Rina said, “Witness this afternoon: You’re not always around. And knowing your past schedule, you’re not around a whole lot, period. But I’m not complaining. I don’t mind being alone, I’ve been on my own for over three years now. Peter, I’ve got the boys to think about. I’m going to carry a gun whether I’ve got the permit or not, and you’re not going to convince me otherwise.”

“I can’t get you a carry permit,” Decker insisted. “I think the last civilian one was issued to Sammy Davis, Jr., back in the sixties.”

“So I’ll break the law,” Rina said. “I can live with that.”

Great, he thought. He couldn’t control his own woman; how could he presume to control felons? Just drop the point. Pick it up on a better day. They sat in silence. Decker decided to ask, “So what did you and Abel talk about?”

“We agreed you were tight-lipped.”

Decker said nothing.

“Like you’re being right now,” Rina said. “Peter, why didn’t you ever tell me you were in the army?”

“I didn’t consciously make a decision not to tell you, Rina. You never asked and I don’t like to talk about it.”

“Abel said you were a medic.”

“Yes,” Decker said. “What else do you want to know?”

Rina paused a moment, realizing how cruel it was to make him relive something so ugly just to satisfy her curiosity. She smiled and said, “Good. You can teach me CPR.”

Decker picked his head up, his lips turning upward into a grin. “We can start right now, if you want.”

Rina blushed. “What about the trout?”

“It’s probably cold by now.” Decker kicked off his shoes and said, “You shouldn’t do CPR with your shoes on.”

Rina said, “I never heard that one.”

“Oh, it’s true.” He took off her kerchief and unpinned her hair. A sheet of black silk rippled down her back. “And it’s very bad to do CPR with pins in your hair. Might fall into the victim’s mouth.”

“All sorts of little things to remember.”

Decker fingered the kerchief and said, “I see you’re covering your hair again.”

“I’m feeling a little more religious.”

Decker smiled. “That’s good.”

She smiled back. “I thought you didn’t like me so religious.”

“Rina, I love you just the way you are.”

Rina felt her throat suddenly constrict. She touched his cheek, then looped her hand around his neck and lowered his mouth onto hers. He eased her into a supine position while kissing her, drinking her in.

“This isn’t CPR,” Decker said, a moment later.

Rina said, “I know.”

15

Decker walked into the squad room at 9:00 A.M., his phone ringing as soon as he crossed the threshold. He jogged over to his desk and, still standing, picked the receiver up. Marge was on the other end.