“Lourdes Rodriguez,” Decker stated. “Detective Dunn’s with her now.”

“I’ll call in that APB.” Harlow slapped Decker’s back. “Congratulations on your kid, by the way.”

“Thanks.”

Decker checked his watch. Darlene had last seen Marie around midnight. If Marie had taken off with the baby, she’d have a big jump on them. He had sent some uniforms to watch her apartment. So far nothing.

Why would a woman who had worked with babies for years suddenly snatch a kid? A latent maternal longing? A fit of madness? Maybe she’d done it against her will. Some psycho sticking a gun to her temples and forcing her to take the baby. It was that very thought that scared Decker the most—Marie and the infant in the hands of a psycho.

Slipping his hands into his pockets, he glared at the security guard. Guy was pissed, probably felt usurped—too damn bad. He and his guard buddies had had their chance, and they’d blown it with a capital B. Not that TECHWATCH Securities International wasn’t working overtime, covering its butt, hoping to keep the liability down.

Good luck, pal.

Mom was hysterical now, not even thinking about litigation. But after a day or two, even if the baby was recovered safely, odds were that the security firm and the hospital would get phone calls from a heavy-breathing lawyer.

Marge walked over to him, notebook in hand. “How’s it going, Rabbi?”

Decker stuck out splayed fingers and rotated his wrist back and forth. “How’s Lourdes Rodriguez?”

“Sleeping.”

“Get a chance to talk to her?”

“A little. She isn’t married to the father, but they’re together—boyfriend/girlfriend. She couldn’t imagine Papa stealing their baby. Or forcing Marie to steal the baby. As a matter of fact, she grew hysterical at the prospect of telling him what happened. She’s afraid of what he might do.”

“To her?”

“To her, more like to the hospital.” Marge raised her eyebrows. “Seems Matty likes to play with matches and owns a firearm or two—”

“Jesus!”

“If I were you, I’d get Rina out of here.”

“She’s leaving at ten this morning. We’d better put a watch on this guy once he’s informed. What’s his full name?”

“Matthew Luke Lopez.”

“Did he Anglicize his name?”

“No, it’s his legal name. He’s American born but was raised in the barrio. Lourdes said he has a good heart, but a bad temper.”

“Tell me something new,” Decker said under his breath. “How old is he?”

“Seventeen, eighteen. Lourdes wasn’t sure.”

“Prime age for impulse.”