Stone Kiss

14

One good thing that came out of the discussion with Donatti: Decker had never even considered his brother as a source of information. Randy had been in Vice and on the East Coast for a very long time. If there had been rumors circulating about the Liebers laundering drug money, it was possible that Randy would have heard about it.

Decker called his brother on the cell. Randy picked up after the third ring. “Decker.”

“It’s Decker,” Decker answered.

“Peter, my man! When are you coming down? Dad just bought himself a set of new tools and a cooler of beer. He’s got definite ideas, bro.”

“What kind of ideas? The toolshed.”

“The toolshed, sure. But the patio’s all but gone. Crumbling stone, man. He’s got this vision of a deck and a hot tub-”

Decker broke into laughter. “Oh-man-oh-man!”

Randy was laughing, too. “The two of them in the tub… is that an image or what?”

“More power to them,” Decker said. “And Ma’s agreeing to that?”

“As long as she gets her new plumbing in the bathroom, she’s a happy camper.”

“It’s a three-day stopover, Randy.”

“I’m bringing over four guys. You’re the foreman, bro. What we’ve got is an old-fashioned barn raising with a twist.”

“Swell.”

They both laughed, they both let it die down. Then Decker grew serious. “I need to speak with you over a private line.”

“Are you talking from a land phone?”

“No, I’m on my cell. But I can find one.”

“Do that. Then call me back at this number. It’ll take me about twenty minutes to get to the location.” Decker jotted down the number Randy gave him. “It’ll take me about thirty minutes,” he said.

“Then you’d better get started.”

Once Decker got a cab, the rest was easy. Luck was with him because Raisie was home. Jonathan’s wife was petite with elfin features. She had Kewpie-doll lips, a pinched nose, and round electric eyes. Bright red hair was clipped close to her face with feathered bangs falling over her forehead. A loose colorful caftan hung on her body. She put her finger to her lips. “I just got the children down for a nap.”

“I’ll be quiet.”

The Levines lived in a tiny apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The location came with two small bedrooms, two munchkin-size bathrooms, a closet for a kitchen, and cramped space that barely held a couple of couches and a dining room table. For the luxury of living in a thousand square feet, they paid something like four thousand a month rent. It boggled the mind, and Decker wondered why anyone would put up with such usury, especially after the terrorist attacks. But New Yorkers were a fanciful lot, constantly convincing themselves that less was more.

She let him inside but didn’t look happy to see him. “Jonathan’s at the shul.”

“I need to use the phone, Raisie.”

“You don’t have a cell?”

“I need a land phone.” He spoke softly. “I know. I’m becoming a real pain in the ass.” She had told Hershfield as much. “Look, I’ll be out of your hair soon. You and your family don’t have to worry about that.”

She lowered her head in shame. “Akiva, I’m so sorry. This is all my fault. Jonathan didn’t want to call you. I begged him to do it.”

“Be careful what you wish for,” Decker answered.

“It’s just that Chaim thinks…” Raisie stopped talking.

Decker waited. “Chaim thinks what?”

“He has this crazy idea that your investigation may be harming Shayndie’s survival.”

“Okay.” He gathered his thoughts. “And how does that work exactly?”

“He thinks she’s holed up somewhere. He thinks that the closer you get… that it might scare her off. Or maybe tell the people who hurt Ephraim where she is.”

Decker’s heart skipped a beat. “She’s contacted him?”

Tears formed in her eyes. “No. I mean, not that I know of. Maybe. He talks crazy. So does Minda. At this point, they both might be delusional.”

“I don’t know, Raisie. It sounds to me like the ideas are coming from somewhere. Has he talked to you about Ephraim’s death, confided any suspicions to you?”

“The answer is no. But I must be honest, Akiva. If he confided something in me, I wouldn’t tell you. I have to respect the family’s wishes.”

Hence talking to Hershfield, trying to shut him down. “Even if it meant compromising Shayndie’s welfare?”

She bristled, her visage hard and angry. “None of us would ever do something to compromise her welfare.”

Decker was quiet.

“Do you have any idea when Ephraim might be released?” Her voice was very cold. “We’d like to give our brother a proper burial.”

“I don’t know, but I’ll call up Novack and ask him for you.”

Raisie put her fist to her forehead. Then she looked up. “Thank you.”

“No problem.” Decker tried to hide his anger. “I have to use your phone. I need some privacy.”

“In the back bed-” She sighed with a heavy heart. “Akiva, don’t be upset with me. Don’t be mad. Please. If Jonathan knew that I’ve upset you, he’d be very angry. He adores you… absolutely worships the ground you walk on.” Tears fell down her cheeks. “I’ve lost my brother. Please be patient.”

Decker ran his hand down his face. The woman was in mourning for a dead brother, had two small children, and was under terrible strain. “Raisie, I’m sorry. I’m very pushy when I work. It’s an occupational hazard. I’ll call up Novack for you as soon as I make this other call.”

“Thank you so much.”

“You know what? How about if I use the phone in the kitchen, and you go lie down?”

She wiped her face. “I need to get some things done.”

“You’re in mourning. You’re not supposed to be working at all.”

“We haven’t started the shiva yet.”

“So get some rest while you can.”

“It’s actually a good idea.” Tears in her eyes. “I’m so tired!”

