“That’s logical, but you can’t assume anything.” The ice felt soothing. “Are you ready to tell me what you were holding back this morning?”

The rabbi fiddled with his napkin and doused his coffee with cream and sugar.

Decker said, “Just start talking, Jon. It’s easier after you get the first few words out.”

“Chaim called me around seven, seven-thirty. He told me he needed to talk to me in person.”

“You came out to Quinton?”

“Immediately,” Jonathan answered. “His voice sounded agitated, but at least it was animated. As soon as I got there, he brought me into the basement so we could talk alone. He swore me to confidence. And that is why I didn’t tell you, why I couldn’t tell you.”

“I understand.”

“I’m only telling you now because you’ve threatened to go to the police. Not that I’d tell them anything—I’m entitled to claim pastoral confidentiality—but it would open up wounds. I thought it might be easier to deal with you than the police.” He lifted his eyebrows. “Maybe not.”

“Believe it or not, my purpose is not to give people a hard time.”

“I know that.” Jonathan sighed. “Now that she’s gone, I suppose it’s all irrelevant anyway.”

“Talk to me, Rabbi.”

“Chaim told me he had reason to believe that Shaynda was still alive. He said he had heard from certain people that she was okay.” He blinked back tears. “Obviously, someone was mistaken. Perhaps Chaim misunderstood or it was wishful thinking on his part.”

“Or whoever Chaim talked to was lying. Who are these people?”

“At the time, Chaim couldn’t or wouldn’t say. He said he only confided in me because he knew I’d keep a secret. And secrecy was very important. If word got out, bad things could happen.”

“Did word get out?”

“I don’t know, Akiva. I know that Chaim told me, but I don’t know who else he told. At some point, when things are quieter, I’ll ask him.”

“And that’s all Chaim told you. That he had reason to believe that Shaynda was alive.”

“No. He also hinted that maybe there was some kind of ransom demand in the works. And if things went as planned, and someone needed to do an actual exchange of money for Shaynda, would I be willing to help?”

“What did you say?”

“I said of course I’d help. Anything.”

“And Chaim gave you no hints about Shaynda’s location?”

“No.”

“So let me make sure I understand.” Decker took the ice off. “Chaim heard from some anonymous source that Shaynda was okay.”

“Yes.”

“And he thought that there might be a ransom demand. And if that happened, he asked you to be a go-between.”

“Yes.”

“Did Chaim actually talk to Shayndie?”

“I don’t think so, no.”

“So the source could have been lying or mistaken, or Chaim could have misunderstood.”

“Yes.”

“Is exchanging the money for Shayndie the only favor that Chaim wanted you to do for him?”

“No.” Jonathan rubbed his eyes underneath his glasses. “No, there was more.” Tension had crept into his voice. “It seems that you’ve become an obstacle—a sticking point.”