Faye Kellerman - Prayers for the Dead

The swing door opened again. Rina broke away, dabbed her cheeks.

Bram’s eyes rested on Rina’s face, then moved on to Decker’s. Something had passed between them-a glance that bespoke deeper things. An evaluation of his worth as Yitzchak’s replacement? A longing for what might have been? Or maybe exhaustion and irritability were pushing his imagination into overdrive.

Decker maintained eye contact with the priest. “You spoke beautifully, Father. A very eloquent eulogy.”

“Thank you.” Bram nodded somberly. “Even though words fail to express what’s in your heart, you try your best. Thank you for coming.”

The door opened again. The maid returning with empty plates. She saw Bram. “¿Usted quiere comida, Padre?”

“Nada, Bonita. Gracias. No tengo hambre ahora.”

“¿Señor?” She looked at Decker.

“Nada, gracias.”

The maid shrugged, her eyes saying, I can’t give the stuff away. She went back to the counter and reloaded the platter.

Bram pushed hair off his face. “The man who sold my father his first motorcycle is here. His name is…no joke…Grease Pit. He and his leathered entourage just walked through the door.”

“Are they creating problems?” Decker asked.

“Not at all. I was just wondering if you’d like an introduction.”

“Yes, thank you.” Decker swallowed the wrong way and began to cough. “And…can…you introduce…”

He broke into a spasm of hacking. Rina banged his back. “Are you okay?”

“S’cuse…” The two maids were holding large platters of cookies. Coughing, Decker moved out of their way.

“Gracias.” They walked out of the kitchen.

Decker coughed, held up a finger. “Your…mother…”

“I’d be happy to introduce you to her,” Bram said. “Let me get you something to drink.” He walked over to the counter and began to pour punch into glasses. The kitchen door opened yet another time, reminding Decker of the old Ernie Kovacs skit…person after person coming out from the bathtub.

It was Paul and he was fuming, eyes going a mile a minute. So focused on his ire, he didn’t notice Decker or Rina, just headed straight for his brother.

To Bram’s back, he shouted, “He’s drunk! He’s saying vicious things! And I’m about to lose my cool! Rein him in now, Bram!”

Eva barged in. “Bram, you’ve got to do something about Luke. He’s upsetting Mother!”

Pink-cheeked, Bram said, “We’ve got company, people.”

Paul pivoted, eyelids fluttering like wings when he spotted Decker. Eva’s pale face had reddened. Bram walked back to Decker, handed him a glass of punch. “Can you excuse us for a moment?”

“Of course.” It came out a hoarse whisper. Decker drank and cleared his throat. “I’ll just wait outside.”

“Thank you.”

Decker smiled, took Rina’s arm, and led her back into the living room. He cleared his throat again. “Well, that was pretty ugly.”

Rina said nothing.

Decker’s eyes scanned the room. Casually, he said, “Do you know the family, too?”

“No, just Bram.”

“Never met any of his siblings…his parents?”

“Once.” Rina hugged herself. “Before Yitzchak became ill Bram invited us to his twenty-fifth birthday party-he and his two brothers, Luke and Paul. You know he’s a triplet?”

“Yes.”

“He’s also an identical twin with Luke.”

“Yes, I know that as well.”

The one who’s drunk and is saying vicious things and is upsetting Mom.

Decker prodded. “What was it like? The birthday party.”

“I don’t remember too much. I do recall sticking out rather pointedly among all the church ladies. I didn’t talk much.”

“Where was Yitzchak?”

“Talking to the men. Not that there was a formal mechitza. But there was an invisible one.”

“The sexes were separated?”

“Informally, yes.”

Offhandedly, he asked, “You recall any of his siblings? Surely he introduced you to them.”

“I’m sure he did. But I don’t remember anyone too well except Bram…and Luke. And that’s only because he looked like Bram.”

“Did you meet the doctor?”

Rina thought. “Yes, I remember his father. A very…dignified-looking man. Very regal. But stiff.”

“Goyishe?”

“You said it, not me.” Rina looked up. “I owe him big, though. When Yitzchak fell ill, he gave us referrals. I never spoke to him directly. It was all through Bram.”

“Bram set up the appointments?”

“No, I set up the appointments, but Bram gave me the numbers. Looking back, Dr. Sparks must have made some prior phone calls. Because we got red carpet treatment.”

“What about Bram’s mother? Did you meet her?”

“I suppose I did although I don’t have a clear memory of her. I believe she, like most women, spent most of the time in the kitchen, supervising the food and help. There was a ton of food, none of which we could eat. Too bad because it looked good. And it was also a topic of conversation. ‘You’re not eating, dear? Are you feeling all right, dear?’” Rina smiled. “They all thought I was pregnant.”

Decker smiled back. “Everyone seem to get along?”

“I wasn’t paying any attention. Too busy being painfully uncomfortable. Can we stop talking about the past?”

Decker was quiet. “I’m treading on sensitive ground here.”

“Yes. It brings back memories that I’d just as soon forget.”

“I’m sorry, Rina. Inconsiderate of me.” Decker rubbed his neck. “Although I am curious how a yeshiva bocher like Yitzchak hooked up with a Catholic priest.”

Rina pretended not to hear, spotted Bram, his eyes searching the room. Once they found their target, Bram moved swiftly through the crowd, stopped at his twin’s side.

Decker straightened up, observing. Neither he nor Rina spoke.

Bram threw his arm around Luke’s shoulder, began to steer him toward the kitchen. Luke staggered as he walked, got sidetracked with people, giving them overstated hugs and big loopy smiles. But otherwise he made no attempt to break away from his brother.

“The roping of tranquilized steer,” Decker said. “Rein him in, he did.”

Rina said nothing.

“Guy has a bad chemical problem, doesn’t he?”

Rina shrugged ignorance.

Decker tried to appear casual. “Yesterday, Luke admitted having a past problem. Yesterday, he also claimed he’d been sober for three years. Obviously, that doesn’t appear to be the case. Wonder what else he’s been lying about.”

“Maybe the stress brought about a relapse.”

Decker rolled his tongue in his cheek. “Did Bram tell you that?”

Rina’s eyes met her husband’s. “No. Any more questions, Lieutenant?”

Decker held up his palms. “Okay, I’m pumping you. I’m just trying to get some insider background.”

“Peter, I wish I could help you solve this. I wish I could tell you more about the family’s dynamics. But honestly, I didn’t know them. Just Bram. And since he’s not a suspect, I don’t see how I’m of any use.”

Decker was quiet.

Rina said, “He’s not a suspect, right?”

“Right now I have no suspects. So everyone’s a suspect.”

“C’mon-”

“I’m serious-”

“That’s ridiculous.”

“Rina, you’re entitled to your privacy. I won’t put you in the middle. But if something should happen, and your friend suddenly finds himself involved in this case, I don’t want you interfering on his behalf.”

“Bram can take care of himself.”

“No matter what, Rina. I’ve got a job to do. Which means I don’t want you talking to him until the case is resolved. Otherwise, my investigation will be tainted.”

“You’re right. I understand.”