Faye Kellerman - Stone Kiss

“So I can keep these?”

“What do you want them for?”

“I just want to… stare at them. See if something jumps out at me. I’ll give them back before I leave.”

Novack ran his tongue over his teeth. “I suppose you look honorable enough. Sure, take them.”

“Thanks, Novack.” Decker pocketed the photos.

Rather than take a chance with the moribund elevator, they elected to walk down the ten flights of steps. The stairwells were dark, lit by a bare bulb on each floor, and rank with odors and bacteria. Decker was happy his hands were gloved. He wished his lungs had equal protection. As they stepped outside onto the sidewalk, a heavy gust of wind nearly knocked them over. Immediately, Decker’s ears were assaulted by the honking of horns and traffic. He took off his latex gloves. “You know, I can catch a cab to my brother’s shul.”

“I can drop you off-”

“Nah, it’s out of the way.”

“It’s no problem for me to take you, Lieutenant.”

“Thanks, Detective, but I’ll be fine.” Decker paused. “So you’re going to check out those twelve-step chapters-”

“Yeah, Decker, I had intentions of doing that.”

Novack was irked. Decker said, “I’m a pain in the ass, and an older one at that. That means I’m not only obsessive, but I keep asking the same questions because I’m forgetful. Be happy you’re not my wife.”

Novack smiled. “I’ll check out the chapters.”

“What about dealers? Where would a religious guy like Ephraim buy his blow?”

“Probably from the same pushers that sell to the regular crowd. Way too many dealers out there for me to narrow down.”

“Any known dealer that specifically caters to the Orthodox crowd?”

Novack thought a moment. “Okay, Decker, this is what I’m gonna do for you. I’m gonna ask Vice. I’ll translate the New York part, and you can help me out with the family part and all their religious stuff.”

“I’ll do the best I can,” Decker said. “But I’ll tell you this much. I’m not that kind of religious. Furthermore, the Chasids up in Quinton are probably biased against me because I didn’t start out religious.”

“Aha!” Novack’s eyes narrowed. “What brought about the transformation?”

“My wife.”

A smile. “Was it worth it?”

“Absolutely.”

Novack laughed. “I thought of something. It’s gross.”

“I’m not sensitive,” Decker said.

“You gave up ham to get to the pork.”

“Yeah, that’s gross,” Decker said. “Can you call me on my cell Motzei Shabbos -Saturday evening.”

“You got it.” Novack shook his hand. “ Shabbat shalom .”

“ Shabbat shalom ,” Decker answered.

Only in New York.

The ride back to Quintonwas 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.”