Martinez rubbed his tired face. It was close to five and his stomach was rumbling. “Maybe it’s different because the Baldwins appeal to a rich clientele.”

“All those places appeal to rich clientele, Bert. Ever call up and ask the prices?”

Wanda said, “Maybe they have a higher staff-kid ratio. Or maybe the docs are just real good with the therapy.”

“Or maybe they’ve got a good racket going,” Decker said. “However, if it straightens the kid out, I’m all for it.”

“But you have doubts,” Martinez said. “Me, too. Let me hear your reasons.”

Decker made his hands into a teepee. “If the kids were redeemable, it might work. Frankly, it’s garbage in, garbage out. I think the survival camps just turn the psychos into better psychos. Because now they’ve learned enough survival skills to be great fugitives.”

“Ditto,” Martinez stated.

“You really think Ernesto is all that hopeless?” Webster said. “I’m not excusing the sucker—I think he deserves more than just CS—but his acting out is probably rebellion against radical parents. Y’all know how it is. Kids experiment and if they don’t succeed in really buggin’ their parents, they didn’t do it right.”

“This is beyond the ordinary rebellion,” Decker said. “The kid left pictures that showed piles of dead Jews. It was totally repulsive!”

“I know you were offended, but consider this, Loo.” Webster wasn’t ready to concede the point. “How do teens act out? Drugs? Sex? Weird dress and loud music? Given the Goldings’ background, I couldn’t see them being too worked up about any of those things. But racism or violence—swastikas and horrific photos—that would get them where it hurts.” He paused. “They were upset, correct?”

“I think so.”

“You think so?” Martinez said.

“Put it this way. They were very glad to see their son get therapy. That was the important issue, not the degradation of a synagogue. Jill Carter is a therapist, and in the Baldwins, they think they’ve found a cure for Ernesto’s problems. Total bullshit. That boy knew what he was doing. In answer to your question, Tom, he could be redeemable, but it’s out of my hands now. The deal’s been cut, and I was part of it. The therapy and community service will satisfy a judge, and that’s that. If I want more, I’m going to have to do it on my own.”

Decker smoothed his mustache. “Ernesto may have gotten the Nazi crap out of his system, but he didn’t vandalize the synagogue by himself. I’d sure like to find out who else was behind the vandalism. Ernesto won’t name names, but maybe we can uncover someone who will.” He turned to Webster. “I take it the stakeout was worthless?”