Decker felt smothered by the heat, by his anxiety. It took him a second to catch his breath. “Just leave, okay? And don’t come back. I’ll call you in about a week.”

Abel didn’t move. “What’s wrong, Pete? Afraid I did something nasty to her?”

Decker didn’t answer, dammed back rage and guilt and cursed Abel’s perceptiveness. Abel read his condemnation in Decker’s eyes.

He rose slowly. Brushing off his shorts, he said, “I’ve had shit in my life and I’ve had shit. But, man, you’ve just given me enough shit to fill the sewers of America.”

“Don’t give me that wounded crap,” Decker snapped. “I know goddam well, and you know goddam well, you came to see her!”

“I came because Bert’s Lumberyard said they were delivering the lumber today, and I wanted to make sure I got what I paid for.” Abel picked up his cane and twirled it. “No one was home, so I started to work. I didn’t even know she came back until she brought me out a pitcher of juice.”

“That’s bullshit!” Decker said.

Abel balanced himself on his prosthesis and cane and slipped his foot into a huarache. He looked at his hands and realized he was shaking as hard as Decker. His face was probably as red as Decker’s also. It felt burning hot.

“I busted my ass for you,” Abel said.

“Hey, buddy, you’ve got it the other way around. I busted my ass for you!”

Abel hobbled past Decker and said, “Fuck you.” He hopped on his motorcycle and gunned the engine.

Decker shouted after him, “Well, fuck you, too! Get another nursemaid to save your ass.”

Abel took off in a cloud of dust.

“I’m not going to be there anymore for you, Atwater!” Decker screamed. “You fucked with me one time too many! Go on! Get twenty years in the cooler, for all I care.” But even as he said it, Decker knew it was a lie. A second later, he mumbled, “Aw, fuck it!”

He stormed into the house. Rina was sitting in the dining area, her elbows on the table, head in her hands. She’d polished his cherrywood dinette set. Everywhere he looked, she’d polished or shined something. Place was beginning to look like a goddam museum. He stomped past her into the bedroom and changed into a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. Calling Ginger to follow him, Decker headed for the stable.