He was clearly upset. Decker said, “I’m just saying since you weren’t around all the time, she could be hiding things from you.”

He nodded. “Mom could be secretive. But she wouldn’t just run off. First of all, if Chris found out, he’d kill…he’d be real angry. Probably he’d find her and get her back anyway, so what would be the point? Second, she wouldn’t leave without telling me.”

“That’s probably true. I’ve heard from everyone how devoted she was to you.”

Gabe was silent and sullen. Clearly Decker had hit a raw nerve. “I’ll keep you up-to-date. I’m sorry I don’t know more.” The boy was still sulking. “Wow, six hours a day. That’s a lot of practicing.”

“It’s about average.” Gabe shrugged.

“Did you practice that much back home?”

“I only went to school until one.” He paused. “Fine with me because almost all of high school is a total waste.”

“I think Hannah would agree with you there. Are most kids like you homeschooled?”

“Yeah, but I didn’t want that. My father’s a night owl and often sleeps in to midmorning. He’s real sensitive to noise. When he sleeps, he needs quiet, so it was good for me to be out of the house.”

“So how serious are you with your music?” Decker said.

The boy took off his glasses, wiped them on his shirt, and put them back on. “I don’t know how to answer that.”

“Do you want to be a professional musician? Are you a professional musician?”

“I think you’re asking me if I want to be a concert pianist. That’s an interesting question. You should probably ask my teachers if I have the chops.”

“Who were your teachers?”

“I went into the city three days a week at Juilliard. You know, with regards to the whole thing of where I should live. I could apply to Juilliard in the fall. My last teacher is a professor there and told me I could come whenever. I could probably squeeze in this fall. That would take care of my housing problem if this thing doesn’t get settled.”

“Is that what you want?”

“I’d like it better than living with my aunt, that’s for sure.” He drummed his fingers. “I was kinda hoping that I could go to a regular college—like Harvard or Prince ton. It’s too late to apply for next year, but I know they take younger kids with special talents. I’d have to take the SAT, I suppose.”

“Have you taken the PSAT?”

He nodded.

“How’d you do?”