“I do mind,” Decker shot back. “What on earth possessed you to go searching out there?”

“To help you out,” Rina said. “You looked so tired—”

“I can’t discuss anything with you, can I?” Decker peeled off his jacket and shirt and gathered them under his arm. “What are you trying to do, Rina? Play Batman and Robin? I don’t want your help. You’re not helping me when you do these kinds of things.”

“All right, all right,” Rina said. “Take a shower—”

“Stop dismissing me,” Decker said. “Some of those homeless are dangerous. And don’t tell me not to worry because you had your gun.”

“I did have my gun.”

Decker said, “Rina, I’ve worked with these people. We’ve got a host of them in our area. They’re junkies, they’re psychos, they’re cons and ex-cons. We are talking dregs of dregs—”

“I’m used to that, darling.” She went inside the kitchen and took three cleaned game birds out of the refrigerator. “I’ve been living in New York.”

Decker followed her into the kitchen. “Rina, I don’t give a good goddamn—” He stopped abruptly. “New York!” He pointed his finger in the air. “I forgot about New York.”

“Yeah, New York,” Rina said. “The big city on the Atlantic Ocean.” She shook her head. “How does Cornish hens sound? I’ll make rice stuffing. I know Cindy likes rice. Is three enough? I know you can eat a whole bird by yourself.”

“What time is it?” Decker asked.

“It’s still around six-thirty,” Rina said. “Why do I feel we’re not communicating?”

“Around six-thirty.” Decker scratched his head. “That would make it nine-thirty in New York. I’ve got to make a phone call.”

“I’ve already called the boys this morning,” Rina said. “I didn’t know when you’d get home. You can call them again if you want. They’d love to hear from you.”

The boys?

He’d forgotten to call the boys.

“I’ve got a few phone calls to make,” Decker said. “We’ll discuss you and your pathological need to help later.”

Rina smiled. “Okay, Peter.”

“You’re shining me on,” Decker said. “I hate that.” He looked at the clothes tucked under his arms.

“Would you like me to take those for you?” Rina asked.

“The jacket has to be dry-cleaned.”

“I know that, Peter.”

Decker saw her wrinkle her nose. “Don’t worry, I’ll shower before dinner.”

Rina thought that was a very good idea.

25

“Hersh Schaltz is my first cousin.” The deep voice paused a moment. “I haven’t seen him in years. What did he do this time?”

Decker could have kissed the phone. Big Hersh, the fish vendor from Crown Heights, was indeed a link to Psycho Hersh’s past. Even if the man couldn’t provide information as to Psycho Hersh’s whereabouts, perhaps he could shed some light upon his enigmatic cousin.