“So you’re telling me that you’re doing this to help out your brother.”
“Exactly.”
“Your brother?”
“Donatti, I know you’re an only child, but there are those of us who-for better or worse-have siblings.”
“You’re telling me that your brother needs your help?”
Decker scratched his head. “Why is this a problem for you?”
“Your brother has been in Vice for over twenty-five years in Miami. I would think he has his own connections on the East Coast.”
“Oh!” Decker sat back. “Now I understand. That’s Randy-my full brother-although he’s not my blood brother. We’re both adopted. I met my birth mother about ten years ago. Her youngest son-my half brother-he’s the one I’m helping. He’s a rabbi.”
“You were adopted?”
“Yes.”
“So you’re a bastard.”
“Are you telling me something you didn’t already know?”
Despite himself, Donatti smiled.
Decker said, “How do you know Randy?”
“Florida is New York South. Things that happen up here often affect things down there and vice versa. My family’s always had a vested interest in knowing who does Vice. So this guy who was cleaned… he’s your brother-in-law?”
“No. He’s my half brother’s brother-in-law. My half brother’s wife’s brother.”
“Got it. And you’re that close to him that you come out and eat your free time for him?”
Decker thought about it. “I like him. I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to him or his family because of his association with the vic. Is that a possibility?”
“How the hell should I know?” Donatti drained his second scotch.
“It’s just that you’re a knowledgeable guy, Donatti.”
“You’ve got a bridge to sell me, Lieutenant?”
“So scornful at such a young age.”
“I’ve lived a hard life. Neglected and abused. You should know the story.”
Decker took up the scotch bottle and poured Chris another drink. “Did you happen to mention me to your lawyer, Donatti?”
“My lawyer?”
The surprise seemed genuine. Decker affected insouciance. “Maybe not.”
“You mean Hershfield?”
“Yes, Hershfield. I went to see him because he’s being retained for the family. I didn’t want the police questioning them without representation.”
Donatti laughed. “There’s a switch.”
“Hershfield told me that certain parties resented my nosing around Ephraim’s death. I was wondering if that was you?”
Donatti glared. “Do I seem like the type who’d whine to my lawyer? Christ, Decker, I gave you more credit than that.”
“Well, someone isn’t happy.”
“Then I would suggest you find out who’s doing the bitching. It may help solve your problem.” Donatti frowned. “You didn’t mention me to Hershfield, did you?”
“No, I did not. Although if he’s your lawyer, I think he’d know that we have a history together.”
“He knows about your putting me in prison. He also knows that you reopened the case and got me out of jail. But he doesn’t know about Teresa McLaughlin. And he certainly doesn’t know about the kid. I’d like to keep it that way.” Donatti swirled amber liquid around his glass. “Being as you do know about them, I want you to promise me something. I want you to promise me that if anything ever happens to me and Terry’s left out in the cold, that you’ll take care of her and the kid.”
“You mean your son, Chris.”
“That’s subject to debate.”
Decker fixed his eyes on Donatti’s face. “You’ve got to be kidding!”
“No, I’m not kidding.”
“Well, you should be kidding.”
“Let me tell you something, Decker. I was married for three years and never came close to knocking up my wife.”
“That’s because you have to bed her to get her pregnant.”
Donatti laughed. “Man, ain’t that the truth. Being married to my ex-wife says a lot about the state of my hard-on. I can literally fuck anything. Problem is, I shoot blanks. I took tests. If there was one healthy little motherfucker swimming in my gonads, the doctor didn’t find it. Needless to say, I’m skeptical about the kid.”
“We’re talking about Terry, Donatti.”
“All it takes is one little motherfucker from one other cock, Decker.”
“The boy is yours.”
“So she says.”
“C’mon! You’ve seen Gabriel, haven’t you, Donatti?”
“Of course, I’ve seen him.” Donatti scowled. “All that says to me is she probably fucked some guy who looks like me.”
“Take a paternity test. I guarantee you she won’t object.”
“True. She says anytime, and that’s worth something. She knows what would happen if I caught her lying.” Donatti looked up at the ceiling. “Gabe’s a smart little motherfucker. Gifted too. He’s already playing several of Mozart’s piano concertos. How do I know this? Because I not only paid for the piano, but also for the bastard’s lessons.”
“Good for you.”
Donatti looked up. “He has an ear, I’ll give him that much. So maybe he is mine. He certainly didn’t get that kind of talent from his mother. Brains, yes, looks, yes, but not the gift. All that means is she fucked somebody who looked like me and who was musically tapped.”
“Now you’re being ridiculous. Take the test, Chris. Then you won’t have to think about it.”
“But what if she’s lying?” He made a face. “Then I’d have to pop her. I don’t want to pop Terry. I love her.”
“You don’t have to pop her. And she’s not lying.”
Donatti kept his eyes on his drink. “This morning, you asked about my contact with Terry. It consists of my going out to Chicago for a couple of days every other month. I spend time with the kid-pick him up from school, help him with his homework, sit with him while he practices the piano, take him out to dinner, then tuck him into bed. It gives Terry some extra time for her studies. Then after Gabe goes to sleep, I fuck Terry’s brains out. After we’re done, I give her money.” He shook his head. “There are blue laws on the books against things like that.”
“It’s called supporting your child.”
“It’s called being a sucker.” Donatti plunked the glass down on the table. “I want to know that she’ll be taken care of in case I get whacked.”
“I’d help her out even if you didn’t get whacked.”
“I know. You sent her money in the past.”
“She’s paid me back-”
“I paid you back.” He sat back in his chair. “After I reestablished contact with her, I paid off all her debts. They weren’t extravagant, but they were sizable.”
“She wasn’t living the good life.”
“Actually, she was living in a slum, working two jobs, and trying to support Gabe and go to school at the same time. The girl is industrious by nature. But I still rescued her even after she dumped me like garbage. I’m putting her through medical school; I’m paying for the kid’s private education. I pay her rent, give her money for food and clothing and utilities and insurance and books and whatever the hell else she needs. I’ve turned her life around, Decker. I’ve taken it from hell and morphed it into something livable, and all I ask for in return is sporadic sex and an occasional ‘I love you, Chris.’ She fakes it well, tries real hard to make me happy. And she does make me happy. She’s the only thing in the world that I’ve got-her and the kid-and I’m totally obsessed with her. Look, Decker, I don’t want you to help her out of the goodness of your heart. I want you to feel obliged to help her. That way, it’ll get done.”
“She’s on her way to becoming a doctor. Why all the concern?”
“We’re both orphans. I’m an actual orphan, and she’s got a useless father, a bitch of a stepmother, and two nice grandparents who are now too old to help her out. I need to know she’ll have somebody out there-for her and my son.”
There was that real possibility that she would marry another man who could take very good care of her. Decker didn’t dare bring it up. “No problem. If she needs me, I’ll be there for her.”