“Detective, sometimes you’re just too close to notice things. I should have been suspicious when Melinda wanted to learn poker from her father, but I just thought it was cute. I should have been suspicious when Mark taught her craps, but I just thought it was father-daughter bonding. I should have been suspicious the first time we took her to Vegas when she was twelve and she begged us to let her put a quarter in one of the slots. And we capitulated even though we could have gotten kicked out of the casino. I just thought she was enthusiastic. By the time I actually got a healthy dose of suspicion, it was too late. Maybe that’s what happened to Bennett. By the time he actually noticed the monster, there was already a gun to his head.”

ANOTHER LATE NIGHT. Decker pulled the car over a half block from home and made the call from there. He didn’t want Rina to overhear because he knew what she’d say. He was prepared to leave a message and was surprised when Donatti answered. It was almost one in the morning back east.

“You’re in bed.”

“I wish. I haven’t slept in twenty-four hours.”

“Cut down on the uppers, Chris. They’re bad for your liver, plus they’ll turn your baby blues a nasty shade of red.”

“What do you want now?”

“Rudy Banks is missing.”

“And?”

“I thought you might be able to help out.”

“Jesus, Decker, I barely know what’s going on in my territory, let alone three thousand miles away. What do you expect me to do?”

“Just ask around, all right? We found blood in his apartment.”

“Don’t you have techs for that kind of thing?”

“Yes, we do. I think it’s a crime scene, but I don’t think it’s Rudy’s blood.”

“If it’s not Rudy, what do you care?”

“See, that’s the problem. I do care. All you have to do is call up your ill-tempered producer friend Sal and have him ask around. At the very least, it would be handy to know if Banks is alive or dead.”

“What am I getting out of it?”

“You get me as your father figure. Better than that demon seed who spawned you or the monster who raised you.”

“It’s true I haven’t had luck with fathers. So why the fuck would I want you?”

“Because deep down, Chris, there’s a little boy inside crying for help. Oh, wait. I forgot. Deep down inside, you’re a stone-cold psychopath.”

Donatti’s comeback was to cut the line. Decker folded back his cell and stowed it in his pocket. He had a smile on his face.

CHAPTER 25