Stone Kiss (29 page)

“Hey, you think I’m complaining?” Her accent was as broad as a flatiron. She stuffed the twenty into her shorts pocket. “So
far today, this is my best tip for the least work. ’Bout a half hour ago, another gentleman tipped me a fifty. But I had to
bend over a lot and pretend I didn’t know he was copping a feel.” She looked at Decker. “You’re a cop. Why do they call it
‘copping a feel’?”

Jonathan said, “‘To cop’ means to steal.”

“Heh-heh, that’s funny.” Ambrosia tittered. “That ‘cop’ means to steal.”

Decker and Jonathan sat stone-faced.

“You don’t see the humor in that?”

“You keep talking, I’m going to take back the twenty,” Decker said.

“Gotcha.” She came back with a new coffeepot, then left.

Decker said, “Any idea who Chaim talked to?”

“No. Since Shayndie was fine, I felt it wasn’t my place to ask questions.” Jonathan looked down. “I’m sure they just meant
for you to leave the city.”

“A strange way of putting it, then.” Decker shrugged. “‘Out of the picture.’ Has kind of a permanent ring, don’t you think?”

Jonathan broke out in a sweat. “I didn’t take it
that
way at all.”

“Maybe you’re right.” Decker smeared cream cheese on his bagel. “I don’t suppose this place has a
becher
for washing hands.”

A fleeting smile. Jonathan hid his shaking hands by clasping the coffee mug.

Decker felt sorry for him. “I’ve been threatened more times than I care to remember. I take them all seriously, but so far,
it’s all been talk.” He plopped a sheet of lox over the bagel bottom, then put the top on. He bit into his sandwich. His lip
and jaw hurt as he chewed, but not as bad as he thought. “You should eat.”

“The way Chaim said it… it sounded like that’s all they wanted. For you to leave the city.”

“Then maybe you’re right. Calm down.”

“Chaim asked me if I could get you to leave.”

“Get
me
to leave?”

“He wasn’t having much success.”

“He was that eager?”

“Yes, he was, Akiva. Why? I don’t know. Anyway, I told him it wasn’t necessary, that you were leaving in the afternoon anyway.
He seemed satisfied with the answer.”

“Did he ask you for my flight number or anything like that?”

“No. Why would he—” Jonathan blanched. “What are you thinking? That he wanted to check up on you to make sure you left?”

“Maybe.”
Or maybe Chaim was thinking about seeing me off in a more permanent fashion
. Decker kept his thoughts to himself.

Jonathan dabbed his sweaty forehead. “This psychotic who punched you…Was it a warning from someone?”

“Nah, that was pure bad luck,” Decker assured him. “It’s okay, Jon. I’m fine. Did Chaim ask any other favors from you?”

“Actually, he asked me to keep an eye on you,” Jonathan admitted.

“You mean to spy on me.” Decker took another bite. “What’d you tell him?”

“I told him it wasn’t necessary. It’s a complete mystery to me, Akiva. Why would Chaim
ask me
to
ask you
to come out—just to push you away?”

“Because I didn’t do what he wanted me to do. I didn’t do
anything
. He and Minda wouldn’t let me do anything. And maybe that was the whole point. To make a show of wanting something done,
but not really wanting something done.”

“I don’t follow you,” Jonathan said.

“I was the poster boy, my man, something Chaim could point to and say he tried. But in fact, he didn’t try at all. And before
you get all offended, I’m not saying that’s the case. I’m just making suggestions. That’s what I do. Suggest some theories
and see which ones make sense after the dust settles.”

Jonathan was quiet. “I wish I had a response. Because it is strange, Akiva. Even in his grief, Chaim made it a point to ask
me where you had gone after you heard the news. He seemed obsessed by your actions.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I told him I didn’t know. Where
did
you go, Akiva? You left very suddenly.”

“I wasn’t wanted, Jon. It would have been inappropriate for me to intrude on their grief.”

“So where
did
you go?”

“Back into the city.”

“Why?”

“I figured maybe Detective Novack could fill me in on some crime details. He wasn’t in. I took a walk and got punched out
for my efforts.”

Jonathan was satisfied with the explanation.

Decker said, “It might have helped me out if you had told me everything this morning, although I understand why you didn’t.
You didn’t want to jeopardize anyone.”

