Decker noticed that ole Clint could see Rina just fine. His mouth had dropped open the moment they walked through the door. His leers had lessened to sidelong glances after Decker had presented his shield. But Clint’s eyes still managed to wander in Rina’s direction.

The lobby was small and smelled of insect repellant. One wall was taken up by the registration desk; any leftover room was filled by a worn plaid couch accented with peeling Naugahyde strips and a coffee table graced with out-of-date airline in-flight magazines. In the corner was a pay phone. Rina was huddled between the phone and the front window.

Decker said, “I’ve got a magnifying glass in the car.”

“Nah,” Willy said. “S’kay. I can’t make out any detail—like I couldn’t tell you if this dude was blue-eyed or brown-eyed. Course the picture is in black-and-white, but I mean I couldn’t tell you if the pupil was light or dark.” He handed Decker back the photos. “But I can make out enough to tell you that these two dudes were here. Checked out yesterday morning, paid their bill. No problems.”

Home run first time at bat. Decker reminded himself to give Rina a big kiss. He said, “Did they say where they were going?”

“Nah,” the clerk said. “They never do. If I’m lucky, they’ll just pay the bill and leave. These dudes were no problem. Paid in cash.”

“How did they leave?”

“Through the door.” Willy had a proud smile on his face.

Decker said, “Were they driving a car or did they take the bus?”

Willy thought for a moment. “Think they just walked out. Whether they caught a taxi or hopped the bus?” He shrugged.

“Were they loaded down with suitcases?”

“Each one had a suitcase—medium size. Nothing they couldn’t carry a few blocks.”

“You happen to notice the age of the younger one?”

Willy shrugged his bony shoulders. “His ID said eighteen—”

“C’mon, Clint,” Decker said. “Your eyesight couldn’t be that poor.”

“So maybe I thought the kid looked more like sixteen—”

“Try fourteen.”

“No!” Willy gasped. “No way he looked fourteen. Kid was bigger than fourteen.”

Decker said, “Next time ask for proper ID and you won’t have charges brought against you.”

“Charges?” Willy turned red. “What are you talking about? They said they was brothers. They looked alike. Both of them dark and talking with New York accents.”

“They weren’t brothers, Clint,” Decker said.

“Well, I didn’t know that,” the clerk said. “And if there was any indication that they was gay, I would have booted their butts out of here. Me and my brother don’t put up with that shit. Start getting the gays in here, it scares away the straight perverts. John Doe starts having homosexual panic.” He broke into laughter.

Decker said, “I’m talking child molestation—”