Another grimace. “Yeah . . .” As if on autopilot, he tried to stand but immediately collapsed before he could get a knee off the ground. Blood was oozing out of his leg. His skin color was ashen. His forehead felt clammy.

“Tyler, you have to stay still. Real still. It’ll slow down the bleeding.” Decker ripped off Tyler’s pajama bottoms and to survey the damage to the legs.

He’d been hit in the thigh. On the surface, the bone didn’t look broken, but he had no way to assess the damage that the bullet made. A half foot higher and the kid would have had a lot more to worry about than a shattered femur.

Decker pulled a blanket off the closet shelf and covered Tyler to minimize the shock. He kept his voice low and soothing. “Can you feel pain?”

“Fuck yeah . . .”

“That’s good. You’ll be fine. Ambulance is already here.”

The kid lifted the blanket to look at his groin.

Decker said, “Your dick is fine.”

“Don’t lie.”

“I wouldn’t, Harvard. You’re totally intact.”

Tears were streaming down the kid’s cheek. “Not that it’s getting much use.”

Decker broke into nervous laughter. “You still have your wits.”

“I’m really dizzy.”

“Just hold on.” Decker attempted a smile. “You must be the only person in the world who has a locked closet.”

“I keep cash . . . the safe.” He was breathing hard. “The notebook is there.” Tears were blurring his vision. “I think I’m gonna pass out.”

“You’ll be fine, Tyler, I promise.”

The paramedics came into the bedroom, followed by several uniformed officers. Decker stood up and pointed inside the closet. The EMTs carefully lifted Tyler onto the gurney and then went to work: an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth, an IV in his veins . . . dressing the wounds, trying to stanch the bleeding.

Tyler’s eyes beseeched Decker’s. Although the kid couldn’t talk with the mask over his mouth, Decker knew what he was thinking.

“I’m not letting you out of my sight. I’m riding with you.” He turned to Rina. “Have one of the officers drive you to the hospital.”

“I have the car.”

“Rina, you can’t be alone!”

“Right. Of course. I’ll meet you there.”

Several minutes later, the kid was loaded in the ambulance. Decker sat on the bench as the paramedics continued to work on him. Decker took the kid’s clammy hand and when he did, Tyler closed his wet eyes.

Thoughts jumbled inside Decker’s brain.

Detectives are seldom whacked. But seldom isn’t never.

For the first time ever, Decker wondered if he was truly over his head.

He had told the kid that he could walk away from the case. Maybe he should take his own warning. Going out with a whimper and long life were much better than going out with a bang.