“Well, then, I’m going to have to start making phone calls.”

Rina could overhear Jonathan telling him to forget it if it was too hard. Decker interrupted him. “We’ll be there around six in the morning.”

“Give me the flight number,” Jonathan said. “I’ll be there. Even though it’s been eight years, you won’t have any trouble recognizing me. I’ll be the one with the sheepish look on my face.”

Decker pushed his seat tray up in the locked position. “Why do I have to use up my vacation time doing this?”

“Because you’re a caring person?” Rina tried out.

“No, it’s because I’m an idiot,” he snarled as he moved about in his seat, trying to get his long legs comfortable. Flying under the best of circumstances was now an ordeal. And this certainly wasn’t the best of circumstances. “I despise molestation cases—”

“Can you keep your voice down?”

Decker glanced around. People were staring at him.

Rina whispered, “You don’t know it’s that.”

“Yes, I do know. The uncle was a sleazeball—”

“Peter, please!” Rina pointed to Hannah.

“She’s sleeping.”

“She still hears things.”

“I’m resentful.”

“I know that. I am, too.”

Decker looked at her. “You are?”

“Yes, I am. People take advantage of me because I’m such a softy. I’d like to say no, but then I’d feel bad about it. What can I do? It’s the way I am. I was born with a ‘sucker’ gene.”

“You and me both, darling.” Decker made a face. “We’ll give it a few days. In the meantime, we’ll see the boys. That’s not so bad.”

“No, that’s the good part. Sammy’s no problem because he’s in the city. Yonkie has a bit more arranging to do, but he swears he’ll be with us for the weekend.”

“You’re excited.”

“Of course. So are their grandparents. They’re beside themselves with joy.”

Rina’s late husband’s parents. Not his family. What the heck? They were nice people who had endured a horrible loss. “At least I’m making someone happy.”

Rina patted his hand. “Being with you, Peter. That’s the good part, too.”

“You have this way of dissipating my anger.”

“Then why do you look so sour?”

“But sometimes I like being angry. You’re robbing me of one of my few pleasures.”

“Don’t worry,” Rina told him. “After dealing with New York City traffic, Jonathan’s family, my family, and Jews in general, I’m sure you’ll have plenty to be angry about.”

2

They arrived at JFK on time, and ghastly tired, trudging out of a terminal now armed with men and women in camouflage, holding M16 rifles—standard army issue. Not only was Decker bug-eyed from lack of sleep, but also he had gone back to the station house to finish up paperwork before he left for the airport. After rearranging schedules and appointments, he had managed to take off four days from work, coming back late Wednesday night. The most pressing business—a recent string of convenience-store robberies—was now under control with two perps in custody. Mike Masters and Elwin Boyd were handling that one. Dunn and Oliver could take care of the scheduled meeting with the D.A. in the Harrigan carjacking. As they were the lead detectives, they knew more about the case than Decker did. The Beltran arraignment for the GTAs wasn’t scheduled until he got back. While Decker was gone, his pickup could be handled by Bert Martinez—now Detective Sergeant Bert Martinez—who had been promoted just three months ago.