“Neat. This belongs to a different animal. A Dwight Yoakam CD cover…a pack of Camels… nothing much else.” He checked out the rear bumper. “A D.A.R.E. to Keep Kids off Drugs sticker. Well, well, well. We definitely know who we’re working with.”

“Merrin.”

“Someone in law enforcement.”

“Ironic,” Jonathan said. “I mean… if you think he’s selling ecstasy. And he has the sticker…”

“If I were back home, I could call in the plates. If I were back home, I could also call for backup.” Decker turned to his brother. “But I’m not back home. We should leave. If Chaim’s a willing partner in this, why should I risk my life to save him?”

“And what if he isn’t a willing partner?”

“Then he’s probably dead.”

“Or being questioned… questioned roughly…” The rabbi shuddered. “My wife lost one brother… I’d hate to think that we’ve come this far only to leave another one behind. But you know better.”

No one spoke.

Decker finally said, “Show me the warehouse.”

Jonathan took the flashlight and they walked toward the destination. Neither spoke as muck squished under their shoes. Five minutes later, the giant barn became visible because light was coming from a lower window. It was typical in structure—a large parabolic shape that peaked in a roof gable—but someone had modified it for its use as a warehouse. The great door and apron, traditionally used as a passageway to let the animals in and out, had been replaced by a set of double doors that led out to a concrete driveway and loading dock. On either side of the doors were windows stacked three stories high, the lower right window being the illuminated one. Above the great door should have been the sliding doors, but they had been boarded up. The hay doors on the upper level looked to be intact.

The rain was starting to pick up. Neither man appeared to notice.

“What does it look like inside?” Decker asked him.

“Shelves filled with boxes.”

“More than one level?”

Jonathan tried to re-create a mental image. Both he and Decker were whispering. “Most of it is on one level with very high shelving. Wide aisles because the guys use a forklift to bring the merchandise up and down. But there is a second level with shelves as well. It’s an open loft, I believe.”

“Probably the original hayloft.”

“I suppose. Should we call the State Police for help?”

“I can’t get a line out. Even if I could, I’m sure Merrin or one of his cohorts has a multiband radio that picks up cellular calls.” Ideas turned over in Decker’s brain. “Do you know what room corresponds to that lit window?”

“Haven’t a clue. But it’s not near the entrance I was talking about.” Jonathan stared at the barn. “That door is on the left side. Right below an outside spiral staircase.”

Each one waited for the other to act. Then Jonathan made a decision, moving toward the structure. “I want to do everything I can.”