Stone Kiss

“Or aren’t telling us anything.”

“That could be. I’m so sorry.”

There was silence over the line. Jonathan said, “You didn’t ask how it happened.”

“If you want to tell me the details, I’m here.”

“I don’t want to burden you…”

But that’s exactly what he was going to do. “Tell me what’s going on, Jon. Start at the begi

“Oh my.” A sigh. “Raisie comes from a family of five-two boys, three girls. Both of her brothers are older. Chaim is the eldest, then Ephraim, the one who was… murdered. Raisie’s the oldest daughter. Chaim Joseph is a typical oldest son… reliable, responsible. He and his wife, Minda, have seven children. He’s a good man who has always worked hard in the family business.”

“Which is?”

“Several retail electronic stores in Brooklyn… one on the Lower East Side. You know, TVs, stereos, cameras, computers, mobile phones, DVDs, et cetera. The second brother, Ephraim Boruch… the one who this happened to… he’s had some problems in the past.”

“What kind of problems?”

“Relationship problems-married and divorced.”

“Kids?”

“None.”

Silence.

“And?” Decker prompted.

“Drug problems,” Jonathan admitted. “Addiction and rehab.”

“That probably had a lot to do with his relationship problems.”

“No doubt. Ephraim has been divorced for ten years. His ex is out of the picture. She remarried and now lives in Israel. As for Ephraim, he’s straightened himself out. He’s been sober for the last two years. About that time, he also joined the family business with his older brother.”

“How’s that working out?”

“Fine, as far as I know. He was always the favorite uncle of all the nieces and nephews. He especially got along well with his niece Shaynda, who is the oldest in Chaim’s family.”

“The missing niece.”

“Yes, the missing niece. Shaynda, like Ephraim, has a rebellious streak. She has been typecast as the problem child in the family since grade school. She’s a beautiful girl, Akiva, with incredible spirit, and maybe that’s part of the problem. She has not walked the walk or talked the talk.”

“Specifically?”

“Skipping school, hanging out at the mall with public-school kids. A couple of times, she had sneaked out of the house at night. My brother and sister-in-law came down on her with an iron fist. Unfortunately, the tougher they got, the more Shayndie fought. She and the mother have a miserable relationship. But the shining light had been Uncle Ephraim. He and Shayndie seemed to have had this rapport. More and more, she began to confide in him. They began spending time together-”

“Hmm…”

“I know what you’re thinking. I would have sworn up and down that it wasn’t that at all.”

“Wasn’t what?”

“That he wasn’t molesting her. When they first started spending time, I thought it was odd-the amount of time they spent together. So did Raisie. We had a long talk with Shaynda because we figured no one else would. We asked her point-blank. When she said no-she seemed genuinely shocked-we gave a step by step of what to be aware of. After the conversation, both Raisie and I were satisfied that Ephraim really had the girl’s interest at heart. We had no reason to suspect that Ephraim was anything more than just a loving uncle trying to reach out to his troubled niece.”

“But now you think differently.”

A long sigh. “Maybe. The two of them were supposed to be going on an outing this morning… to the Met. To see the new Dutch/Vermeer exhibit.”

“This morning?” Decker paused. “It’s Thursday. She doesn’t have school?”

“I don’t know, Akiva. Maybe her mother gave her the day off. Maybe her allergies were acting up. I didn’t think it appropriate to question my sister-in-law.”

“Of course. Go on.”

Jonathan stuttered a few times, trying to get the words out. “Ephraim was found dead in a hotel room. Did Rina tell you that?”

“Yes.”

“He’d been shot, Akiva. He was also… naked.”

“Good Lord!”

“I know. It’s awful!”

“Any sign of the girl? Clothes left behind? Personal effects… like a purse, maybe?”

“Nothing that I’ve heard.”

“Any sign of a struggle? Torn sheets? Things in disarray?” Decker licked his lips. “Blood other than from…” He wanted to say the kill spot. “Blood other than where Ephraim was shot?”

“I wouldn’t know. The police aren’t saying much. They claim that they’re just gathering information at this point, but we all know what they’re thinking.”

Defensiveness in his voice, but it was seasoned with anguish. Decker said, “And what are the police thinking?”

“That somehow we’re guilty. Of course, they have to ask the family lots of questions. But they’ve made all of us feel more like criminals than like victims. Believe me, Akiva, I didn’t want to call you. I know it’s unfair of me to call you. But no one here is able to handle this. Is there anything-anything at all-that you can say to advise us?”

Decker’s head was awhirl.

Jonathan added in a gush of words, “And if it’s not too difficult, perhaps you could make a couple of calls? As one detective to another.”

The words hung in the air.

Jonathan said, “I shouldn’t be asking you this-”

“It’s all right, Jon. I just have to think for a moment.”

“Take all the time…”

Decker closed his eyes and felt a headache coming on. “Can I call you back in a few minutes?”

“Of course-”

Decker clicked off the line before his brother could add another obligation. He went to the bathroom, took two Advils, then treated himself to a needle-hot shower. Ten minutes later, he slipped on soft worn denims and a work shirt. With trepidation, he punched the phone’s redial button.

“Hello?”

“Okay, Jon, listen up. First thing you need to do is hire a lawyer.”

“Hire a lawyer?” Surprise in his voice. “Why?”

“Because you don’t like the way the police are questioning you. You need protection.”

“But won’t that make us look bad?”

“It will raise a couple of eyebrows, sure. But weighing the pros and the cons, it’s no debate. Go out and find the best criminal defense attorney in town, and see if you can get an appointment with him ASAP. See if he’ll take you on if things get… complicated. You’ve got to entertain the real possibility that someone in your family knows more about this than he or she is letting on.”

“I can’t accept that.”

“Fine. Don’t accept that. Just listen to me, okay? And don’t talk to the police without an attorney present. Just as a precaution.”

No response.

Decker tried to hide his irritation. “Are you there?”

“Yes, I’m here. Sorry. I’m writing this down. Go on.”

Decker slowed it down. “Jon, I don’t mean to snap at you. I’m used to barking orders.”

“It’s fine, Akiva. Believe me, it’s wonderful to talk to you… to someone who knows what he’s doing.”

“That remains to be seen. After you’ve talked to a lawyer, have him call me. I’ll talk to him directly.”

“That’s it?”

“For the time being.”

“What about the police, Akiva?”

“Let me talk to the lawyer first. New York law is different than L.A. law, and it would help all of you if I didn’t act precipitously.”

There was a long silence. Decker knew what was coming.

Jonathan said, “I know this is dreadfully wrong to ask, Akiva. But it would really help us out if you could maybe…”

“Come out for the weekend?” Decker completed the sentence.

“I’ll understand if you say no.”

Decker said, “Let me call you back in five, all right?”

“Akiva, thank you so much-”

“Wait until you get my answer before you thank me.” Decker hung up. Rina was standing at the doorway. “You’ve been listening?”

“Just for a minute. I think you gave him good advice-about the lawyer.”

“I’m glad you approve. He wants me to come out there. What do you think?”

“I can’t make that decision for you, Peter.”