“Or maybe Tandy wasn’t even an LVN,” Decker said. “Maybe she faked everything. Maybe the home found out about it and was going to fire her. But you talked them into laying her off. And then you stole Tandy’s records so no one would ever be able to trace her problems back to the home.”

McKay covered his face.

“But you know hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” Decker said. “Burying her problems still wasn’t enough for her. So you made her a final offer that would help her tremendously in her career as a ‘nurse.’”

“I think I’m going to be sick,” McKay said. “Excuse me.”

Decker watched McKay race to the back of the grocery store. He followed him to the outside of the bathroom, hearing the nurse retch. After a minute or so, McKay stepped out of the men’s room, his eyes slits oozing tears at the corners.

“You don’t look well,” Decker said.

“Can you take me back to my car now?”

“Let’s sit for a moment longer. Give you a chance to catch your breath.” Decker led him back to the bakery and sat him on a chair. “How long have you been letting Tandy use your license number?”

McKay looked defeated. He whispered, “’Bout a year and a half.”

“Why didn’t Tandy just make up a license number?”

“Because they’re specifically coded. If she accidentally used someone else’s by mistake and that someone caught on and exposed her, she’d be in trouble. Why take chances?”

“Don’t employers check the numbers on nurses’ applications with the board?”

“They’re supposed to, but they usually don’t unless there’s a reason to do it. I never complained, so the number was clean. And just for your information, Tandy is an LVN. It’s pretty hard faking nursing without any training.”

“Are you kidding?” Decker said. “People have faked being doctors, even surgeons. That’s a hell of a lot trickier than being a nurse. I can’t understand how an institution wouldn’t at least cross-reference the license number with the Board of Examiners.”

“Why bother unless the nurse was problematic? So far as I know, Tandy never created any problems.”

“So far as you know,” Decker said.

McKay sighed. “So far as I know.”

Marge was sitting on the living-room sofa, reading the morning paper, when Decker walked into his house. She lowered the newsprint to her lap.

“The baby nurse has informed me that Rina and Hannah went down for a nap about…” Marge checked her watch. “About an hour ago. What is it, three? You’re late.”

“Good interviewing takes time. Where is Nora?”

“In the kitchen preparing tonight’s dinner—eggplant Parmesan, garlic bread, salad, and baked apples with raisins and sour cream for dessert. Makes my mouth water just repeating the menu.”

“Would you like to join us for dinner?”