“Weren’t you scared?”

“Of course.”

“Then why did you do it?”

“It’s hard to explain, Hannah. The situation just kind of ran away from me. I was so focused on saving those women, I didn’t see anything else.”

She was silent.

“I had on a bulletproof vest and a helmet.”

“Your job isn’t supposed to be dangerous enough to need those kinds of things.”

“Mostly it isn’t.”

“Except when it is.” She broke away from him and folded her hands in front of her chest. “You were already shot twice. What are you trying to prove?”

Decker sighed. “I’m not proving anything. Like I said, the situation just got away from me.”

“That’s no answer,” she harrumphed. “Well, it is an answer, but it’s a lame answer.”

“It is a lame answer, but it’s the only one I have.” Decker tried out a smile. “Please don’t be mad at me.”

Her face softened and the anger melted away. “I love you, Abba. I know that sometimes I can be difficult.” Her lip quivered. “I do appreciate you.”

“I know you do, Hannah, I know you do.” He held out his hands and she fell into his arms again. “Love you, pumpkin pie. Can I tuck you into bed?”

“I’m not ready yet. I have to sign off, I have to organize my backpack, I have to brush my teeth and hair and put on my acne medicine.”

“Tell me when you’re ready.”

“It may take a while.”

“I’m not all that tired. I’ll wait.”

DRESSED IN A coral silk blouse, a white pleated skirt, and white sneakers sans socks, Genoa Greeves looked a step away from the tennis court. Her legs were bare, her calves strong and muscular. Again, she had her laptop and took notes as Decker recounted the probable trail of events.

Ryan Goldberg had fallen madly in love with Melinda Little. Egged on by Rudy Banks, Goldberg had decided to be a man and confront Bennett Little. But being as Goldberg wasn’t quite right in the head even back then, he had asked for Rudy’s help—could he arrange the meeting and also come with him just to make sure things didn’t get out of control?

Decker said, “Ryan made a lot of mistakes…falling for the wrong woman…the wrong women. There were others. But this was a real bonehead thing to do.”

“Like inviting the fox into the henhouse,” Genoa said.

Decker continued.

Rudy arranged the meeting, but he knew that Bennett Little would never have agreed to meet with him. Little didn’t trust him, didn’t like him. As a matter of fact, Little had been so angry at Rudy Banks because of Darnell Arlington’s expulsion that he wouldn’t even talk to Banks on the phone.