Liam was concerned. Decker said, “Last time I was here, his TV was playing at top volume. Maybe he just didn’t hear the buzzer.” Decker pushed the bell to a random apartment. He kept doing this until someone opened the glass door to the lobby.

They entered and hurried to Goldberg’s apartment. O’Dell tried the handle but it was locked. He jiggled it several times hoping to prod it open, and when it didn’t budge, he said, “You still got those picks?”

“A good detective comes prepared.” Decker took out a credit card and snapped the lock. “Always go simple first.”

They went inside. The place appeared undisturbed and as tidy as Decker remembered. The flat-screen TV was still there, as was Goldberg’s Dreadnought Martin. Liam picked it up and strummed a few chords.

Decker gave the one room a once-over and shrugged. “Everything looks okay.”

O’Dell was visibly relieved. “I’m gonna stick around until Mudd gets back.”

“I’m going to go grab a bite to eat,” Decker said. “I’ll be back in twenty minutes. Can I bring you back something?”

“Nah.” He started picking some licks. “This baby is beautiful. He shouldn’t keep it here. He’s gonna get ripped off and then what? Maybe I’ll buy him a repro and put this in a vault or something.”

Mad Irish seemed lost in thought. Decker took the moment as an exit cue. He found a vegan storefront about two blocks down. It was relatively clean and had received an A rating. He took a chance, filling his stomach with a burrito of beans, rice, and tofu cheese. As promised he was back at the apartment in twenty minutes.

Still no Mudd.

O’Dell was still playing the Martin.

Decker said, “How long are you going to wait?”

“I’ve got a TV and a guitar. I’m a happy man.”

“Do you have a cell phone?”

“Am I alive in the twenty-first century?” O’Dell gave Decker his number. “You go and I’ll wait. It’s fine.”

“Call me when he comes back.”

O’Dell nodded and stopped playing. His face was etched with worry. “What if he doesn’t?”

“Then especially call me.”

CHAPTER 34