Donatti exhaled out loud. “What I meant is that I can find anyone. And when I do, I’m not going to hurt her. I just need for her to hear me out. I need…you know…to make it right.”

Gabe nodded, although he doubted that they held the same definition of “make it right.”

“But there’s also the possibility that something bad happened to her…” Donatti finished the cigarette and dropped it into the cup. There must have been liquid in it, because it sizzled. “I have to know what happened to her, and if it’s bad, who the hell did it. Exact my own kind of revenge on the motherfucker. If I’m locked up, how the hell am I going to do that?”

Gabe stared at the manila envelope—his life summed up in a paper packet.

“You understand, right.”

“Of course.”

“And you’re going to keep quiet about this?”

“Of course.”

“Look at me and say that.”

Gabe locked eyes with his father. “If you didn’t hurt Mom, I would never ever betray you. You’re my father.”

“Whatever that means.”

“It means something to me.”

“Do you hate me?”

“Sometimes. And sometimes I love you. Most of the time, I try to keep out of your way.”

Donatti regarded the teen’s face. “You know you were an accident, but I wasn’t unhappy about it.”

“Thanks…I think.”

“So how are you going to explain that to Decker?” Donatti was pointing to the envelope.

“Before I left the hotel, I took stuff out of the safe and shoved it into my backpack.”

“What kind of stuff?”

“Some of Mom’s jewelry and a lot of cash. The point is that the lieutenant doesn’t know what I took.”

“How much cash?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t count it.”

“Take a guess.”

“Maybe like five thousand dollars. It’s in hundreds. You want it back?”

“No, I don’t want it back.” Donatti lit another cigarette. “If she left behind cash, that isn’t good.” He inhaled deeply on his smoke. “On the other hand, how far would five grand get her? Shit! This is really messing with my mind. I can’t sleep, I can’t eat, I can’t do business, I can’t think. I probably can’t even shoot straight. I’ve got a lot of enemies, Gabe. I’m always looking over my shoulder. I’ve got to be alert. I’ve got to know what happened to her. I just can’t function until I have this behind me one way or the other.” A pause. “You’ll keep quiet about this talk, right?”

“Of course.”

“I don’t believe you,” Donatti said. “Not because you’re dishonest but because you’re too honest. It’s gonna slip out.”

“I know how to lie.” He looked at his father. “I’ve learned from the best.”