She and Golda faced each other in the big paneled family room. Sam was asleep in front of the TV with the game on. Men ran and tackled each other and fans screamed. Sam sweated in his sleep; his face looked relaxed and young. A glass of diluted liquor and melting ice sat on the table next to him.

Golda shut off the set and the women waited to see if he’d wake up. He didn’t and Golda lifted Leah in her arms.

“I’ve got lamb chops for her dinner,” Golda said.

“That’s fine. She loves lamb chops,” Rachel said, and she started to weep. Leah hated anyone crying and she started, too, and Sam woke up.

“Who turned the goddam game off,” he yelled. Then he saw the tears on Rachel’s face.

“You okay, Rache?” he asked gently.

Golda said, “Leave us alone, Sam.”

He looked helplessly at the two women, then took his glass and went out of the room. Golda jiggled Leah gently and she stopped crying.

“What goes, Rachel? You off for a little fancy fucking with your shvartzt?”

Rachel was too shocked to answer.

“And feeling guilty,” Golda concluded. Then she said, “Miriam Relkin told Estelle Fineberg that you took him to her house. She said she was terrified of him, that he was so big, so black, so . . . handsome was her final judgment. So I knew it was Roger Hawkins. The pretty black inspector of police. Nu? What were you doing with him, I asked myself. Fucking him, was my answer. That explains what you did to Allan.” She sounded like she hated Rachel, but her eyes were full of concern.

Rachel smiled defiantly at her. “Everyone’s got to have a little fun,” she said.

Golda wanted to be horrified, but she thought Rachel looked younger and prettier than ever. Excited, Golda thought. Her eyes glowed and she was having trouble standing still. Golda didn’t know what to say and Rachel kissed her friend. “I’ll tell you all about it afterward,” she said. She stopped at the door and forced herself not to start crying again. “Leah hates soft-­boiled eggs,” she said. Then she left the house and Golda ran to the window to watch her. Rachel walked quickly to the end of the block, then she turned, and Golda jumped back because she didn’t want Rachel to see her watching. But Rachel smiled and waved at her.

Tepel locked himself in the car. “I’m laying chickie,” he said. Garfield stared at him. “Keeping guard,” Tepel explained, grinning, and he rolled up the window.

Hawkins went up the front steps and pushed slowly at the door. “I don’t think it’s bolted,” he whispered. He bent down and looked at the lock with his flashlight, then took a ring of keys out of his pocket. He chose one and slid it into the lock. It turned and clicked.

“Wonderful,” Garfield whispered.