“Then why? Why?” Watery, rainbow-colored eyes took in Decker’s face. “The police said that it was drugs. Why was he with the drugs?”

Decker didn’t answer, masking his silence by drinking the diluted brew.

Mr. Lieber shook his head. “The flesh is weak.”

“Mr. Lieber,” Decker whispered, “maybe it wasn’t drugs. Can you think of anyone who might want to hurt him?”

“No! No one!”

“I hate to ask you this, sir. But maybe you or your son have made someone angry?”

“Me?” The old man shrugged. “I make all my customers angry. Jews are impossible people to work with. Everyone wants a bargain. You don’t give them what they want, they complain. But no one would get mad enough to hurt me.”

“Can I ask you another personal—”

“Ask, ask.” Lieber put the tea glass down on the floor and took Decker’s free hand. “Ask.”

“Did you owe anyone money?”

“Just the bank… business loans. Nothing that would require Citibank to strong-arm me or my sons.”

“No individual loans?”

“None. I have money in a business account, money in a savings account. Nothing too big: Business hasn’t been so hot lately. My suppliers go under, lots of theft… always happens when times are tough. But not tough enough that I have to borrow from the loan sharks, if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Yes.” Decker placed his empty glass by his chair. “That’s what I was asking.” He formulated his thoughts. “What about employees? Any problems with any specific individual?”

“Not that I know of. Most have been with me forever. The part-timers… that’s Chaim’s job. Hiring and firing. We get some turnover with the shleppers, the men who load and unload the heavy boxes at the warehouse. You hire who you can get at minimum wage. Sometimes it’s recent aliens with green cards, sometimes it’s high-school dropouts, sometimes students looking for a summer job.”

“Whoever’s available.”

“Yes. If you have some questions about them, ask Chaim.”

“I would if he’d talk to me. And if he doesn’t want to, it’s understandable.”

“Yes, it is,” the old man agreed. “Maybe another time.”

“Maybe.”

Decker could see that others wanted to draw close to Mr. Lieber, to participate in the mitzvah of comforting the mourner—menachem avel. He got up and uttered the customary Hebrew words of comfort to Raisie and her sisters, then to Mr. Lieber. He nudged his way through the crowd to the back of the room.

Chaim and Jonathan weren’t visible anywhere. So be it. Without fanfare, Decker left. As soon as he was outside, he let go with a deep exhalation. It had been so stifling in there, he hadn’t realized how much his chest had been hurting. Walking down the pathway, breathing a bit easier, he heard a car screech as it pulled up to the curb.

Minda Lieber rushed out of the dented van, slamming the door behind her. Completely disheveled, she had improperly paired the buttons of her dress with the corresponding buttonholes. Her wig was messy and askew. She was flapping her hands and weeping hysterically. Decker grabbed her.