“Rest, Raisie.”

Finally, she agreed. Decker waited until she was out of sight. Then he dialed the number that Randy had given him.

“It’s me,” Randy said. “Go.”

Decker whispered, “Money laundering. Emmanuel Lieber. He owns a chain of discount electronic-equipment stores. Cameras, computers, phones, radios, stereos… stuff like that. Business has been hard lately. Four days ago, one of his sons was murdered. Ephraim Lieber. He had a history of drug problems. He was with his niece. Now she’s missing.”

“How old?”

“The niece is fifteen. Also, there’s another brother I want you to check out. Chaim spelled Charles-Henry-Adam-Ida-Mary.”

“Last name is L-E-I-B-E-R?”

“L-I-E-B-E-R.”

“And the vic’s first name?”

Decker spelled Ephraim, then Shaynda.

“Got it,” Randy said. “Ephraim Lieber… Lieber…” A five-second pause. “No, none of it rings a bell. I take it they all are Jewish?”

“Yep.”

“Chasidic?”

“Yes. Exactly. Why?”

Randy said, “We’ve had a few cases where your religious brethren have done some naughty things regarding illegal substances.”

“What kind of substances?”

“The gamut from what I remember. I’ll look it up for you, Peter. Mostly, we get the Chasids on more typical charges-slumlording, rest-home fraud, tax evasion. And soliciting. You’d be surprised how many of these religious types pay for pussy. Born-again Christians as well as Jews. Course, we got a lot of pussy for sale in Miami. Anyway, I’ll check around.”

“Thanks, Randy. So I’ll see you when you get down to Gainesville.”

“You bet. I’ll call you if I find out anything.”

“Thanks.”

“Pete, I know I’m your baby brother. And I always will be your baby bro. But let me give you a solid word of advice. Cause I know the East Coast, and you don’t. Those guys, they’re nothing but trouble. Don’t put your balls on the line. They won’t appreciate it.”

“You’re not the first one who’s told me that.” A pause. “You’re not the second one, either.”

“Then maybe you should listen.”

“Maybe I should.”

“But you won’t.” Randy sighed. “You’re a stubborn guy. Not unlike the other Decker kinfolk I’ve known.”

“It runs in the family, Randy.”

“We’re adopted, Peter.”

“Well, there you go, baby bro. Genes aren’t everything.”

It was time to touch base with Novack. Their last interaction had left the New York detective testy, and Decker didn’t want to leave with a sour taste. And Raisie had asked about the release of her brother’s body. He took out his cell and punched in the numbers. When he answered, Decker asked him how the game went.

“Like you don’t know?” Exasperation. “You know who they were playing against.”

“The Lakers.”

“More L.A. wise guys who think they’re God.”

“Now you’re being sore.”

“You see the game?”

“I heard the game,” Decker answered. “Shaq fouled out in the fourth, but Kobe brought it home in overtime.”

“Yada, yada, yada,” Novack said. “How’d it go?”

“How’d what go?”

“With C.D.?”

“Oh yeah, that. Nothing.”

“He wasn’t in.”

“No, I saw him. He even offered me coffee. I drank it and am still alive to tell the tale. So I guess it wasn’t laced with strychnine.”

“What’d you think of his place?”

“We talked in the reception area.” The truth, but not the whole truth. “He has a metal detector right when you come in.”

“Probably has a lot more than that.”

“I’m sure he packs, but I didn’t see it,” Decker said. “Have you ever been inside the place?”

“Nope. Never had the occasion. You ask him about the murder?”

“Yeah.” Decker waited an appropriate amount of time. “He didn’t say anything, of course. I thought maybe I could read his face, but he’s pretty stony.”

“It’s his specialty.”

“I gave him my card. If I suddenly get whacked, you’ll know who to interrogate.”

“That ain’t funny, Decker.”

“I’m leaving tomorrow, Mick. I don’t think C.D. will follow me to L.A. And if he does, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

“You’re sounding blasé about rather serious matters.”

“That’s jet lag talking. There is a purpose to this call. My relatives want to know when Ephraim’s body will be released for burial. No pressure: I just told them I’d make the call.”

“I think I heard something about releasing the body tomorrow. I’ll get back to them.”

“Appreciate it. Anything new?”

“Wish I could tell you different, Pete, but no. Nothing’s new. By the way, I put out a couple of feelers into whatshisface… Marino… the police chief in Quinton.”

“Virgil Merrin. Good idea. Anything?”

“Nothing so far, but I’m sure you expected that.”

“Why should anything be easy?” Decker told him.

“Hey, we’ll solve it,” Novack insisted. “But it ain’t gonna be a slam dunk. You want that, talk to Shaq. Look, if I don’t see you again, it was nice meeting you.”

“Likewise,” Decker answered. “Thanks for everything, Novack. Maybe one day I can reciprocate. You have my number. If you’re ever in L.A., give me a call.”

“Thanks, Lieutenant, but I think I’ll pass. You all are too tan and thin for my taste. And way too passive.”

“We call it ‘easygoing.’ ”

“That’s a buzzword for apathy. One thing New Yorkers aren’t, and that’s apathetic. Not your fault, Decker. It’s all the sunshine out West. It cooks the brain.”