Novack stepped into the room. “Leaving, Rabbi?”

“Nothing for me to do. I feel like I’m in the way.”

“You look tired, Rabbi. I can cart this guy around.” A thumb crooked in Decker’s direction. “He’s probably gonna want to see the crime scene, right?”

“That would be helpful,” Decker said.

“Why don’t you go home and see your family—or your congregation.”

“Maybe the lieutenant needs me for something.” Jonathan’s voice was so dispirited.

“I think Detective Novack is right,” Decker said. “The only thing I’ll need you to do is take me back to Quinton. I’d like to talk to Shayndie’s mom.” He turned to Novack. “Unless you want to come with me.”

“I would except I have some pressing business in the afternoon. Besides, I’ve already talked to her—to both the parents.” A meaningful pause. “If you find out anything—”

“Absolutely. I’ll tell you right away.”

“I feel bad about leaving you, Akiva,” Jonathan said.

“Tell you the truth, Jon, I think it would be easier.”

“And we’re coming into the city anyway,” Novack said. “You know where the crime scene is? A hundred thirty-four between Broadway and Amsterdam.”

“Yes, I know.” Jonathan wiped moisture from his eyes. “It’s not too far from my shul.”

“Where’s your shul?”

“One hundred seventeen between Morningside and St. Nick. Just across the park from Columbia.”

“You’re a hop, skip, and a jump from the two-eight. I’ll drop him off at your synagogue. It’s not a problem.”

“You’re being very kind.” Jonathan sounded so tired.

“Go rest, Rabbi,” Novack said. “I’m sure a lot of people depend on you.”

“You’re very right, Detective.”

Decker walked his brother to the door and let him out. “I’ll call you in a couple of hours.”

As soon as he left, Novack said, “Poor guy. First he’s got a fuckup brother-in-law. Then the relatives talked him into draggin’ you into it. Now he’s feelin’ pretty bad about that.”

That about summed it up.

Novack said, “The parents… they weren’t too helpful. For now, I’m saying it’s because they were overwrought. But I’m keeping my opinions open, know what I’m saying?”

“I hear you.”

“These kind of things. You always look to the family. I guess I don’t have to tell you that.”

“That’s why I told them to hire a lawyer.”

“Yeah, it was good advice.” He turned his head to the kitchen. “Yo, Stan the Man! Wanna see what I found in the bedroom?”

The bald man closed the last of the kitchen cupboards. “I hope it’s more interesting than roaches. Cause I already seen a lot of those.”

“What did you find?” Decker asked.

“Magazines. And not the coffee-table kind.”

“Bad?”

“Legitimate stuff, at least. No kids or animals from what I could tell.”

“Male?” Gindi asked.

“No, female.”

Decker looked at Ephraim’s coffee table. “I’m going to move Time off the pile of magazines. All right?”

“Sure.”

Decker scooted the weekly periodical onto the tabletop, exposing a copy of The New Yorker and a stapled set of loose-leaf papers with EMEK REFA’IM on the blue cover page. He turned to Novack. “Can I pick this up?”