working hard. She said I need to answer your questions. If she didn’t tell me, I would not talk to you. My grandsons were very frightened. I don’t know who I trust.”

“You’re very smart,” Decker said. “So you haven’t talked to anyone?”

“Just you.”

“And the boys didn’t say where they were?”

Tziril shook her head. “I wish I just knew they were live. If I knew, I wouldn’t…” She bit her knuckle and wiped away tears.

Decker said, “We’re on the same side, Mrs. Yalom. We want the same things.”

Again, she held her hand to her throat.

Decker said, “So the boys spoke to you for only a few minutes. They told you that someone was after them. They told you they came to Israel to hide.”

Tziril nodded.

“But you don’t know where they would go to hide.”

Again, Tziril nodded. Mr. Yalom finally spoke up. He let go with rapid Hebrew to his wife in a rough tone of voice. She waved him off. The old man got disgusted and walked off. Decker waited for Rina to translate, but it was Tziril who spoke.

“He’s very mad that I talk to you. He thinks maybe you want to kill the boys.”

“Didn’t your daughter explain me to him?”

“He says, how do we know you are the man that Orit said is all right?”

“Would you like me to speak to your daughter right now? I’ll be happy to pay for the call.”

“It’s night in America. Anyway, I trust you. How much big, very tall policeman with red hair can they be?”

Decker smiled. He was about to speak directly to Tziril, then changed his mind and spoke to Rina. “Tell her as clearly and as emphatically as you can that I am legitimate. I will show her all my identification if she wants it and give her all the proper phone numbers. But frankly, Rina, I’m very concerned that other people may come and try to talk to her.”

“Gold specifically?”

“Exactly.”

“I’m sure she knows Gold. If he comes around here asking questions, she’s not going to view him as a threat. Are you going to bring him up?”

“I’m going to have to bring him up.”

Tziril said, “I’m sorry. You speak too fast.”

Rina translated Peter’s words, Tziril nodding very seriously. Rina said, “Do you want me to mention Gold to her?”

Decker said, “Mrs. Yalom, what do you know about your son’s business partner?”

“Shaul?” Tziril scratched her arm. “Shaul called me right after…to send sympathies. We speak…spoke…for a long time. He was very hysterical. He loved Arik-”

She stopped herself.

“That isn’t the truth. No, he didn’t love Arik. He loved Dalia. He was an old, old friend of Dalia.”

“They grew up in the same neighborhood,” Decker said.

“Yes. They were good friends even though Shaul is maybe fifteen years older than Dalia. It was Dalia that made Arik give a job to Shaul. When they go…went to America, Shaul went with them.”

“They weren’t boyfriend and girlfriend before Arik met Dalia?”

“I think no. Dalia was young when she married Arik, maybe nineteen. Dalia’s father is very proper. I don’t think he’d allow Dalia to date a man so much older.”

Decker didn’t talk for a moment. Shaul Gold was certainly no stud but there was something manly about him. Maybe he’d been forbidden fruit to Dalia for years.

Then the little girl grew up.

That could certainly explain the Lexus parked outside the Yalom house. Were these murders brought about by a lovers’ triangle?

He pondered the situation:

Could be Arik shot his wife, Gold shot Arik. Then Gold dragged them both up to the mountains to bury them.

Could be Arik and Dalia decided to reconcile, Gold getting the shaft yet another time. Gold couldn’t take the rejection and shot them both.

Dalia finally got up the gumption to leave Arik. An argument ensued. Arik shot his wife. Gold burst in and shot Arik.

Or: Argument ensued. Arik shot his wife, then felt remorse and killed himself. Gold burst in, but too late.

Just what ifs.

But then why would the boys need to escape from America if the murders were the result of a messy real-life soap opera? Decker noticed he’d been silent for a long time. “So you know Shaul Gold very well?”

“Not well,” Tziril said. “But I know him.”

“If he comes here, don’t tell him anything!” Decker turned to Rina. “Can you translate that? I want to make sure she understands that completely.”

“I understand. Why you don’t want me talking to Shaul?”

To Rina, Decker said, “Will you explain to her about Gold impersonating a police officer, falsifying his identity to ask questions. Tell her he is interfering with my investigation and that could endanger her grandsons.”

Rina translated as best she could. Tziril looked surprised and worried. “That is…not the Shaul I know. He is not unhonest like that. He is always honest. Even Arik say he is honest.” She appeared thoughtful. “Arik and Shaul never liked each other. I think Shaul was…”

“Jealous?” Decker tried.

“Yes, he was jealous.”

“But you just told me you didn’t think they were boyfriend and girlfriend.”

“That doesn’t mean that Shaul didn’t have eyes. And Arik was jealous, too. Dalia married Arik. But she still made Arik take Shaul into the business.”

“Why did Arik do it?”

“He loved Dalia…and it was her father’s business. Whatever Dalia wants…” She shook her head. “Shaul knew nothing about diamonds.”

“And Arik?”

“Arik was born in the business. Our last name means diamonds. My husband’s family are in business for many, many years. Many dorot.”

“Generations,” Rina said.

“Yes, generations. We are in the diamond business for generations. Shaul?” She wiped her empty hands together in an exaggerated motion. “Nothing.”

“But Arik took Shaul into your family business?”

“Into her father’s business, yes. Until he made enough to make his own business. Moshe, my husband, was a good cutter. But Arik…he is the best. Dalia’s father was very…” She waved her hands, trying to think of the word.

“Impressed,” Decker guessed.

“Oy vay, was he impressed! He had never see a cutter as good as Arik. He make sure that Arik and Dalia meet.”

“Dalia’s father was a diamond cutter, too?”

“No, dealer. Joseph Menkovitz is still very big dealer here. He’s very rich. Arik did not like Dalia when he first met her. He said she was very spoiled. I say the girl is young. Give her time. And he did and he fell in love.”

Tziril grew thoughtful.

“Still, it was not easy for my son to please a rich girl. Dalia grew up in Rahavia…in a very big house. Two stories with a garden. Dalia likes big houses. You see their house in America?”

Decker nodded.

“Like a castle. It is only missing the water that goes around it.”