Decker said, “Maybe after the Curedon meeting, after Decameron and Sparks parted ways in the doctors’ parking lot, Berger came up to Sparks and invited him to Tracadero’s. Then Berger jumped him in the back alley.”

“I don’t see Berger taking out Sparks by himself,” Marge said. “Too much damage, too much blood.”

Decker said, “He’s a surgeon. He’s used to slicing and dicing.”

“Maybe Berger was the lure,” Oliver said. “Once Sparks reached Tracadero’s, Shockley pulled the plug on him…on all of them. Either Shockley or his boss, this Grammer guy.”

“But if the killings have to do with Fisher/Tyne and Curedon,” Marge asked, “what were Bram’s porno magazines doing at Decameron’s murder scene?”

Oliver said, “Maybe Decameron and Bram were lovers. Shockley found them, then left them around to put the blame on Bram.”

“Then why didn’t Bram defend himself when I arrested him?” Decker said. “Why was he willing to take a murder rap?”

Oliver blurted out, “Maybe they were Luke’s, Deck. Ever think that maybe Luke was having an affair with Decameron? He showed up at Decameron’s house for a little morning nookie. He walked in, found Reggie and Leonard dead.”

“Then what?” Marge asked.

Oliver scrunched his brow. “From that point on, everything happened like Luke said. He panicked, called his brother Bram. The priest, being a good guy, covered for Luke’s homosexuality and took Luke’s magazines. Then, in a double fake-out, Luke came back the next day and covered for Bram. Because, hell, let’s face it. It’s easier in life to be a gay priest than a gay married guy with two kids.”

“You’re using pretzel logic, Scott,” Decker said. “He covered for him, who covered for him—”

“Isn’t that what identical twins do?” Oliver retorted. “They play mind games with people. Take tests for each other, go out with each other’s dates. Decker, look at Luke marrying Bram’s girlfriend. Bram’s protecting his twin brother, keeping him in the closet for convention’s sake.”

“Protecting your married twin’s proclivities is one thing,” Decker said. “But taking a murder rap for him is quite another.”

No one spoke.

Decker said, “Luke told us that Reggie called him early in the morning. Decameron sounded serious, all business. Luke felt that Decameron might have been interested in blackmail.”

Oliver shook his head. “By everyone’s account, Decameron was a straight shooter.” He laughed. “Decameron was a straight gay shooter. Why would Decameron, a brilliant doctor and a man who got his kicks out of flaunting his unconventionality, suddenly turn to a sneaky profession like blackmail? Luke, on the other hand, is lying scum—”

“He passed a polygraph—”

“’Cause he’s lying scum. Lying scum can beat polygraphs.”

Decker said, “Maybe you’re right. But let’s go back to basics…the MO of all three murders.”

“Shooting and stabbing,” Marge said.