EISENSTAT’S DRY GOODS had piled the sidewalks with boxes of marked-down items. ETTI’S WHOLESALE OUTLET had run a metal bar across the front of its stall. Hanging from the bar were dozens of jackets and coats, not a moment’s thought given to sorting the merchandise according to size or sex. Next to the overcoats were makeshift shelves filled with assorted shoes. Another wholesale outlet was selling linens. Stacks of towels and sheets loaded down several folding tables placed in front of the store window. A bakery had set up tables and chairs on the front sidewalk. Two black-hatted men occupied one table. They were drinking from Styrofoam cups, eating onion rolls. Out of a double-parked van, a bearded Chasid was selling fruits and vegetables to a bevy of housewives. Another bearded man was crossing the street, shoving a steaming pushcart over a pothole.

The block seemed more like an open-air market than a business district. Decker half expected to hear hawking cries from the vendors as his car rolled by.

The metered street parking was already taken and cars had begun to double-park. By Los Angeles standards, an area this size could be easily canvassed in a day. But here the population was dense. In terms of questioning people, it was as if he had to cover an area four times the actual square footage.

He hunted for a parking space, frustrated by the narrow streets and the hordes of people who thought nothing of jaywalking.

“Why don’t you double-park?” Rina said. “I’ll sit in the car while you ask around.”

Decker looked at her as if she’d said something profound. “That’s a good idea.”

“Thank you. Oh—and Peter?”

“What?”

“I’ve been thinking…not that I want to tell you your business—”

“What?”

“Well, rather than ask about your Hersh in specific, maybe it would be better to just ask about Hershes in general.”

“Come again?”

“Ask the people if they know any Hershes who are about twenty-one. Hersh is a common name and your Hersh could be living a double life.”

Decker didn’t answer.

Rina said, “Forget it. It was just a thought—”

“It’s a good thought. I’ll take it into consideration.”

“And maybe you should also ask about people named Zvi. Hersh and Zvi are used interchangeably in the community.”

“Hersh and Zvi?”

“Hersh is Yiddish, Zvi is Hebrew. Both mean ‘deer’…as in ‘hart.’”

“Oh.” Decker was aware that only an insider could have known something like that. He was glad Rina had come along. “You’ve got good horse sense, kiddo.”

“Thanks.”

She lowered her head, but Decker saw that she was smiling. He reached over and kissed her cheek. Then he got out of the car.