Rina took his hand and squeezed it. “Why don’t you talk from the bedroom? That way I can get dinner started.”

“Fine. I’m starved. What are we having?”

“Lamb chops or salmon?”

“I get a choice?”

“Both are fresh. Whatever you don’t want, I’ll freeze.”

“Hannah hates fish.”

“She hates lamb chops, too. I have some leftover schnitzel for her.”

“Lamb chops, then.” Decker made a face, then went inside the bedroom and closed the door. He kicked off his shoes and stretched out on his California king bed, dialing the number. It wasn’t Jonathan’s home phone in Manhattan, so Decker figured that it must be either his cell or possibly his synagogue, located near Columbia University. His half brother was a Conservative-pulpit rabbi. On the sixth ring, he answered.

“Jon!” Decker said.

“Akiva!” A loud whoosh of air. “Thank you so much for calling!”

“My God, Rina just told me. That’s terrible! You must be going through hell!”

“Not as bad as my wife’s family. At this point, we’re all shell-shocked.”

“I’m sure you are. When did this happen?”

“About three hours ago. About four o’clock here.”

“Jeez. And what do the police say?”

“Not much of anything. That’s the problem. What does that mean?”

“It means they probably don’t know much.”

“Or aren’t telling us anything.”

“That could be. I’m so sorry.”

There was silence over the line. Jonathan said, “You didn’t ask how it happened.”

“If you want to tell me the details, I’m here.”

“I don’t want to burden you.…”

But that’s exactly what he was going to do. “Tell me what’s going on, Jon. Start at the beginning. Tell me about the family.”

“Oh my.” A sigh. “Raisie comes from a family of five—two boys, three girls. Both of her brothers are older. Chaim is the eldest, then Ephraim, the one who was… murdered. Raisie’s the oldest daughter. Chaim Joseph is a typical oldest son…reliable, responsible. He and his wife, Minda, have seven children. He’s a good man who has always worked hard in the family business.”

“Which is?”

“Several retail electronic stores in Brooklyn… one on the Lower East Side. You know, TVs, stereos, cameras, computers, mobile phones, DVDs, etcetera. The second brother, Ephraim Boruch…the one who this happened to… he’s had some problems in the past.”

“What kind of problems?”

“Relationship problems—married and divorced.”

“Kids?”

“None.”

Silence.

“And?” Decker prompted.

“Drug problems,” Jonathan admitted. “Addiction and rehab.”

“That probably had a lot to do with his relationship problems.”

“No doubt. Ephraim has been divorced for ten years. His ex is out of the picture. She remarried and now lives in Israel. As for Ephraim, he’s straightened himself out. He’s been sober for the last two years. About that time, he also joined the family business with his older brother.”

“How’s that working out?”

“Fine, as far as I know. He was always the favorite uncle of all the nieces and nephews. He especially got along well with his niece Shaynda, who is the oldest in Chaim’s family.”