Sanctuary (8 page)

Decker shuffled his feet. “How long has your mother been gone, kids?”

Minda said, “About half an hour. Before
Joker in the Deck
…will you look at
that
! She won a whole living room full of furniture! I can’t
believe
it!”

Decker smiled tightly. “Is anyone hungry?” He looked at the youngest. “Are you hungry, Pessy?”

“He’ll wait,” Mendel said.

“Don’t be such a meanie, Mendel,” Minda said. “Are you hungry, Pessy?”

The little boy looked at his brother. His brother nodded. Pessy said, “I’m a little hungry.”

“I can fix you a sandwich,” Decker said. “What would you like? Tuna? Egg salad? Peanut butter and jelly?”

“Peanut butter and jelly,” Pessy said. “Please.”

“Coming right up.” Decker stood. “How about you, Mendel? Anything?”

Mendel blushed. “I’m okay.”

“You’re sure?”

Minda said, “Go ahead, Mendel. You already checked out the kitchen. It was fine.”

Mendel glared at his sister. Decker said, “I’m glad you checked out the kitchen. I want you kids to feel comfortable here.”

Minda said, “Thank you very much. And thank you
for letting us stay here. I’ve never seen a game like this in my life. It’s
fascinating
!”

“It’s
beetul Torah
,” Mendel said.

“Mendel, relax, okay?” Minda said. “It’s vacation!”

Decker smiled. “I’ll make you a sandwich, Pessy. Who else is hungry?”

Slowly, the younger girl raised her hand. Decker hadn’t really noticed her before. She was so waifish, so thin, Decker wondered if she wasn’t undernourished. Her name was Bryna. Not that she told Decker her name. Minda volunteered the information.

Mercifully, Decker heard a key being inserted in the front lock. The door opened, Rina shouting out hello.

“We’re in the dining room,” Decker shouted back.

Rina walked in, Hannah riding her hip. Decker smiled at his daughter, then relieved his wife of her sitting appendage.

“Hello, Hannah Rosie!” Decker lifted her into the air. “How was your checkup?”

“She got a shot for hepatitis.”

“Oh.” Decker lowered her gently. “What leg was it in?”

“Her right thigh. She has a high pain threshold. She couldn’t decide if she should really cry or not. When she saw me smiling, she figured it was okay not to cry.” Rina looked at the children. “Hi, kids. Where’s your mother?”

“Out for a walk,” Minda said. “Are we in your way?”

Pessy added, “Mama told us not to move.”

Rina frowned. “No, of course you’re not in our way. What do you mean, she went out for a walk?”

Minda said, “Just that she went out for a walk. She likes to walk. I can’t believe this show isn’t a joke. Mrs. Decker, how can they give away things like washing machines and furniture?”

“The show makes money on the commercials,” Rina answered.

“The commercials give the stuff away?”

Rina said, “I’ll sit down and explain it to you tonight, Minda.”

Decker forced out a smile. “I was just about to make some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Why don’t you come help me out, Rina?”

She followed him inside the kitchen. He closed the door and whispered, “What the hell is going on? This woman drops her kids into a strange city, into a strange house, parks them in front of the TV, then goes out to take a
walk
? Is this logical, Rina?”

Rina was concerned. “She wasn’t here when you got home?”

“No, she wasn’t.” Decker made a disgusted face. “Poor kids. They’re so lost. They don’t even know what a
game show
is. They’ve got that beaten-down look…” He paused. “I wonder if she’s abusing them?”

“Peter!”

“I’ve seen hundreds of abused kids, Rina. It’s not an off-the-cuff diagnosis.”

Suddenly, Rina paled. “Do you really think so professionally? Or are you just grumpy?”

Decker ran his hand down his face. “I don’t know. Maybe I’m just tired.”

No one spoke.

“What should I do?” Rina asked.

Decker said, “Probably nothing you can do. If you confront her, she’d probably deny it and leave. End of case. Reminds me of my days in Juvey. Nothing’s worse than murder, but some things come close. Hell, I’m probably wrong. She might just be your average flakey Jake. Occupational hazard and all that jazz.”

“You sound very defeated, Peter. What happened?”

