“That’s not so long when you consider he was hit twice. Actually three times including the graze wound on his temple.”

“I still think you should call his parents,” Radar said.

“He specifically told me not to call them as they were wheeling him in,” Decker said.

“What if something happens?”

“Mike, he’s twenty-six, he’s an adult, and he’s not going to die.”

“You never know.”

Decker gave him an angry glance. “He’s not going to die. He ordered me not to call his parents. The least I could do is honor his wishes.”

“The mayor won’t like it when he finds out.”

“So let the mayor call them.”

Rina patted his knee in an effort to calm him down. It didn’t work. Decker got up, paced a few steps, and then he gently hit the wall several times. “If I’m going to get whacked in the line of duty, I’d at least like to know why!”

Rina said, “I’m sure you’ll know a lot more once the codebook is squared away.”

“Who’s this guy that McAdams called?” Radar asked.

“Mordechai Gold. He’s a professor in the math department at Harvard.”

“How do we know he’s trustworthy?”

“If you or Mulrooney have a better person, make the call.”

“I still think you should call his parents.”

“Mike, we’re going around in circles.”

The captain scratched his head. Then he sat down. “The silver van, Decker. You first noticed it when you left Summer Village PD?”

The same questions over and over and over. Decker said, “I noticed it tailing me after I left Summer Village PD. After I got on the highway, it pulled back then I lost sight of it. Second time I noticed it was when Tyler and I grabbed a cup of coffee while we poked around the galleries on Newbury. When I heard a motor being gunned, I figured that maybe it’s the van. But I don’t know. I’m probably full of shit.”

“I doubt that.” Radar was still pacing. “If you first noticed the van in Summer Village, the main focus has to be Latham’s murder, not Angeline Moreau’s death.”

“I agree.”

“So . . .” Radar smacked his lips. “I think the time has come to let the pros handle it.”

“Excuse me?” Decker said.

“Not that you’re not a pro, Peter. But I think it’s in all our best interests to let Summer Village and Boston handle the investigation. They’re bigger, they’re more equipped, and they have more manpower.”

“Mike, some son of a bitch broke into my house and would have shot me dead if I hadn’t gotten to him first. Someone thinks that I know way more than I do. They’re not going to stop until either they’re stopped or I’m dead.”

Radar made a face. “Then maybe you and your wife should take a vacation.”