“Speaking of specific details, did you ever find a box to fit the key we found in Marie Bellson’s apartment?”

Decker shook his head. “Not yet.”

“What happened with Tandy Roberts yesterday?”

“Cindy, please.”

“I’m curious.”

Hannah began swallowing air bubbles. Decker said, “I think she needs to be burped. Give her to me. I’ll do it.”

Cindy handed him a diaper. “Cover your jacket.”

Decker threw the diaper over his shoulder and began walking with his daughter. As he patted her back, her eyes widened, her expression seemingly remorseful for her gluttony. Her stomach was sloshing liquid.

Decker said, “You’ve got good head control, Hannah Rosie.”

“I told you she was precocious.”

“Takes after Sis.” Decker smiled.

Cindy smiled back, then looked at the ceiling. “So what’s with Tandy?”

“Why do you keep asking about her?”

“Because she was a friend of Marie’s. I’m wondering who the heck could be Marie’s friend?”

“Paula was Marie’s friend.”

“Is it the same situation as Paula? Was Marie Tandy’s training nurse?”

Decker didn’t answer. He heard Cindy sigh, then said, “I know you’re your own person, Cynthia, but I see my obsessive streak in you. It’s bad enough when cases eat me up. Why should they eat you up, too? Especially when you’re not even getting paid.”

“So you do it for the money, Dad?”

“It puts bread on the table.”

“You do it because you like it. Be honest. If it was just money, you’d have been a senior partner in Grandpa’s firm by now.”

“Yes, I like what I do. But I’ve been trained and you haven’t, and therein lies the rub.”

“How can I be trained if no one will train me?”

“This isn’t an apprentice job, Cynthia. If you want to be a cop, apply to the Academy.” Decker paused. “God, what am I saying! You don’t want to be a cop, for godsakes! You’re way too smart for that.”

“Implying that you’re a cop because you’re dumb?”

“Princess, I applied because I didn’t know any better. I was a twenty-year-old kid with no guidance who had just gotten out of the army. I was at loose ends, and someone suggested being a cop. Like a dunce, I signed up. Just like with the army. They said sign up, I signed up. You know what, Cindy? I was dumb!”

“So why did you come back to it even after you passed the bar?”

“Because being an estate lawyer was worse than being a cop. I did it to please your mother, who wanted me to be just like Grandpa. I should have signed up for the D.A.’s Office.” Decker paused. “Not that I’m complaining…”

“I think your work is exciting.”