“Are you out of your fucking mind!” he screamed. “What the hell are you doing? Trying to get yourself killed?”

Decker scrambled down from the hood of the Cressida and dusted off his pants. “Nah, not at all. Just trying to catch you before you left, Leek.”

“You scared the shit out of me. Who the hell are you?”

“I think you know,” Decker said. “I think that’s why you made a mad dash out of here.”

“I left because I’m sick, mister.”

“It’s Sergeant, Leek.”

McKay became quiet, his eyes guarded. “So that’s what they teach you in the Academy? How to scare innocent citizens?”

“Nah, I learned that on the streets.” Decker pulled out his shield and showed it to him. “I need a few minutes of your time.”

“There’s a thing called the phone.”

“Sometimes people get squirrelly about answering it.” Decker pocketed his I.D. “Man, you left in a hurry.”

“I’m sick as a dog. Anything illegal about that?”

Decker said, “Cut the crap. I need to speak with you. Anyplace is okay, including a parking lot. But you may want to choose a place that offers a little more privacy. We may get into some personal stuff.”

McKay covered his face, then dropped his hands to his side. “Can’t it wait until tomorrow? I really don’t feel well.”

“A baby’s missing, Mr. McKay.”

“I swear to God I don’t know a thing about that. I haven’t seen Marie Bellson at the home in over a week. I told your partner I’d call if I heard from Marie. I haven’t. I’m useless for information, Sergeant. You’ve got to believe me.”

“What about Tandy Roberts?”

“Your partner told me to stay away from her. I’ve been staying away.”

Decker thought about that. If McKay had warned Tandy she might be in trouble and she was guilty of something, would she still be hanging around, working out at Silver’s?

“Listen, if you’re as virginal as you say you are, you’re going to want to help, right?”

“I really don’t feel well, Sergeant.” Abruptly, McKay’s face whitened. “Really. I’m sick to my stomach….” He seemed to teeter on his feet. “I’m real dizzy.”

Suddenly, he lurched forward. Decker got him before he hit the ground, but not without feeling a sharp pull in his bad shoulder. He bit back pain that shot through his arm and steadied the weight lifter until he was stable on his feet. McKay leaned against the Cressida and tried to breathe rhythmically. His face was ashen, his lips devoid of color. He looked genuinely sick, but at this point Decker didn’t care.