“Nothing. Probably my blood sugar’s low.”

Rina said, “I’ll make some lunch. What would
you
like? Egg salad?”

“Fine.”

Hannah hit his chest and burped. Decker laughed. “You want to go look at the horsies with me?”

Hannah grinned broadly.

“That’s a good idea,” Rina said. “Take her out to the horses.”

“Should I take the little boy, too? He seemed interested in them. He thinks I’m a cowboy.”

“You ride horses, you’re a cowboy. Isn’t Pessy sweet?”

“Yeah, he seems like a nice boy.” Decker shook his head.

“What?”

“The kids,” Decker said. “Their behavior…I don’t know. They don’t react like normal kids.”

“Peter, imagine if you lived most of your life in eighteenth-century Poland, then you were suddenly beamed into 1990s Los Angeles. They’re in a time warp. They don’t even know what tropical means.”

“Keep people locked up long enough, they become weird.”

“They’re not locked up.”

“For all intents and purposes they are. These little religious sects are nothing but cults.”

“Except that Honey brought them out here.”

“Her rabbi would approve of this excursion?”

“The Leibbener Rebbe isn’t David Koresh or Jim Jones, Peter. He isn’t apocalyptic. That isn’t a Jewish concept. The people are free to come and go as they please.”

“That’s what they all say.”

“Goodness, you are such a
cynic
!”

“Of course I am. I deal with the dregs of society.” Decker smiled at Hannah. “We’re going to see the horsies, Mommie. I’ll ask Pessy to come join us. If that’s okay with Mendel.”

“He’s protective.”

“I guess I can understand that. Taking care of your family.”

Rina frowned. “I was listening to the news.”

“Why would you want to do that?”

“I heard about the missing family you’re investigating. How’s it going?”

“It’s not,” Decker said. “Could be why I’m in such a bad mood.” He turned to Hannah. “Come on, puddin’. Let’s go see some horsies.”

Hannah flapped her arms excitedly.

Decker turned to Rina. “This woman
is
coming back to reclaim her kids, isn’t she?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ve never heard of the husband who goes out to buy cigarettes and never returns?”

“Oh, Peter…Honey would never…I mean, I don’t think…” Rina put her hand to her mouth, then dropped it. “Sometimes I just can’t read you. Are you serious?”

Decker was deadpan. “What’s four more kids? My life is a mess anyway.”

Rina looked him in the eye, her own face just as serious. “Life is tough, isn’t it?”

They both started laughing—a release for both of them. Decker hated Missing Persons cases and this one was very unusual—an entire family gone with only a phone call as a lead. Where was Dov now? he wondered.

He kissed Hannah on the crown of her head and swung her around. Again, the little girl flapped excitedly. Decker brought her over his shoulder and the baby nestled into his chest.

Ah, what couldn’t be cured by a baby’s hug
.

What a difference a peanut butter and jelly sandwich made. The younger girl smiled and even talked. She said thank you to Decker, and when he offered to show her the horses, she actually looked at him before she averted her eyes. After urges from Minda, Bryna went with her younger brother, Pessy, to give the steeds some chow. She even gave the horses sugar cubes. Afterward, Decker gave her two glasses of milk and she drank them both.

Maybe she was undernourished.

Pessy squealed with delight as he related his tale of horses to brother Mendel. The teenager listened politely, then tousled Pessy’s hair. Minda’s attention was still fixed on the TV. This time she was watching a word game. She responded to the questions, smiling when she got the correct answers, but the competition didn’t hold as much attraction for her as the prize shows. Decker checked the paper’s TV guide, then changed the channel to
Wheel of Fortune
.

“You can win big things on this one,” Decker told her.

“As big as
The Price Is Right
?”

“You bet.”

Minda nodded gravely.

Mendel went on with his learning.

And Honey still hadn’t returned.

Finally, just as Decker was about to leave, a knock sounded at the front door. Decker opened it and knew something was wrong. The woman, who seemed light-
complexioned to begin with, appeared pale and nervous, hands clasped tightly to one another. Still, she tried out a smile, her voice attempting to be upbeat.

“I’m Honey Klein. I hope my kids haven’t been a bother.”