“That, and I couldn’t break a confidentiality.”

“I wonder why the ‘source’ was so anxious for me to be out of the picture.”

“I can only assume that you were close to something, even if you didn’t know it.”

“So then I have to go back and figure out what I was close to.”

“No, what you have to do is leave, Akiva. Tonight. As scheduled.”

“What difference does it make now, Jon? She’s dead.”

“But you’re still alive. Now that I think about it, ‘out of the picture’ doesn’t sound promising. And I’m not sure if your
punch wasn’t a warning, despite what you say. If something were to happen to you, I’d never forgive myself. I think we should
leave it up to the local police.”

“You’re right, but I’m not ready to let go. I’m sending Rina out, but I’m staying until Friday.”

“Akiva—”

“It’s decided, Jon. Don’t argue. You won’t win. You want to help me or not?”

“Of course I’ll help you. What do you need?”

“I need your wheels. As soon as Rina leaves, I’m going to find a cheap place in the city. Which means I’m going to have to
give back Sora Lazarus’s car.”

“You will not find a cheap place anywhere in the city. You’ll stay with me. Don’t argue. It’s a done deal; I can be stubborn,
too. And yes, you can have my car. But now you let me speak my mind. What you’re doing isn’t fair to Rina.”

Decker put another twenty down on the table. “Let me be the judge of that.” He got up. “Let’s go get the morgue out of the
way.”

Jonathan rose from the table. “I suppose we should.”

“I’ll be with you the whole time.” Decker put his hand on his brother’s shoulder. “We’ll get through it.”

“What choice do we have?”

Together they walked out, passing the stage production as they left. Same show, but different girls shaking tassels that hung
from their nipples. Decker’s eyes went to the patrons, flushed from sexual arousal and drinking, trembling hands and sweating
palms stuffing twenties into the dancers’ thongs. Cheering the girls with each bump and grind, making kissy noises and obscene
gestures.

Decker walked a few more paces, then did a double take. Sitting at a front table, drinking and hollering like an ace, was
Quinton Police chief Virgil Merrin. His ultrablond hair was plastered wet against his pink scalp, his belly jiggling as he
laughed and whooped.

Decker stopped moving. “Wait a sec, Jon.”

“What?”

“Just wait here for a sec.” Decker went over to Merrin. “Hi, Merrin, remember me?”

Merrin turned and looked up. He was in civilian clothing, his face and armpits wet, his body reeking of musty sweat. He stared
at Decker, his pale eyes without recognition. It could have been the bruises.

“Lieutenant Peter Decker…LAPD. I asked you some questions about Shaynda Lieber.”

“Ah! Yeah, sure, I remember you, young man.” A stare. “What happened to your face?”

“Gotta watch those baseball bats.” He smiled. “I’m kidding.”

“I hope so.” A smile, but something behind it. “Have a seat.”

“No thanks. I was on my way out.”

The chief winked at him. “I won’t tell if you won’t tell.”

Decker winked back. “How about this? You can tell—and I can tell.”

Merrin’s expression turned chilly. Decker continued to smile.

Locking eyes, but only for a few moments.

Then Decker left.

He glanced over his shoulder just the one time.

I
know you’re upset—”

“Of course I’m upset! I’m very upset! This is horrible!”

Decker took a deep breath and let it out. “I’m sorry, honey.”

Rina wiped her eyes, then transferred the phone receiver to the other ear. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. But still,
I kept hoping.…”

“I know, honey, I know.”

“I don’t want to go to Florida without you, Peter. Why do you have to stay here? Can’t the police handle it?”

“Sure they can handle it.”

Silence.

Rina placed the receiver back on the original ear. Both ears were now hot. “You promise you’ll come out on Friday?”

Her disappointment was audible. Decker said, “I promise.”

“And you’ll be careful?”

“Absolutely.”

“If you truly love your daughter, you’ll take extra precautions.”

“I will.”

“Am I going to see you before Hannah and I leave?”

“Yes, of course. I just have to finish up this business in Fort Lee; then I’ll come back to Brooklyn and take you two to the
airport.”

“Are you in New Jersey now?”

“No, Jonathan and I are just leaving Quinton. I’m sorry you had to find out like this. I’m sorry I couldn’t be the one to
tell you.”

“It’s all right.”

