“Such as why didn’t she call Evie Miller? She and Evie were as thick as thieves. If I were Evie, I’d be hurt.”

Hannah sprayed a mouthful of yogurt in Rina’s direction. Without pausing, she threw back her head and chortled with delight.

“Very funny,” Rina said. But she was smiling herself. “How come I can’t get angry with you, Channelah?”

“Because I’m too cute, Mommie,” Decker answered.

Once again, Rina tried feeding Hannah, but the baby grabbed the spoon and started to bang it on her high chair tray. Rina leaned back in her chair. “I don’t know why she didn’t call Evie.”

“Maybe she did. Maybe Evie doesn’t want her. The woman sounds a little odd.”

“I wouldn’t exactly say she was odd—”

“She doesn’t own a telephone?”

“It’s part of the ethos of the village.”

“The village?” Decker shook his head. “What’s wrong with living in a city or at least a town? Since when is upstate New York sixteenth-century Poland?”

“It’s a psychological thing, Peter. Blocking out the outside world. Less distraction. Easier to learn Torah.”

“They sure don’t mind asking for money from the outside world.”

“Everyone has to live, including scholars.”

“It’s possible to work and learn. I don’t believe in welfare for able bodies, Jews included.”

“The Leibben Chasidim are extreme,” Rina admitted. “Their Rebbe has some very odd ideas about kabbalah and how it relates to the messiah and afterlife. It’s considered very way out, not at all accepted belief.”

“Was Honey always fanatically religious?”

“Not at all. She grew up like me. Modern Orthodox. She had a big crush on John Travolta. I think she saw Saturday Night Fever ten times.”

Decker finished his sandwich and didn’t say anything. Rina poured a half-dozen Cheerios on Hannah’s high chair tray. The little girl dropped the spoon, stared at the O’s, then carefully pinched one between her forefinger and thumb, successfully navigating it to her mouth.

Rina wiped the baby’s plastic bib. “You’ve got the cop look in your eyes, Peter. What is it?”

“What do you think she’s really after?” Decker asked.

“An escape,” Rina said. “But so what? You know how stultifying the religion can be at times.”

“Really now?”

Decker was impassive. Rina hit his good shoulder—the one without the bullet wound. “Why shouldn’t Honey have an opportunity to cut loose?”

“You up for entertaining her?”

“Actually, Peter, I think it would be nice to have a little company. Someone to reminisce with.”

Decker smiled to himself. Could someone as young as Rina actually reminisce? Because she was young—twelve years younger than he was. Something Decker didn’t like to think about.

Rina liberated Hannah from the high chair and gave her to Decker. “So what should I tell Honey? Should I give her the okay to come out?”