“The missing niece.”

“Yes, the missing niece. Shaynda, like Ephraim, has a rebellious streak. She has been typecast as the problem child in the family since grade school. She’s a beautiful girl, Akiva, with incredible spirit, and maybe that’s part of the problem. She has not walked the walk or talked the talk.”

“Specifically?”

“Skipping school, hanging out at the mall with public-school kids. A couple of times, she had sneaked out of the house at night. My brother and sister-in-law came down on her with an iron fist. Unfortunately, the tougher they got, the more Shayndie fought. She and the mother have a miserable relationship. But the shining light had been Uncle Ephraim. He and Shayndie seemed to have had this rapport. More and more, she began to confide in him. They began spending time together—”

“Hmm…”

“I know what you’re thinking. I would have sworn up and down that it wasn’t that at all.”

“Wasn’t what?”

“That he wasn’t molesting her. When they first started spending time, I thought it was odd—the amount of time they spent together. So did Raisie. We had a long talk with Shaynda because we figured no one else would. We asked her point-blank. When she said no— she seemed genuinely shocked—we gave a step by step of what to be aware of. After the conversation, both Raisie and I were satisfied that Ephraim really had the girl’s interest at heart. We had no reason to suspect that Ephraim was anything more than just a loving uncle trying to reach out to his troubled niece.”

“But now you think differently.”

A long sigh. “Maybe. The two of them were supposed to be going on an outing this morning… to the Met. To see the new Dutch/ Vermeer exhibit.”

“This morning?” Decker paused. “It’s Thursday. She doesn’t have school?”

“I don’t know, Akiva. Maybe her mother gave her the day off. Maybe her allergies were acting up. I didn’t think it appropriate to question my sister-in-law.”

“Of course. Go on.”

Jonathan stuttered a few times, trying to get the words out. “Ephraim was found dead in a hotel room. Did Rina tell you that?”

“Yes.”

“He’d been shot, Akiva. He was also… naked.”

“Good Lord!”

“I know. It’s awful!”

“Any sign of the girl? Clothes left behind? Personal effects… like a purse, maybe?”

“Nothing that I’ve heard.”

“Any sign of a struggle? Torn sheets? Things in disarray?” Decker licked his lips. “Blood other than from…” He wanted to say the kill spot. “Blood other than where Ephraim was shot?”

“I wouldn’t know. The police aren’t saying much. They claim that they’re just gathering information at this point, but we all know what they’re thinking.”

Defensiveness in his voice, but it was seasoned with anguish. Decker said, “And what are the police thinking?”

“That somehow we’re guilty. Of course, they have to ask the family lots of questions. But they’ve made all of us feel more like criminals than like victims. Believe me, Akiva, I didn’t want to call you. I know it’s unfair of me to call you. But no one here is able to handle this. Is there anything—anything at all—that you can say to advise us?”