“He was born with a cleft palate,” Eva said. “It was a very difficult labor. Afterward, I ran a high fever and started hemorrhaging. David was completely useless. Couldn’t deal with it. He just went off and buried himself in his work. Left me to fend for myself-”
“He was very upset, Eva,” Paul said. “He just didn’t know what to do.”
“Well, he might have stuck around instead of bolting.” Eva looked at Decker. “My father had to step in-not only for me but for Spencer. My mom took over the care of my other children while David composed himself. And you know what, Lieutenant. My father never lorded it over my husband-”
Luke interrupted, “Well, that’s not quite true-”
“Excuse me, Lieutenant,” Eva said forcefully. “I’d like to check on my mother now. Any other questions I can answer?”
Decker kept his face flat, shook his head.
Eva turned on her heels and trotted upstairs.
The woman had her opinions. Then Decker remembered her position in the family. The little girl after three boys. No doubt Eva had been indulged.
Luke said, “I loved my father dearly, Lieutenant. But it wasn’t that simple.”
Maggie said, “It’s Eva’s business.”
“I just don’t want the lieutenant here thinking that David’s a total jerk.”
Maggie said, “He was a total jerk-”
“Dad emasculated him-”
“He did not!” Maggie broke in. “So he berated David. David deserved it. Deserting Eva like he did.”
Paul said, “No offense, Mag, but you don’t understand how wives can be.”
“Amen,” Luke said.
“I don’t believe this,” Maggie said. “Another stupid boys against the girls argument.”
Michael came back down. “Where’s Bram?”
“He had to use the phone.” Paul turned to Decker. “Do you really need to hear all this?”
Decker stood, folded his notepad. “No, I think I have all the information I need right now. I’ll leave as soon as Bram gets off the phone.”
Luke said, “We’re bickering like when we were children. It’s all the stress.”
Michael said, “We all loved Dad very much. I think I speak for everyone when I say, anything you need from us to find whoever…”
“Absolutely,” Maggie said.
“Anything,” Paul said. “Just find the bastard and bring him to me. I’ll handle the son of a bitch!”
Decker said, “Let the police handle it, please.”
“Fucking asshole-”
“Paul, please!” Maggie said.
“Probably some bastard carjacker.” Luke began to pace. “Crime’s unbelievable in this city.”
Paul looked pointedly at Decker. “That’s what happens when the police handle it.”
Decker said, “Sir, I know-”
“Dad didn’t drive an expensive car,” Michael butted in. “Why would anyone carjack a Buick?”
“They use the car for crime,” Paul said. “They see an old guy, they think easy target. Knowing Dad, he probably resisted.” To Decker, he said, “My father was tough. He wouldn’t give up without a fight, I could tell you that much.”
Bram came back in.
“Emergency?” Michael asked.
“No, somebody from my church just using my emergency line. I have a feeling I’m going to get a lot of that tonight. Where’s Eva?”
Paul pointed up.
Bram sighed, looked at Decker. “Can I go make peace with my sister? We are all kind of fragile right now.”
Decker nodded. Bram left the room. Luke said, “Eva’s marriage is…” He splayed his hand and rocked his wrist back and forth.
“It’s not any of his business,” Michael said.
“But it does explain her behavior,” Luke said.
Bram came down a moment later, hugging Eva who was sobbing in his arms. The priest said, “Maggie, can you take Eva into the kitchen and make her a cup of tea?”
Maggie swooped her sister into her arms. As they headed for the kitchen, Maggie began to cry.
Luke said, “I think the reality of what happened is finally dawning on us.”
Bram closed and opened his eyes. “Who’s staying with Mom?”
“Nobody has to stay,” Michael said. “I can take care of Mom.”
“You’re going home, Paul?” Luke asked.
“No, I don’t want to go home tonight. I just can’t face…” Paul stopped talking, sighed. “Maybe I’ll take a drive.”
“Be careful, bro,” Bram said.
“Yeah.”
“I mean that.”
“I know you do, Golden Boy.”
A moment passed. Then Paul and Bram embraced.
“Get some sleep,” Bram told his brother.
“A nice thought, but not likely.” Paul left, gently closing the front door behind him.
To Luke, Bram said, “What about you?”
“Think I’ll stick around.” Luke averted his eyes. “Can you do me a favor, Golden Boy?”
“What?”
“Call Dana for me.”
“Lucas-”
“Abram, I can’t deal…” Water seeped from Luke’s eyes. He squeezed them shut, tears rolling down his cheeks. He made a quick swipe at them, then headed for the kitchen.
“Everybody’s falling apart!” Michael threw up his hands and paced. “Of course, everyone’s falling apart. What did I expect!”
Bram said, “Why don’t you go into the kitchen, Mike? Go drink some tea.”
Michael opened his mouth to speak, but instead just shook his head and left the room.
Decker placed his hand on the priest’s shoulder. “Ready?”
Bram nodded. On the way out, he said, “Thank you for helping me through that terrible ordeal earlier in the evening.”
“Are you all right?”
Bram shook his head. “I don’t know. I had to see him…to make sure. But heavens, it was…painful…”
“I hope I can give you all some resolution quickly.” Decker opened the passenger door to the Volare. “I’ll get you a traffic cop for tomorrow’s service.”
“Thanks.”
Decker got in and started the car.
Bram said, “You handled my family well. Low-key works well with us.”
“They depend on you a lot, don’t they?”
Bram looked out the window. “I wouldn’t say that.”
Decker waited for more. Nothing came. The priest had shut down.
“Do me a favor, will you, Father?”
“How can I help you?”
“Watch your brother Paul. I don’t need a vigilante for homespun justice.”
“He’s just talking.”
“He’s agitated.”
“We’re all agitated. Right now, I think we’re all too dazed to do anything.”
“Sometimes that’s when people lash out.”
Bram sat back in his seat. “Violent city we live in. No regard for human life. It’s terrible.”
“Often these things do get solved if you’re persistent and patient,” Decker said. “I try to be optimistic. But I don’t want to get anyone’s hopes up too high.”
Bram laughed, a sad sound. “I fervently believe in God, Lieutenant. But I’ve given up believing in miracles.”
7
Cradling the phone in the crook of his neck, Scott Oliver flipped through his notes. The machine must have had a hands-off feature, but Oliver couldn’t figure out how to use it. To Decker, he said, “The secretary claims she left the hospital around eight. Decameron says he left with Sparks about a quarter to. They walked out to the doctors’ lot together. Decameron had pissed Sparks off and was trying to smooth things over.”
“Which means Decameron was probably the last person at the hospital to see Sparks alive,” Marge spoke from the extension in Heather Manley’s office.
“How’d Decameron anger Sparks?” Decker asked.
“Apparently, Decameron read some of Dr. Sparks’s data without his permission. A big no-no.”
“I can see that,” Decker said. “I hate snoops.”
Marge said, “He wasn’t snooping really, just excited about some positive data concerning Sparks’s pet research project.”
Oliver said, “Decameron said he apologized and Sparks accepted it. End of story.”