Abel knew she wanted him to confirm her belief in his innocence. So he pleased her and did just that. Then he said, “Someone I know lent me the money. I’ve got to pay him back. I’ll work it off for you, Lillian—plumbing, electricity, gardening, pool cleaning—”

“Abel, please.”

“Save you lots of bucks. That should please Sy.”

“The only things that please Sy are aged sixteen and under.” She abruptly broke into tears.

Abel waited a minute, then said, “Been giving you a hard time again?”

“Oh, Abel, it’s just more of the same!”

“I’m sorry.”

She grabbed him. “Just hold me.”

“For as long as you want,” he answered, taking her in his arms.

A minute later, Lillian said, “When do you need the money?”

“As soon as possible.”

“Let me get dressed.” She broke away from his embrace. “We’ll go to the bank, together.”

“Thank you, Lillian.”

She looked at him, stroked his long hair, then tucked it under his headband. “Why didn’t you call me for the money in the first place?”

“I should have, Lil,” he answered. “I should have.”

It was Decker and six pregnant women. Every time the nurse called one of the ladies into the examining room, she cast a watchful eye upon Decker, a look that said, Well, which one is your wife?

An hour later, when all the women had filtered out, the same nurse came back in the waiting room. She put her hands on her generous hips and said, “You’re still here?”

Decker always wondered how you answered a question like that without sounding stupid. Since he had no witty retort, he didn’t respond. Instead, he said, “I’m waiting to see Dr. Meecham. He told me he could squeeze me in as soon as he was done with all his patients.”

“He had an emergency C this morning,” the nurse said. Threads of brown hair had come loose from her knot. She looked tired. “Throws everything else off-schedule. What’s your name? I’ll check the book.”

“I’m not in the book,” Decker said. “I called about an hour ago. Detective Sergeant Decker of the LAPD.”

“Oh, you’re the policeman. I would have brought you in right away. I thought you were an expectant father. You should have spoken up.”

“And gone ahead of all those tired, gravid women?” Decker smiled. “I would have gotten lynched.”

The nurse laughed—a pleasant laugh. “Not far from the truth. Come on. I’ll show you to Dr. Meecham’s office.”