Faye Kellerman - Stone Kiss

“One of the father’s complaints-”

“That’d be Chaim Lieber.”

“Yes, sir,” Decker answered. “One of Rabbi Lieber’s beefs with Shayndie was that she was hanging with some of the public-school kids. Wild kids.”

“See, that’s another problem,” Merrin stated. “That’s his definition… the wild kids. What may be wild to him is harmless to us. He sees a girl in shorts during the summertime; to him, that’s a wild whore of a girl. What do you and me see? A girl that’s dressed for summer. If Shaynda Lieber was really hanging with some wild kids… then I could do something for him. Cause there is a certain element-not a bad element, per se-but a certain element. You know the story-loud, unsupervised parties, fast driving, binge drinking… and yeah, probably a toke or two. See, if I knew for certain that it was those kids, then I could maybe pay them a visit. But I think that to Rabbi Lieber, any kid on the north side is a wild kid.” His eyes went to Jonathan’s face. “See what I’m saying here, Rabbi?”

“We understand.” Decker turned to Jonathan. “Didn’t you say that Shayndie used to hang out at the mall?”

“Yes,” Jonathan answered. “The one in Bainberry.”

“All the kids on the north side hang out at the mall in Bainberry. That’s neither here nor there. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t all this hullabaloo take place in the city?”

“Yes, of course,” Decker said. “But I’m just wondering if she’s maybe hiding out with one of the north side kids.”

“Why would she do that?”

“I don’t know,” Decker said. “Maybe she saw something. Maybe she’s afraid to come home.”

“Only reason she’d be afraid to come home is if one of her own kind was implicated. Now, you know as well as I know, Rabbi, I could ask those folks questions from today till tomorrow. They’re not going to talk to me . But maybe they’ll talk to you.”

Punting the responsibility back to him-back to the Jews.

Decker said, “You’re probably right. But if you do hear of something-”

Merrin spread his hands out in generosity. “Of course, if I hear of something, I’ll go straight to the parents. I’ve got people on this, Lieutenant. We did search the south side, door-to-door. And maybe you have a point there… her hiding in the north side. You know what I’ll do for you? I’ll have my men ask around.”

Decker knew what that meant. A cursory walk to a couple of houses, maybe passing out a few flyers.

Merrin said, “I’ll have my men and women ask around.” He smiled. “I hope you’re not one of those sensitive types. There are no biases in this department, but old habits…”

Decker nodded. “Thanks for seeing us.”

Merrin gave out a heavy sigh. “I’m not giving up on her. You know that. If she’s around, we’ll find her.”

Decker hoped he was right. Because the Stones notwithstanding, time wasn’t on their side.

It’s my Johns Hopkins ID.”

Decker glanced at his stepson, then studied the picture. Jacob, with his smoldering light eyes and a chip of inky hair over his brow. The teen exuded appeal-matinee-idol looks with that perfect sexy sneer. “This was before you cut your hair.”

“More like before the yeshiva made me cut my hair.” Jacob straightened his tie. “I was doing my James Dean persona.”

Sammy took a peek over his stepfather’s shoulder, then regarded his brother. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

“C’mon,” Jacob protested. “Don’t I have that sultry Tennessee Williams bad-boy stare?”

Again Sammy studied the photo. “Maybe then you did.” A grin. “Now you don’t.”

Jacob punched his older brother’s shoulder. Sammy was about an inch taller than Jacob, about six feet even barefoot. There was very little physical resemblance between the two boys. Sammy took after his father-sandy-colored hair, impish brown eyes, regular features, and a wise-guy smile. He was good-looking, but not pretty. Jacob was a clone of Rina: He had “the face.” However, the two boys had nearly identical voices and speech inflections. Decker couldn’t tell them apart over the phone.

Jacob said, “The picture’s for you, Dad. When I graduate from Ner Yisroel, looking gaunt and pale, remember what you and Eema did to me.”

“A little academic pallor never hurt anyone.”

Jacob frowned. Then abruptly, his face lit up. “Zeyde, Zeyde, don’t you look handsome!”

Rav Lazarus had walked into the living room with cane in hand, although he wasn’t visibly using it for support. His smile was blinding, even though the teeth had browned from years of tea drinking. He went over to his grandson, looped his arm around Jacob’s neck, pulling him down so he could plant a kiss on the forehead. He stood no taller than five-five, with a flowing white beard. In honor of Shabbat , he wore a long black coat, a wide black waist sash known as a gartl , and a beautiful black hat. His voice was raspy and high, almost as if he were choking. “Yonkeleh.”

“Zeydeleh.” Jacob kissed his grandfather’s cheek. “You can be proud of me. I now have my own black hat.” He showed him his Borsalino, then put it on his head. “What do you think?”

Rabbi Lazarus patted his cheek. “I think you’re a good boy!”

“Like my abba ?” Jacob said.

“Like your abba .” The old man smiled at Decker. “Like both your abbas .”

“ Shabbat shalom , Zeyde.” Sammy kissed his grandfather. “Are you ready?”

“ Cain, cain ,” he said, answering yes in Hebrew. “Of course, I’m ready.” He walked over to Decker. “Thank you for coming. You made my wife very happy.”

Decker smiled. Of course it was only Sora Lazarus who was happy about hosting the two grandsons who carried the Lazarus name. “I’m very glad to be here.” He ran his fingers through slightly damp hair. The shower had felt good, but by the time Jonathan had made it back to Brooklyn, Decker had been the sixth in line to step into the bathroom. The water had turned tepid. At least, it wasn’t cold.

The dining table had extended into the living room: the table set for twenty-six. Decker’s family was five; then the two elder Lazaruses and their daughter’s family brought it up to thirteen. Jonathan’s wife and kids along with his parents who lived just a few blocks away added another six for a total of nineteen. Then, at the last minute, Mrs. Lazarus invited Jonathan’s brother Shimon, who also resided in the neighborhood. Shimon, of course, was also Decker’s half brother and the oldest of the five Levine children. He was outgoing and funny, and Decker liked him a lot. Over the years, Decker had kept in touch only with Shimon and Jonathan… not counting the yearly shanah tovah card to Frieda Levine. As far as the rest of the Levine clan, there hadn’t been contact past that initial burst of brotherhood.

Twenty-six bodies in total.

Decker’s half relations were kept a secret out of respect for Jonathan’s father. Alter Levine had never known that Frieda, his devoted wife of forty-seven years, had given birth to an illegitimate child fifty years ago. He could never have imagined the anguish that Frieda had suffered when she put the baby boy up for adoption. But that hadn’t been the final chapter. Ten years ago, while Decker and Rina were in Boro Park visiting the Lazaruses, he had run full force into the poor woman by chance, turning her life upside down.

Decker’s life as well.

He was still sorting things out. The volume of blood relationships was simply overwhelming. When Decker was at home, in L.A., he often felt like a lone ship out on a vast sea of emptiness. Here, it was as if his boat were moored in a marina-safe but crowded.