“Was Chaim rude to you?”

“I didn’t speak to Chaim; I spoke to Raisie. She was wondering where you were. She told me that all of them were wondering
where you were. If you’re in Quinton, why don’t they know where you are?”

“Because I’m not with them. I’m with Jonathan. We had to speak in private.”

“They said you left in a huff.”

“No.” Decker kept his patience. “Not in a huff, in a hurry. I thought it would be kinder to the family to let them grieve
alone.”

But Rina was skeptical. He left because he had somewhere to go. But she didn’t push it.

Decker said, “Can you change my plane ticket or should I do it?”

“I can do it. I really wish you’d reconsider.”

“Maybe I will. Maybe I won’t last until Friday. But I’d like the option. Should I call up the airline?”

“I’ll do it, Peter.” She blew her nose. “All this arranging and rearranging. I should become a travel agent.”

“I’m sure you’d be the best.”

Rina smiled despite herself. “As long as you’re in Quinton, you should drop by Mr. Lieber’s house. I have a feeling the family
would like to see you.”

“Why do you say that? Chaim practically kicked me out this morning.”

“Well, maybe Raisie would like to see you.”

“I can’t see anyone right now.” Two thirty-seven on his watch. “If we’re going to make it to the morgue in Jersey, we’re going
to have to hustle. Jonathan has already spoken to Raisie, although she doesn’t know I’m in Quinton. Nobody does. Like I told
you, Jon and I had to talk in private. Don’t mention my presence to anyone.”

“I won’t.”

“I don’t think I’m well regarded by anyone over there,” Decker said.

“What does that mean?”

“I’ll tell you when I see you. I’ve got to go. See you in a couple of hours.”

He hung up before she could tell him to take care.

Rina picked up the packages from the floor of the phone booth and tried to regain her composure. She had been stunned by the
news, by the way she had found out. Calling up Raisie just to find out if Peter was there. Hearing all the weeping in the
background. It broke her inside and out.

Leaving the city earlier than planned, Rina knew that her ride back to Brooklyn wouldn’t be ready for a couple of hours, so
she told her that she’d find her own way home. She had completely lost her desire to shop or eat or do anything other than
mope. Her bags were as heavy as her heart, her entire body zapped of its vital juices. All she wanted to do was go into a
private corner and weep.

She went through her wallet. There was enough for a cab, but what a waste of money. Instead, she consulted a bus schedule.
It was a short hop, but with all the downtown traffic, who knew how long it would take her? She began a slow trudge over to
the stop. Her
shaytl
felt like a helmet on her head, her shoulders aching from toting around pounds of outfits. Why did she always go so overboard?
As if L.A. didn’t have children’s clothing? She was a hog, just buying because it was there and because it was cheap.

Where was her restraint?

Lugging her bags as she tried to negotiate a crowded sidewalk, evading the masses of human flesh, trying to pass without bumping
into people who were bumping into her. If she were honest, she’d admit that she was thrilled to be leaving. How she wished
that Peter would come with Hannah and her. She hoped he would be okay. She truly hop—

Without warning, she was thrust forward with such impetus that she tripped over her feet, her head abuzz from several loud
background pings and pops. She found herself flattened against the hood of a parked car, her face smashed against the hard
metal, pushed down by an arm. The motion was so sudden and carried out with so much intensity, she had bitten into her lip.
Blood filled her mouth.
Scarcely able to breathe because something or someone was pressing down on her, covering her, smothering her with horrible,
heavy weight. The force of the crash had winded her, sending a deep, searing cramp into her belly. She was gasping for air.

Then, as quickly as she was crushed, she was liberated. Pulled upward and onto her feet—dazed and confused.

“I tripped,” Donatti was telling a crowd of onlookers. He looped his right arm around Rina and drew her against his chest.
“Are you okay, darling?”

One second more and she would have yelled for help. Except a sensation stopped her…something warm and wet seeping into her
coat. When she looked down, she saw his left hand gripping his jacket as blood was squirting out from a tear in his clothing.
Her eyes grew several diameters as her brain integrated what those pings and pops had been. Her lips parted as she opened
her mouth to scream.

Donatti grabbed her neck and kissed her hard on the mouth for what seemed like minutes. In fact, it was only a few seconds.
But it did the trick. It shut her up.