“Farrell, we’ve got six computers sitting idle in the squad room.”

Gaynor replied, “Yours is hooked up to more information data banks.”

Decker said, “Okay, Gaynor, when I leave, you can use the computer in my office.”

“What are you going to do, Loo?”

“I’ve got an interview scheduled with Myron Berger in an hour. Maybe I’ll snag a few hours between Berger, my paperwork, and Azor Sparks’s memorial service.”

“They’re doing a memorial service before the viewing, the rosary, and funeral?” Martinez questioned.

“It’s not a Catholic service, Bert. It’s a Fundamentalist service. The doctor’s church.”

Martinez said, “Still, they didn’t want to wait until the body was released and do a funeral?”

“Apparently not.”

“When’s the memorial service?”

“Three P.M.”

“That should be interesting,” Marge said. “Everyone crammed together in one spot. See how they all react with one another.”

Decker said, “That’s why I’m going.”

11

At first, he thought the noise was his brain bouncing against his cranium. Then he realized that someone was at the door. Bram lifted his head from his folded arms, blinked back nausea. He had fallen asleep at his desk.

His mouth felt like sandpaper, his limbs ached, his body a plexus of raw synapses. Fingers crawling like spider legs, he felt around the desktop for his glasses. Found them and slipped them on. Immediately, everything came too clearly into focus. He stood on unstable legs, went to open the door.

Luke. Still had on the same sloppy sweater and jeans. By now, he smelled pretty rank. They both did.

“Sorry, did I wake you?”

Bram looked at his watch. “I had to get up for six o’clock Mass anyway. I need a shower something awful. I can’t believe I fell asleep. You want some tea, bro?”

“Sure, bro.” Luke skipped around a floor covered with books and papers as Bram trudged over to the water machine. The priest took out a couple of tea bags, dropped them into plastic cups and doused them with hot water. “Sit. What’s going on at home?”

Luke parked himself on a folding chair. “Eva left around two, Mag and Mike went to sleep about a half hour later. Me? I’ve just been driving around and around and around and around…”

After handing his brother his tea, Bram sat at his desk. “You might try going home.”

“I’ve got a great idea, Abram. Why don’t I put on your collar and conduct Mass. And you go home to Dana—”

“Lucas—”

“What did she say when you called her?”

“What do you think? She’s worried sick about you—”

“Betcha she invited you over—”

“Don’t start—”

“She didn’t ask you to come over?”

Bram said nothing. Luke clapped his hands, pointed to his brother. “Gotcha. Did you go?”