Nobody spoke, then Davidson said, “Okay, it’s a consideration. The boys whacked the parents or someone whacked the whole family. What about the family taking off for parts unknown?”

“We thought about that,” Marge said. “We didn’t find the passports. Of course, the search was superficial. Could be Yalom kept them in his vault.”

“Vault?”

Decker said, “Yalom has a vault down at the Diamond Center.”

Davidson thought a moment. “He keeps his passport in the vault?”

Decker shrugged. “You know, Loo, even if we found passports it might not mean much. If Yalom suddenly went underground, he’d have to establish a new identity anyway. He wouldn’t need his old passports.”

Davidson said, “Why would he go underground?”

“Escape,” Marge said. “Maybe one of his diamond deals turned sour.”

“Guy’s a wily Israeli in a high-money business,” Davidson said. “Maybe he knows things the Feds would be interested in.”

Marge said, “He’s running from the Feds?”

“Maybe he’s working for the Feds,” Davidson said. “Maybe the guy was forced to sign up for the Witness Protection Program and that’s why the family just upped and disappeared.”

“I’ll check it out.”

“Yeah, do that, Dunn,” Davidson said. “Something’s out of kilter here. Poke around the neighborhood. See if they noticed strange suits and ties coming in and out of the house.” He turned to Decker. “Speaking of inside jobs, who’s gonna do Yalom’s partner?”

“Yo,” Decker said.

Davidson turned to Marge. “So you’re doing the paper on Yalom?”

“Yes.” Marge skimmed her notes. “Social Security number, credit cards, tax ID numbers, bank statements and info, passport office.” She looked up. “I’ll also call the Feds.”

“So tell me about the partner, Decker,” Davidson said.

“Shaul Gold.” Decker recapped what he knew. “I finally got hold of him. He seems cooperative. We’ve got a scheduled meeting with him tomorrow at eight in the morning.”

“He seem jumpy?”

“Surprised,” Decker said. “‘What do you mean my partner is missing?’ That kind of thing. But he was cooperative.”

“How long has he known Yalom?”

Marge said, “Sister says they’ve been partners for years. But they don’t get along.”

Davidson squinted. “So what? A lot of partners fight.”

Decker said, “A lot of partners kill each other.”

“Not the whole family, Decker.”

“Except that we’re talking about diamond dealers,” Marge said. “Lots of money.”

Davidson scratched his head. “Money. I take it the partner’s another little, wily, shrewd Israeli?”

“Gold is Israeli,” Decker said. “I don’t know if he’s wily, shrewd, or little.”

Davidson squinted. “I was thinking the guy might be a flight risk.”

Decker threw up his hands. “I can’t find evidence to detain him.”

Marge said, “We don’t have a drop of blood, let alone a body.”