Marge said, “The CI was pretty convinced that Adrianna died from asphyxiation. She had petechiae in the eyes and face. Mandy’s a nurse. She could have poisoned Adrianna, but I don’t see Mandy having enough strength to choke her to death, then string up the body. Deadweight, no pun intended, is very heavy.”

“Maybe she had help,” Decker said. “That’s why you need to talk to her again. And what’s with this Farley guy, the man that Adrianna met at Garage? Is that a first or last name, by the way?”

“We don’t know, Pete,” Marge told him. “Crystal was pretty hammered when we spoke, so everything is suspect. We’ll take another crack at Garage tonight.”

Decker checked the nightstand’s clock radio for the time. “I should get off the line in case Donatti’s trying to call.”

Marge said, “How are you feeling about handing the kid over to Donatti?”

“He’s the parent. I’m legally handcuffed unless I can prove abuse, and I can’t.”

“And nothing on Terry?”

“Not a peep.”

“That’s disturbing.”

“Yes, it is. Get some sleep, Sergeant. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Decker sat on the edge of the bed and put on his shoes. He went into the living room, where Rina was lying sideways on the couch, a pillow behind her head. She was doing a crossword puzzle and looked up when he came in.

“Can I make you some coffee?”

“No, I’m all right. Where’s Gabe?”

“In the boys’ room. I haven’t talked to him in a while. I figured if he wanted something, he’d ask. I suspect he wants his privacy.”

Decker sat down and placed Rina’s feet on his lap, rubbing the soles. “Why don’t you go to sleep?”

“I hate to leave you alone with him…just in case he tries something.”

“He’s not going to try anything.”

“Peter, you butted into the man’s personal affairs with his wife. You acted as her protector against him. You listened to them argue. You took away his guns, and that’s equivalent to castrating him. In other words, you humiliated him. And you don’t think he’s going to try to get revenge?”

She had made some good points. “He has other things on his mind—like finding his wife.”

“If he didn’t already kill her. He’s probably seething inside. I bet he’s setting you up.”

“As pissed as he may be at me, he’s still answering my phone calls. Besides, he’s a professional hit man. If he wants to get me, he will.”

“That’s very encouraging.”

He smiled. “He’s not going to hurt me.”

“How do you know?”