Outside, he tossed the remnants of his cigarette into the road. I got the crumpled pack out of my pocket, got two cigarettes out, and offered him one. At the corner of Allenby and Brenner I said, "I owe you one, Michael."

He blew out some smoke. "Forget about it, okay?"

"Okay. I will. In about five minutes. But while I still remember it, know that I owe you one."

After a few more steps I said, "What'd you think about Davidson?"

Michael snorted. "Sleazy. Full of himself. Not as tough as he looks, and not half as tough as he thinks he is. But don't make the mistake of assuming he's too banged up to cause you trouble. He likely has friends who are just as vicious."

"Don't worry. I won't be taken by surprise again. But what I meant was, do you think he might be my man?"

He considered it and shrugged. "I'm not a detective."

"A part of me hopes it's him."

"Why?"

Because then he would absolutely merit killing, I thought. What I said was, "Because he's the best lead I've got."

We passed the turn to King George Street, the road angling northwest.

I said, "You miss your wife, Michael?"

He jerked his head to look at me, surprised.

"Sorry," I said, "I didn't mean—"

"It's all right," he said.

"It's just that I'm also a widower. Five years now. I miss her like mad."

He drew in some smoke, held it in for a beat, and let it out. When he spoke, his voice was thick with smoke and sorrow. "I know what you mean."

There was that sense of affinity again, the feeling that this man and I were very similar. I suddenly realized how long it had been since I had a friend I could talk to openly, without reservation, without fearing that I would be misunderstood or judged. Not even Greta or Reuben knew all my secrets. But maybe Michael could.

"She died in Europe," I said. "In Auschwitz. I feel guilty, that I should have protected her more."

"From the Germans?"

"Yes."

"Was there something you could have done? Could you have resisted?"

I didn't want to answer because the truth was unbearable and shameful. "No. Nothing. But I still can't shake the guilt over what happened to her, over what happened to my children."