“No, they’ve been fine.” Decker felt a gush of relief as he stepped out of the way. “Come in. Is everything okay?”

“Fine.” Honey bit her lip. “I’m a little tired. Jet lag, I guess. Thank you very much for sharing your home with us. It’s very special what you’re doing.”

“It’s our pleasure. Rina’s in the kitchen.”

Decker started to walk and she followed. Not a bad-looking woman, if you like cute faces—small features and dimples in her cheeks. She had a nice figure, too. But her expression was full of anxiety. She saw her children gathered around the dining table and forced out another smile. “Hi, kids.”

“Mama!” Pessy bounced out of his chair and began to jump as he talked. “I got to feed the horses!”

“That’s wonderful,” Honey said.

“They eat sugar.”

“They do?”

“Yes. Big sugar cubes. And carrots, too!”

“Really.”

“You want to feed the horses, Mama?”

“Yes, but later,” Honey said. “Guess what, kids? I got us a car! Now we can go anywhere!”

Mendel said, “I thought you said we weren’t going to rent a car. That it was too expensive.”

Honey sneaked a sidelong glance at Decker and blushed. “I changed my mind. Some things are just worth the cost. So we’re mobile now. Let’s just grab us some lunch and then we’re off!”

“We had lunch, Mama,” Pessy said. “Sandwiches. Peanut butter and jelly. And potato chips too!”

“Don’t forget the carrot sticks,” Minda said.

“Yeah, and carrot sticks.”

“You all ate?”

“Each and every one of us,” Minda said.

Honey said, “Bryna, did you eat?”

The girl nodded.

“You
did
?”

The girl nodded.

“
Really
, Bryna?”

“She had two glasses of milk, Mama,” Minda said.

Astounded, Honey looked at Decker. “How’d you do it?”

“Must be vacation,” Decker said.

Honey’s smile was genuine. “Great. So I’ll just grab something and then we can go to the zoo.”

“I’d rather watch TV,” Minda said. “I can go to the zoo anytime. They’re spinning this big wheel, Mama, and if it lands on the word ‘fur,’ they win a
mink coat
. It’s
not
a joke. Come look.”

“
Beetul Torah
,” Mendel said. “Stupidity! What would Papa say?”

“Papa isn’t on vacation,” Minda snapped.

“Minda, Pessy really wanted to go to the zoo.”

“So go without me,” she said without anger. “I’ll be fine.”

Again, Honey blushed. “The addictive powers of the boob tube. Gershon would be furious.” She shrugged. “I guess a day of TV won’t hurt.”

Decker wasn’t about to offer an opinion. “Come. I’ll bring you to Rina.”

Honey followed him into the kitchen and closed the door behind them.

“
There
you are!” Rina said to Honey. She placed Hannah in her high chair and belted her in. “I was getting worried about you.” She noticed Honey’s tired face. “Is everything okay?”

“I rented a car.”

“You did?
Why
?”

“I didn’t want to bother you.”

“It’s not a bother, Honey.”

Decker cleared his throat. “I’d better be going.” He stared at Honey’s eyes. Something was off. “Are you sure everything’s okay?”

Wearily, Honey sat down on a kitchen chair. “Just the news, I suppose.”

“The
news
?” Rina said.

“Something about a family that disappeared. The father was a diamond dealer.”

No one spoke. Then Decker said, “What about the family?”

“Gershon is a diamond dealer. I hear things like that, I get scared.”

Again, the room fell silent. Decker broke it. “Why? Have there been incidents like that in New York?”

Honey’s eyes went to her lap. “Not a whole family disappearing, no. But we’ve had murders. It’s a cash and carry business. Sometimes I worry.”

Decker sat down. “The family that’s missing? That’s my case, Honey. Anything you might tell me is greatly appreciated.”

Rina cleared her throat. “Honey’s on vacation, Peter.”

Decker tapped his forehead. “Anyone home in there? You’re right. Scratch the question.”

“No, it’s okay,” Honey said, quickly. “What do you want to know?”

“Forget it, Honey,” Decker said. “I don’t know when to turn it off.”

