Cindy cocked her hip. “I understand why you think Vitton’s suicide is related to the Little homicide. It’s not just a coincidence. But I don’t see what Vitton or Little have to do with Ekerling’s murder.”

Decker began to wipe down the counter, busying his hands while his brain fired—or misfired—ideas. Maybe he should stop trying to shove the two cases under the same umbrella. “The connection is Banks, and it’s tenuous. In the back of my mind I’m thinking that if I find out who really killed Ekerling, it might shed some light on Ben Little’s murder. I need to find out more about Banks, especially because Marge thinks that there may be a connection between Banks and Darnell Arlington.”

“The suspect that was over fifteen hundred miles away when Little was murdered with the thuggie friends that you’re looking for.”

“Exactly. Marge flew to Ohio to interview Arlington about Little.”

“And?”

Decker stopped cleaning the tile and sat down on a kitchen chair. “And when Margie asked about Rudy Banks, Arlington acted edgy. Darnell remembered Banks as an upperclassman and being in choir with him except the two boys weren’t in North Valley at the same time.”

“Maybe Darnell knew Banks from just hanging around.”

“If that’s the case, why not just say, ‘Hey, I knew him from hanging around.’”

“Because people get nervous and are afraid to say things because they don’t know how their words will be twisted around.”

“I take offense. I do not twist people’s words.”

“Okay, not twist. Misunderstood.”

Decker gave her a sour look. “All I’m saying is that there’s a definite connection between Arlington and Little, and a possible connection between Banks and Arlington. Furthermore, there’s a connection between Arlington and Cal Vitton.”

Cindy perked up. “Really?”

“Vitton interviewed Arlington over the phone. That’s right there in the charts. But Darnell claims he doesn’t remember the interview or the cop who talked to him.”

“That’s a bunch of bullsh…malarkey. You don’t forget those kinds of incidences or names.”

“Do you have any thoughts?”

“I still think there’s a good chance that Ekerling and Little are unrelated, unless…” Abruptly, Cindy flushed with excitement. “What about Banks and Vitton, Daddy? Cal Vitton was still an active detective when Banks was in high school, right? Rudy didn’t become a bad boy overnight. I bet he had run-ins with the police when he was in his teens. Maybe even with Vitton.”

Mentally, Decker hit his forehead. He leaned over and kissed his daughter’s cheek. “Good call, Cin; hold that thought. I may need you to retrieve it for me as soon as Shabbos is over.”

“Yeah, wouldn’t it be great if you found out that Vitton arrested Banks for possession or—” Cindy stopped abruptly. “If Banks was arrested in high school, wouldn’t his juvenile records be sealed?”