“Interesting timing,” Marge added. “Do you think his suicide might have had something to do with your husband’s demise?”

“How would I know?” She began to tap her foot. “Can we wrap this up?”

Decker said, “Rudy Banks moved out of his apartment about a week ago. Since then, no one has heard boo from him. And his disappearance also neatly coincided with our reopening the case.”

“Didn’t you tell me that you had a witness who implicated him in Ekerling’s murder? Or was that utter bullshit?”

“No, it’s absolutely true. We do have a witness.”

“Then maybe he felt you were closing in on him and he took off.”

“It doesn’t worry you?” Decker asked. “Vitton’s dead and Rudy’s missing?”

She didn’t answer.

“Well, how about this?” Decker said. “Probably one of the reasons that you stopped hearing from Ryan Goldberg is that he had a serious mental collapse. His breakdown was so serious, he underwent shock therapy. I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago. He’s completely decompensated.”

“Did he bring me up?” Melinda asked.

Decker digested the question. Talk about narcissism. Or maybe it was fear. “No.”

“Why’d you go to see him?”

“Initially I went to get some information about Primo Ekerling. Then Rudy went missing and I went back to Ryan for information about Rudy—and to make sure he was okay. Now Ryan appears to be missing as well.”

Melinda’s reaction was slow shock. “Ryan’s missing?”

“Maybe he’s lost, maybe he packed out. We can’t locate him.”

She bit her thumbnail. “Should I be worried?” When none of the detectives answered, she cursed out loud. “God, this is just terrific…just fucking terrific! Ekerling is dead and two maniacs are missing plus the police are breathing down my neck. I think it’s time I hired a lawyer!”

“Sure, do that,” Decker said. “And while you’re at it, you might also consider hiring a bodyguard.”

CHAPTER 38

DECKER TOSSED MARGE the keys to the Crown Vic. “You drive. I need to think.”

No one spoke for the first ten minutes of the ride back to the Valley. Oliver put his hands behind his head, lay back, and closed his eyes. Decker had popped open a can of root beer and was sipping it while reviewing his notes and making diagrams. He said, “Okay, let’s have a go at it. Melinda Little Warren. Lying or not lying about her involvement in her husband’s murder?”

“Even though she is a liar, in this case I vote not lying,” Marge said. “She spoke to us without a lawyer.”

“To play devil’s advocate, maybe she knew that once a lawyer was involved, her current husband would find out about her past and dump her.”