He called Rina. She answered on the third ring.

“I’m still here, but everything’s fine,” Decker said.

“How’s Cindy?”

“She was a pro. Have you been up all this time?”

“No, I’ve been sleeping … restlessly. The kind of sleep where you know you have to wake up and catch an early-morning plane.”

“You’re going to be wiped out.”

“Not too bad. I can always catnap in the afternoon.”

“Then maybe I won’t feel too guilty asking you this. Can you take Hannah to school for me?”

“You’re not coming home?”

“No.”

Silence over the line.

“Taking Hannah is no problem,” Rina said. “What are you up to?”

“I need to spend time with Cindy. As a matter of fact, I’m going to call in and take the day off.”

“Oh my … she must be really shaken.”

Decker didn’t dispel the notion. “I don’t want her left alone.”

“What about Koby? Isn’t he around? Or is he outside the emotional loop?”

“The man is crazy about her. Getting him to leave Cindy was like peeling Super Glue off the fingertips, but she finally managed to convince him to go home. I’m sure he’s not sleeping too well, either, but he’ll survive.”

“Maybe you should let the two of them comfort each other, Peter. At some point, you need to pull back.”

Decker smiled inwardly. “There’s no ring on her finger. Right now, I still have seniority. Try to get another hour or two of sleep. I’ll see you tonight, all right?”

No one spoke for a moment. Then Rina said, “Why do I think you’re up to something?”

“Cindy just came out. Gotta go.” Immediately, Decker disconnected the line. Then he turned the phone off.

She gave her father a tired smile. “I’m so sorry to drag you out.”

Decker hugged her. “You didn’t drag me out. I came of my own accord.”

“I can take a cab.”

Decker burst into laughter. “Yes, exactly. I’m going to let you take a cab.” He tousled her hair. “Stop being ridiculous.” He waved to the desk sergeant and opened the door for her. “Let’s get out of here.”

Together they stepped into the misty predawn morning. Cindy said, “Really … thanks for coming. But equally important, thanks for not interfering.”

“See, I can behave myself.”

They walked to his Porsche. Again he opened the door for her. Cindy smiled at his courtly behavior and Decker smiled back, always the gentleman. After her father slid behind the wheel, she asked if she could borrow his cell phone, wanting to call Koby.

Decker didn’t start the motor right away.

“First things first. Are you okay?”

She nodded. “I’m fine, Loo.”

“Good.”

She waited for her father to fork over the phone. When he didn’t, she said, “Uh, can I have your cell now, please?”

“No.”

She had asked the question as a formality. “No?”

“No. Let him sleep.”

“Dad, he’s waiting for my phone call.”