Wide-eyed, she shook her head furiously. Then she grabbed on to Chris. “Can we please leave, Mr. Donatti. I’ll do anything you want. I swear I will. Anything! Just don’t make me go back with him.”
At that moment, the little girl meant her every word. For Donatti, she would have spread her legs in an eye blink. It made Decker sick to the core.
“Please, Mr. Donatti?” Shayndie begged.
“Sure. You did a good job.”
“Thank you!” She burst into tears.
“Wait here a moment, Shayndie. I want to talk-”
“Don’t leave me!” She glommed on to his body. “Please, don’t-”
“Stop it!” Donatti plucked her off his body, as if he were dusting off a piece of lint. He spoke low and menacing. “You wait here, understand?”
“Don’t make me go with him.”
“Did I say that?” He took her by the shoulders and shook her hard. “Did I say that?”
“No.”
“You shut up, you stay put, and let me get rid of him! Then we can both go back.”
Tears were pouring down her cheeks. But she nodded okay.
Donatti took several large strides forward, looped his arm around Decker’s back, and drew him out of Shayndie’s earshot. With her protector at a distance, Shayndie started to move toward him. Immediately, Donatti warned her back with a look. To Decker, he said, “She’s a virgin.”
Decker regarded Donatti’s face. “How do you know?”
“Because I asked her.”
“And you think she’s telling the truth?”
“I know she is. Before I nailed her, I asked her. I told her it was very, very important that she tell me the truth. I told her I didn’t care a rat’s ass one way or the other, but it had to be the truth. Because the one thing I hated was being lied to. She swore. She wasn’t lying. She was a virgin.”
Decker took in his eyes. “A few seconds ago, you said she is a virgin. Present tense.”
Donatti looked at him in mock confusion. “Did I say that?”
“Yes, you did.”
Chris smiled enigmatically.
Bastard. Decker said, “Okay, Donatti, where do we go from here?”
“I’ll contact you.”
“What about her parents?”
“Nothing until I contact you. You tell her parents, all bets are off. You tell her parents, that also means you broke your word. That means you’re a dead man.”
“Then it’s a good thing my will’s in order. When will you contact me?”
“I don’t know. You’ll have to be patient.”
“Patience is my middle name. Right now, I’m inclined to poke around closer to home. See if I can find out who these religious guys are, now that I know she’s safe with you. I’m assuming that my nosing about won’t step on your toes?”
“Not at all. I don’t know anything about the hit. More important, I don’t care. If all the Jews in the world suddenly dropped dead, I’d be happy. More money for me.”
“You’re a hopeless sentimentalist, Donatti, just like the Nazis.”
“You know I’m not a big Wagner fan.”
Decker said, “If I come up with some faces, I’ll want to talk to her again. What do I do?”
Donatti said, “I’ll call you.”
“And I can show her the faces?”
“If you play by my rules, it can be arranged.”
“Thanks.” Decker rested his hand on the young man’s shoulder. “I suppose I shouldn’t tell you this, Donatti, but you’ve been helpful.”
“Good.” Donatti grinned. “I like doing favors.”
“I’ll bet.” Decker started to walk away. Donatti caught him by the arm. “I fooled around with her, Decker, but she’s still whole. Out of respect for you, I didn’t fuck her.”
Decker nodded. “I appreciate it.” He waited a moment. “Did she know anything sexually?”
Donatti’s lips curled upward. “I usually charge money for details, Lieutenant.”
Decker kept his anger inside. He spoke deliberately. “Should I be concerned about a molestation angle?”
“You know, I don’t think I’ve been with someone that innocent since Terry.” Donatti let out a soft laugh. “Jesus, even Terry knew what a hard-on was. I’m sure last night was the first time that Shayndie had ever seen a cock, let alone touched one. That girl is from another century.”
Decker was quiet.
“She wasn’t being diddled,” Donatti said. “I’d stake my life on it.”
“All right. That’s helpful.”
Donatti looked upward. “Do you have any idea how much I could get for her in the white-slave trade? I have at least three Middle Eastern clients who’d give a fortune to rape a Jewish virgin. They’d whisk her out in a private plane, take her to their country, pass her around, then sell her to a brothel.”
Decker blurted, “Whatever you’d charge, I’ll pay it.”
“You couldn’t afford it.” Donatti bit his lip. “Maybe we can arrange a trade with your wife.” Immediately, he backed away, holding out his palms for a shield. “I’m kidding! Don’t worry. I’ll keep Shayndie safe. After you find out what happened, and it’s okay for her to go home, I’ll return her to you-unharmed and intact.”
Decker was still breathing hard. “Thanks. Thanks a lot, Chris.”
“That makes another favor you owe me.”
“You’re keeping score.”
“You bet your Jewish ass I’m keeping score.”
20
Decker awoke with a jolt, drenched in sweat and shaking. It was eight in the morning-Rina had already left the bed-and since sleep was out of the question, he decided to grab the day. Knowing that Shayndie was alive and relatively safe, he could concentrate on the murder. Since Chaim had shown only scant interest in his brother’s homicide, Decker was forced to interview the only person who had truly felt every inch of the loss. Emmanuel Lieber was sitting shiva at his house in Quinton. The idea of intruding upon an old man’s sorrow made Decker feel queasy, but if it brought results, perhaps it would be worth it. After a quick recitation of the morning prayers, he mentally planned his day. First he’d pay the shiva call, then he’d contact Micky Novack, hoping that the detective had made headway on the case. By then, maybe he’d hear from Donatti.
Maybe.
Decker didn’t want to change his ticket a third time. But if Donatti didn’t deliver the girl today, Decker would be forced to rearrange his flight. His conscience wouldn’t let him do anything less. Shaynda’s safety was paramount.
The trick was how to explain it to Rina.
His wife was sitting with Hannah at the breakfast table, the little girl garbed in a new red wool sweater and pleated red-black-and-white houndstooth check skirt. There were sneakers on her feet, and her nose was buried in a book. Decker kissed his wife, then his daughter.
“You look like you’re ready to play the bagpipes,” he quipped.
Hannah didn’t answer him. Absorbed in her book, she didn’t even hear him.
Rina smiled. “I like bagpipes.” She looked her husband up and down. “I’ve got a brilliant idea, Peter. I’ll play the bagpipes if you wear a kilt.”
“My legs are private property.” He poured a big bowl of Cheerios and put two pieces of bread in the toaster. “Where are you and the little lassie off to today?”
“Hannah’s going to play with her new New York best friend. I’m going shopping.”
“What a shock!”
“Make fun all you want. The bargains are too good to resist.”
“I begrudge you nothing. Are you taking the car?”
“No, I have a ride into the city. I figured that you’d need the car.”
“You’re right. I’m going over to Quinton.” He filled a mug with coffee, then buttered his toast. “How was the family last night?”
“As expected.” Rina sighed. “How was it for you?”
“As expected.” He turned to his daughter. “Hi, Hannah. Remember me? Your father? The tall one?”
She looked up and smiled. “Hi, Daddy.”
“Hi, Hannah. I love you.”
“I love you, too.” She put down her book. “Do you like my sweater?”