“Okay,” Decker said. “Then this little speech is for your ears, Eli. Before I leave, you’re going to get me your stash. Then, as far as you and I are concerned, it’s almost Yom Kippur, you get a clean slate. If you want to hang out with losers, that’s up to you. But think about this for just a moment. Life may seem terrible, but prison is worse. You’ve got to talk to your parents, Eli. Tell them what’s on your mind.”

“They don’t understand,” Eli said.

“They may understand more than you think.”

“You don’t know my parents.” Eli shook his head vigorously. “You just don’t know my parents.”

“How about this?” Decker said. “I’ll get you the name of someone you can talk to.”

Eli’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t have any money. I don’t have a car. So who’s gonna talk to me who lives close? Who’s gonna talk to me for free? Who’s gonna talk to me and not tell my parents? Who can I talk to who will understand the kind of life I have to live?”

Without missing a beat, Decker said, “I’ll find someone for you.”

“Who?” Eli said.

“Hey, that’s my end of the bargain,” Decker said. “Now what you’ve got to do is stay off drugs until I find someone.”

No one spoke for a minute. Finally Eli said, “How long will that take?”

“Three days,” Decker said, picking a number out of the air. “Lay off drugs for three days and I’ll find someone for you to talk to. We’ve got a deal?”

Eli lowered his head. He mumbled, “You gonna tell my parents?”

“You’re off drugs, right?” Decker said, “I really don’t have anything to tell your parents, do I?”

Eli didn’t respond.

Decker said, “Son, if you mess up, eventually your parents will find out. So try and save yourself some heartache. Give me a chance to find someone for you.”

Eli’s eyes overflowed, tears drawing tracks down his smooth cheeks. Slowly he nodded consent.

“Great.” Decker stood, laid a hand on Eli’s shoulder. “Now let’s get you back to school.”

Eli nodded, then said thanks in a cracked voice.

Decker wondered who the hell he was going to find for the boy. No matter. If he had to scour all of New York, he was determined to find someone. He told Eli to fetch him his stash and was surprised when the kid returned with a coffee can full of primo stuff. Made Decker wonder if the kid wasn’t a dealer himself. Or maybe he was just an economy shopper.