“What can I do?” He shrugged. “I’ll give them my notes and my theories—see if they can shed some light on what’s going on.”

“I’m sorry, Peter.”

“Aw, the heck with it. It’s only work.” Decker smiled. “Main thing is, we’ve got a beautiful family.”

Rina returned his smile. “I’m looking forward to the shalom nikevah brunch for Hannah on Sunday. Everybody I’ve spoken to sounds so excited.”

“Brunch…you didn’t cancel it?”

“No. Why should I? The caterer is handling everything….”

“Rina—”

“Peter, this is my last baby! Forever! I’ve done nothing but grieve. Now I want to celebrate! Nothing is going to dissuade me!”

“I’m stuck?”

“You’re stuck.”

Decker ran his hands over his face. “I think you’re crazy for doing this.”

“Of course I’m crazy. I’m irrational. I don’t care.”

Decker laughed. “You’re smiling. It’s good to see you happy.”

Rina stopped filling the bottle with breast milk and put it down on the nightstand. “Happy? Let’s not overdo it.” She smiled. “What would make you happy?”

Decker thought about that one. “I’d really like another week on the case.”

“Talk to Morrison, Peter. Maybe he’ll give you a few more days.”

“I would if I had something concrete. I can’t even find the guy I’m looking for. Marge and I have tried every phone book in the entire southwest region of the state clear down to Baja California. I can’t look up every phone book in the country. I’m so damn frustrated!” Decker blew out air. “Ah, don’t worry about me, Rina. I’ve got a couple days off next week before I start Homicide in Devonshire. I’m not going to waste them brooding.”

Both of them heard a little peep from the living room. Decker bounced out of bed. “I’ll feed her.” He snatched the bottle from Rina’s nightstand. “I’ve got fresh warm milk and everything.”

“Bring her in here,” Rina said. “We’ll talk while you feed her.”

“That’ll be nice.” Decker kissed his wife’s cheek. “You can tell me all about the brunch…tell me how many rabbis are going to bore us to death.”

Rina laughed. “Just Rabbi Schulman…and maybe a few others….”

“I knew it!”

“Friends of the family. How can I not let them say a few words?”

“Knew it! Knew it! Knew it!” Decker left the room and came back with a bundle in his arms. “Somebody’s wet and hungry. Feed first, then change?”

“I think that’s the order of business.”

Decker sat and rocked his daughter in his arms as she devoured the bottle of breast milk. A gift so soft and warm…The case would have suddenly seemed meaningless, except there was another bundle out there….

Still, there was no crime in being grateful for what you had.