“Then maybe you should quit before you have a bigger problem than a black eye.” Novack’s warning was veiled in kindness. “Especially when you lay shit on me, saying that some anonymous phone caller tells your brother that he wants you ‘out of the picture.’ That don’t sound too good.”
“He didn’t tell Jonathan; he told Chaim. Jonathan never spoke to this guy.”
“So Chaim could be lying.”
“Definitely.” Decker frowned. “If some lunatic thinks he’s going to scare me away, he’s sadly mistaken.”
“What would scare you off?” Novack asked.
“A gun to the head, maybe.” Decker shrugged. “Not even that. Now, a gun to my wife’s head, that would scare me.” He felt a chill run down his spine. “I will be very happy when she’s out of here.”
“When’s she leaving?”
Decker checked his watch. “I’m taking her to the airport right now. I’ve got to go.” He pulled out two twenties. “Enough?”
“Way, way over. The bill’s only eighteen-fifty.”
“Leave the rest for a tip.”
“Twenty-one fifty?” Novack laughed. “That’s more than the going rate for a blow job.”
“Alma looks around eighty,” Decker said. “But if she’s willing, Novack, be my guest.”
“Eighty’s a little old,” Novack said, “but there are advantages. I think Alma wears dentures. Ever get sucked by someone with no teeth?”
“Never had the pleasure.”
“It’s smooth sailing all the way.” Novack smiled and nodded. “Yeah, no teeth ain’t such a bad thing.”
Silence.
Then Novack broke into gales of laughter. So did Decker.
Novack chortled and pointed a finger at him. “I had you going.”
“Fuck you, Novack!”
Decker spoke a little too loud. Alma came over. “Problems, Detective Novack?”
“Alma, this man just left you a twenty-one fifty tip.”
The old woman gave a wide smile, showing her full set of plates. “Thank you. You made my day. Next time you come in, I’ll give you a little extra treat.”
Decker knew she was trying to be nice, but it came out wrong. He thanked her and left, hoping she didn’t notice that he had wrinkled up his swollen nose.
25
She didn’t want to be angry, not in front of Jonathan, but her stomach was swirling with anxiety. It was completely irresponsible of him to stay in New York when clearly someone wanted him to leave.
Someone wanted both of them to leave.
Maybe that wasn’t quite true, because analyzing what had happened to her this afternoon, Rina concluded that it was just as likely-no, it was more likely-that the shooter had been after Donatti, not her. She had just been in the wrong place… or maybe-yes, likely-he had been following her like he had before, and that had put her in the wrong place. Or maybe he knew something she didn’t know and he had been watching her…
Maybe she shouldn’t try to sort it out because her thoughts were a jumbled mess. She sat back in the seat and heaved a big sigh.
“I know, I know,” Decker said. “I cut it too close.”
“What took you so long?” Rina couldn’t hide her irritation. It wasn’t good to be peeved with Peter in front of Hannah, either.
“Just stupid stuff,” Decker admitted. “I’m very sorry.”
“I’m fifteen minutes away,” Jonathan said. “You should be all right.”
“When are you coming, Daddy?”
Hannah had asked the same question five minutes ago. Decker said, “On Friday, pumpkin.”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”
The girl nodded, but she was clearly upset.
“I promise, Hannah Rosie,” Decker emphasized. “I’ll be there. You can sit on my lap when I make Kiddush.”
“You stand when you make Kiddush,” Hannah pointed out.
“Afterward,” Decker assured her. “When I eat.”
“I can sit on your lap the whole meal?”
“Most of the meal.”
The child stared at her mother. Rina took her hand. “He’ll come, Hannah. He just has a few details-”
“I know, I know,” she interrupted. “I hope Grandma will bake with me.”
“I’m sure Grandma will bake with you.”
“I like her cookies.”
“She makes very good cookies.”
“We’re here.” Jonathan scanned the various areas to park. Most of the signs registered full. “It’s going to be tough finding a space.”
“Just drop us off,” Rina told him. “We’ll be fine.”
Decker said, “You’ve got a heavy suitcase.”
“I’ll manage,” Rina answered. “There’s a spot right over there, Jonathan. Pull over and drop us off.”
Decker knew she was upset. “I’ll help-”
“I don’t need help.” Rina tried to keep the tension out of her voice. It wasn’t working. “I need you to be okay.”
“I’m okay.”
“You don’t look okay.” Then she silenced herself. Jonathan eased the van curbside. Rina bounded out and lifted open the hatch.
Decker was at her side. “I’ll get it.”
“I can get it-”
He held her arm. “Rina, please, don’t be this way. I love you. Please!”
Her heart relented. Gently, she touched his eye. “Does it hurt a lot?”
“Not nearly as much as your anger.”
She kissed him softly. “I love you. So do your children. And your parents. And your sibling… siblings. You have lots of people who love you.”
“I know that.” He grabbed the suitcase handle and hefted the valise out of the van. “I’m not going to do anything stupid.”
“I hope you mean that. I’m skeptical of your story about being punched.”
“You think I’m lying?”
“The verdict’s still out.” Rina yanked up the handle and wheeled the suitcase over to the entrance, showing the security guard the tickets.
Decker picked up his daughter and gave her a big hug. “I love you, muffin.”
“I love you, too.” She kissed his cheek. “I’ll miss you.”
“Take care of your mother.”
“I think she’s ’posed to take care of me.”
“How about if you take care of each other? Sound good?”
“I guess.”
Decker lowered his daughter to the sidewalk. Rina hugged Jonathan, then kissed her husband. “We’ve got to go.”
Jonathan offered Rina ten dollars. “Tzedaka money.”
Rina took the bill. “Next time, Jonathan, it will be under better circumstances. Auf simchas.”
“Amen!”
Decker kissed his daughter, then his wife. “I love my girls. Take care.”
Rina took Hannah’s hand in her right, the luggage in her left, and fast-walked through the glass doors. After standing in a line for check-in, she made it through security with time to spare.
The flight had been delayed.
But in this case, the respite was welcome. She took a hard bench seat in the terminal. Hannah unleashed her backpack from her shoulders, took out a book, and began to read.
“Do you want something to eat?” Rina asked her.
“No, Eema, I’m fine.”
Rina sat back and closed her eyes. Then they sprang open, and she bolted upright.
“Are you okay?” Hannah asked her.
“Uh…” Think of something quick. “I forgot something. Not important. I’ll get it at Grandma’s.”
Hannah shrugged and went back to her book. Rina chided herself. How could she possibly relax? This afternoon, someone had fired bullets in her direction-although the shots were clearly meant for Donatti… most likely meant for Donatti. Or…
A warning for Peter?
The problem was that she just didn’t know!
If she wanted resolution, she was going to have to out-Peter Peter in the legwork department, because there was only one way to find out.
“I have to make a private call, Hannaleh.”
The little girl looked up.
“I’m going to move a couple of seats away.”
“I won’t listen, Eema.”
“I know, sweetheart. But it’s better if you don’t hear.” Rina took an empty seat across from her, then fished the cell phone from her purse. Randy answered right away.