Cindy said, “English history. Queen Mary Tudor, better known as Bloody Mary, had a false pregnancy. She was married to Philip the Second of Spain, who was much younger than she was. A couple of months later the State announced that the queen was with child, to the cheers of her good countrymen. After a full ten months of so-called pregnancy, Mary gave birth to a lot of bloat and gas. Philip was not pleased. He left England for his beloved Spain and never returned.”

Decker shook his head. “Just shows the difference between a high school and college education.”

“And here you were, wondering about the high price of my tuition,” Cindy said.

Decker thought about that: fifteen grand a year to learn about Bloody Mary’s psychological problems.

Marge said, “By false pregnancy, do you mean the woman fakes being pregnant? Or does she honestly think she’s pregnant?”

Cindy shrugged. “I don’t know. I learned about it in history, not in psychology.” She turned to Lisa. “You’re premed.”

“I’m still mastering the Krebs cycle, Cin,” Lisa answered. “You need a medical textbook. Or just call up any ob gyn. They should have the information you’re looking for.”

“Who had a false pregnancy?” Cindy’s eyes brightened mischievously. “Is it our friend?”

“Don’t you just love how kids butt into conversations?” Decker said. “Good-bye, Cindy. Have a pleasant evening.”

“I didn’t butt in. You engaged me.”

“Cindy…” Marge said.

“Don’t worry, Marge, I remember my promise.”

“What promise?” Decker asked.

“I promised Marge I wouldn’t interfere with your investigation.”

“When was this?”

“Now who’s butting into whose conversation?”

Lisa said, “I’ll wait outside for you, Cin.”

“Good idea.” After Lisa closed the front door, Cindy said, “You know, Dad, you have a double standard….”

“Cut it, Cynthia. You and Marge are keeping something from me. I want to know what it is right now!”

Cindy ran her toe along the seam of the Navaho rug. “I paid a visit to Silver’s Gym….”

“You what!” Decker homed in on Marge. “And you let her?”

“I saw her coming out, not going in.”

“But you didn’t tell me.”

Marge shrugged. “No, I didn’t, Pete.”

“How could you do that!” He glared at Cindy. “And how could you do that! Between the two of you, I don’t know who I’m more pissed off at.”

“Why don’t you save your anger for assholes like Leek McKay?” Marge said.

Decker remembered Rina was sleeping and lowered his voice. “What exactly are you saying, Marge? You’re keeping secrets about my daughter from me because you’re pissed at the way I handled Leek McKay? That makes a lot of sense.”

“It’s not that,” Marge retorted. “You’re frustrated, and you’re taking it out on the wrong people—”

“Hell, yeah, I’m frustrated. Especially when my partner colludes behind my back—”

“I wasn’t colluding—”