Rina shook off her indignity. “Thank you.” She took off her glasses, went over to Gil Yalom’s bedside and hugged Tziril. “Thank you.”

“I should thank you,” the woman said. “Moti Bernstein told us what your husband did yesterday at the yeshiva.” Tziril hugged her again. “You married a very brave man.”

Rina swallowed dryly. “Mrs. Yalom, he sent me here because he was concerned about Gil.”

“You need to talk to him, don’t you?” Tziril said.

Rina nodded.

Grandmother looked at grandson. Rina studied Gil. Peter had told her that Gil had been in a state of shock. But the teenager Rina saw was alert. He stared at her for a long time, intense eyes sizing up her worth. Rina smiled at him, but it failed to elicit a response.

Finally, Tziril spoke, “Gil, this woman is here to help. You need to tell her what you know.”

Gil didn’t answer.

“Gil—”

“I heard, Savta,” Gil whispered.

Rina sat by his bedside. Gil was more young man than boy. His full beard had yet to come in completely, but patches of stubble shadowed his lip and cheeks. His cheeks were gaunt, his eyes tired. Rina waited a moment, then tried another smile. He still didn’t smile back, but this time it got a response.

Gil looked at his grandparents and spoke Hebrew. “I need to be alone with her.”

Moshe Yalom stood and said, “I can use a cup of coffee.” He took his wife’s hand and they walked out the door. Gil watched them leave, then turned his eyes to Rina. In English, he said, “My savta tells me you’re the cop’s wife? The one who saved the yeshiva.”

Rina nodded. The boy’s voice was low and soft. Rina could tell the guard was straining to hear.

“How’d he know I was there?”

“Luck. We were searching all the ba’alei tchuvah yeshivas. Actually, we were looking to find Dov. We were told he’d been frum a while back.”

“Yeah, my dad took care of that one real quick.”

The sarcasm was dripping. Rina kept her voice soft. “Is that why you sent your grandparents out? You didn’t want them to hear negative things about your father?”

Gil didn’t respond, just peered at her. Then he said, “Am I going to be extradited to LA?”

“I don’t know if extradited is the right word. Sergeant Decker was sent here to take you and your brother back to Los Angeles.”

Gil looked at the ceiling. “In a way, it’s a relief. I shouldn’t have left in the first place. But in a panic you make bad decisions.”

“Why didn’t you go to the police?”

“I had reasons.”

Rina moved closer and spoke softly. “Your dad warned you off with the porcelain dogs.”