“I promise.” I smiled as best I could. “Thank you, Christopher. Thank you, thank you. Talk about down-and-out. I’d be lost without you … again.”

“Stop talking nonsense. You’re a doctor. You’ve got options.” He grinned. “You can always work for me. I pay very well.”

“I may take you up on that.”

“Actually, that would be a terrible idea.”

“Why? I’m a very good ER doctor.”

“I know that. Competence is not the issue. Once you become my employee, you’re off-limits.” He winked at me. “Can’t let that happen.” He kissed his fingers and put them on my lips. “Sweet dreams, angel.”

After he left, I stared at the mountains, wondering if somewhere within the depths of the earth, there was a creature eagerly waiting to devour anyone who trod upon its path. Of course, I knew there were no creatures like that down under, only those living on the surface of this planet who devoured with equal alacrity.

CHAPTER 5

AS THE PLANE began its descent into Miami International, Decker and Rina placed bets on who would have the most emails and who would have the most texts. They had turned off all U.S. electronic equipment upon arriving in Tel Aviv nearly two weeks ago and had rented a simple flip phone for Israel—a primitive mode of communication, but it worked.

“You’re going to win, hands down.” While seated, stretched out on the leg rest, Rina began to fold her blanket. “When you left, there was an unidentified body in the woods. I’m betting that the department texted you every few minutes with updates even if you didn’t respond.”

“The body is female,” Decker answered.

“Aha!” Rina wagged a finger. “You did check your phone, you rat fink.”

“Only on the way over.” Decker paused. “I couldn’t sleep.”

“Because you didn’t take Ambien. And you didn’t take the pill because you wanted to be up and ask about the case.”

“I just asked Tyler if the coroner had anything to say about how she died.”

“And?”

“Well, she sustained stab wounds,” Decker said. “Don’t know how many and what was lethal.”

“Something was lethal. She was buried.”

Good point. “How long are we scheduled to visit our respective moms?”

“Two days with yours and two days with mine. Your mom’s visit is first. If you have to get back to Greenbury PD, I can see my mom by myself. I might stay a little longer if you’re busy.”

“Whatever you want, darlin’.” A smile. “Even with the body in the woods, I think you’re going to win the text-and-email competition. There’s always a kid calling you every three minutes.”

“Why would one of the children call me when he or she knows I’m not going to answer?”