“Ask you nothing,” Decker said.
“Ask what you and Bram talked about,” Oliver said.
Decker turned red with anger, held his tongue. Rina set down the cake.
To Oliver, she said, “I was willing to tell him. He wasn’t interested.”
“Rina, that’s enough!”
“She isn’t talking to you,” Oliver said. “She’s talking to me-”
“You’re in my house, Scott!”
Rina said, “Let’s not ruin a nice dinner. I’m sure Peter has his reasons for wanting to change the subject.” She kissed her husband’s head. “Would you like some cake, dear?”
Decker glared at her, eyes sweeping over his colleagues’ faces. He groused, “Tell us what you talked about.”
“Unfortunately, there’s nothing much to say.” She cut Peter a slice of cake. “Just some personal talk. About my late husband…Bram’s feelings toward his siblings.”
Oliver said, “He didn’t talk about the murder charges against him?”
“He didn’t murder anyone,” Rina said. “He’s not capable of murder.”
“Yeah, he’s a saint,” Decker said. “That’s why he had bloody clothes in his safe.”
Marge looked at Decker, put her finger to her lips.
Decker grumped, “She knows about the safe, Marge. I told you she eavesdropped on our phone conversation.”
Marge’s eyes widened. “Rina, that’s low.”
“Yeah, sounds like something I’d do,” Oliver said.
“Sorry, but I’m not remorseful. My friend’s life was at stake, so too bad!”
“Think you might fake some humility for my sake?” Decker snapped.
“Peter, I’m-”
“How about some cake, Mrs. Decker?” Oliver piped in.
Rina served Oliver a wedge of cake.
“Too big,” Oliver said.
“Just eat what you’d like.”
“I’m gonna eat the whole thing, that’s the problem.”
“You only pass through once in your life, Scott.”
“You’re right. Leave it.”
Rina said. “Marge?”
“Half that size, Rina.”
Rina cut a piece for Marge, filled up the coffee cups. “Bram didn’t do anything. He’s clearly protecting someone.”
“He said that to you?” Oliver asked.
“No,” Rina admitted. “Bram’s a priest. He’d never reveal anything confidential. But I did find out why he has a safe in his apartment.”
“Why?” Oliver asked, taking out a notepad.
“He got held up at gunpoint several years ago in the rectory. Since then, on weekends, when the chapel’s empty, he keeps the church’s cash and valuables in his safe.”
“Valuables?” Marge asked.
“The gilt chalices used in Mass,” Rina answered. “Silver candlesticks, incense holders, and trays…things like that.”
Oliver smiled. “Yeah, I didn’t think he was referring to the porno magazines.”
“They’re not his,” Rina stated.
Decker said, “He told you that?”
Rina paused, then shook her head no.
Decker took a forkful of cake and appraised her. “What are you hiding, dear?”
Rina sighed. “He told me the magazines were his. But I don’t believe him. He’s protecting someone, Peter. You know it and I know it.”
“I don’t know anything,” Decker said.
“I know I’ve said this before.” Marge swallowed a mouthful of devil’s food. “But why would Bram leave explicit magazines with his name on the wrappers at the scene of a murder? It doesn’t make sense.”
“I don’t know why,” Decker said. “But Luke said his name was on the wrappers.”
“My opinion?” Oliver said. “I think Luke’s name was on the wrappers.”
“What are you talking about, Scott?” Decker said. “Bram just told Rina that the magazines were his.”
“I don’t believe it,” Rina said.
Decker said, “Fine, Rina. Don’t believe it. Can we change the discussion?”
Marge thought a moment, then said, “So let’s assume Bram’s name was on the wrappers-”
“Marge,” Decker said. “Please.”
Rina cried out, “Peter, this is important to me! How can I make you understand that?”
Decker rolled his tongue in his mouth. “What’s important to you, Rina? Proving Bram innocent or hearing the truth?”
Rina paused. “I’ll accept the truth. As soon as you can prove him guilty.”
“I don’t prove guilt or innocence, Rina. I just collect evidence. And right now, the evidence collected from your friend’s safe is incriminating.”
“He’s protecting someone.”
“And you’re repeating yourself.”
“Peter, how do you know the wrappers had Bram’s name on them? Did you see them?”
“No.”
“We’re taking Luke’s word for it,” Oliver said. “A big mistake.”
“Except that Bram admitted they were his,” Marge said.
“He’s lying,” Rina stated formally.
“Rina-”
“So Luke claims he saw wrappers with Bram’s name on them,” Rina said. “So what? That’s not conclusive. Someone could have made those wrappers, put Bram’s name on them, stuffed them with the magazines, and left them at the murder scene.”
Marge said softly, “Rina, if that was the case, why would Bram tell you they were his?”
Decker said, “Darling, what difference does it make whether the magazines were Bram’s or not. It’s the clothes that are incriminating. They tell us he was there.”
“Either he or Luke,” Marge added.
Rina said, “It’s just that Bram owning those kinds of magazines-”
“Especially that kind of magazine,” Oliver said.
“You mean the gay stuff?” Rina said.
“No, it’s not the gay stuff that makes me wince,” Oliver said. “It’s the sadomasochism and body piercing.”
“What?” Rina shrieked.
“Thank you, Scott,” Decker said.
Oliver turned red. “I figured she knew-”
“No, she didn’t know.”
“Body piercing?”
Oliver said, “Needles through everything imaginable.” He held his crotch. “Ouch!”
Rina threw up her hands. “Bram would never have anything to do with that kind of stuff!”
Decker said, “People have secret lives, Rina.”
“No way!” She shook her head vehemently. “No, I don’t believe it. He would never be into something so…”
“Kinky?” Oliver said with glowing eyes.
Decker said, “Rina, why are you obsessing on the magazines? They’re not the important issue here.”
“Because I know Bram. He’d never own things that glorify hurting people-gay or straight! He’s protecting someone. Either that or he’s being framed.”
“You’re turning this discussion into a screed for his innocence.”
“I’m trying to make sense out of the illogical!”
The room was quiet. Rina poured more coffee. “Okay. So I’m biased. What’s the harm in that?”
“Nothing,” Decker said. “But because you’re biased, you can’t help us. Doesn’t Jewish law state that judges may not be biased.”
“I’m not his judge, I’m his advocate.” She sat down. “I’m his friend. Friends need advocates.”
Decker said, “Can we drop the discussion?”
Rina was quiet. But a moment later, she started up. “Luke told you he saw Bram’s name on the magazine wrappers?”
Decker stared at her. “Yes, dear.”
“He said he saw Bram’s name.”
“Yes, dear. Luke said all the wrappers had Bram’s name on them.”
Rina said, “Luke told you, ‘I saw the magazine wrappers and they had the name BRAM SPARKS on them.’”
“Rina, for goodness sakes,” Decker said. “He said he saw magazine wrappers with his brother’s name on them.”
“Luke said the wrappers had his brother’s name on them, right?”
Marge said. “Do you have a point, Rina?”
“Luke didn’t say they had the words BRAM SPARKS on them.”
“Rina, you are beating a dead horse!”
“Can you just hear me out?”