Honey blurted out, “I’m worried about Gershon. I’m…”

Her sentence trailed off. Decker urged her to continue.

Honey said, “Just that he’s been acting strange. Then I heard the news on the TV. No wonder we don’t have television in the village. All it does is cause heartache.”

Decker waited a beat, then said, “What does this family have to do with Gershon?”

“Probably nothing,” Honey said. “But when I heard this story, I went to call him. In Israel. I didn’t want to
worry the kids. That’s why I told them I was taking a walk. I didn’t want them to hear their neurotic mother talking about a disappearing family….”

She paused to catch her breath.

“He wasn’t in, Rina. It’s after ten
P.M.
in Israel. Where could he
be
?”

“Ten in the evening isn’t really late for Israel,” Rina tried. “People are just getting started—”

“It’s late for Gershon. He’s not the social type. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t think a thing of it except that things have been…bizarre lately.”

Honey bit her thumbnail and stopped talking.

Decker said, “What do you mean by bizarre?”

“This is so embarrassing,” Honey said.

Rina said, “Honey, if you don’t want to talk about it…”

Honey sighed. “Just that…Gershon hasn’t been well lately. He hasn’t been sleeping well. Or eating well. He stopped bathing or changing his clothes. He walks around the neighborhood, talking to himself. Just ask anyone in the village. Even the Rav says there’s something terribly wrong. But Gershon won’t
talk
about it.”

Suddenly, Honey broke into tears. Decker and Rina exchanged quick looks as Honey sobbed into her hands. Decker found a tissue box and gave it to her.

“That’s the real reason…” Honey pulled out a tissue. “That’s the real reason I’m here with the kids. I had to get them out of that environment! You see poor Bryna? She doesn’t eat a thing. And Mendel used to be so outgoing and social. Now he’s all quiet. We’re all nervous wrecks!”

Hannah started to cry. Rina rescued her from the high chair.

“Now look what I’ve
done
,” Honey chided herself.

“Don’t worry about it,” Rina said, bouncing Hannah on her hip.

Honey dabbed her eyes. “This is terrible. Me bringing my problems to you.” She looked at Decker. “I don’t
know if your case has anything to do with him, but I’ll be happy to talk to you if you think it would help. It’s the least I could do.”

Decker looked at Rina. She shrugged. He said, “Tell me about the murders in New York.”

“Robberies. Mostly, they’re robberies.” Honey took a deep breath. “But once in a while…”

She stopped talking.

“What?” Decker said.

“You hear about people. About people overextending themselves. Making bad deals, then owing money to the wrong people.”

“Who constitutes the wrong people?” Decker asked.

“Gangsters.”

“Do you think Gershon might be in this kind of trouble?”

“Maybe. He’s been secretive about his business dealings. He’s always whispering into the business phone. And I know he gets hang-up calls.”

“How do you know if he doesn’t tell you things?” Rina asked.

“I’ve lived with him long enough to know when he’s in trouble!” Honey bit her thumbnail. “He told me he had to make a sudden trip to Israel. Now I can’t get hold of him. I have to wonder if he’s running away from something…hiding from someone.”

No one spoke for a moment.

Honey said, “Perhaps I’m being overly dramatic.” Her face began to fall. “Look, I need a few minutes to be alone. Please excuse me.”

She walked out of the kitchen. Decker looked at Rina. “The woman is brittle. What I’m trying to figure out is how much of her story is bullshit.”

“You don’t believe her?”

“Not completely, no.”

“Why not?”

“A cop’s cynicism. I believe
she’s
running away from something. And I don’t think it’s gangsters, I think it’s
domestic problems. Look, Honey lives in a small town, right?”

“Right.”

“Since she’s staying in my house, I want to know what we’re dealing with. I’m going to make a couple of calls to her village and ask about Gershon and her.”

“Let me do it, Peter. I know Yiddish. I’ll try to call the Rav directly. I’m sure he knows everything that goes on.”

Decker thought a moment. “You’re right. You call. Find out about her situation. I’m not turning a blind eye to her problems, but I’m not about to step into the middle of a long-standing domestic battle. And if by some quirk, her gangster story is true, I’m not going to use my house as sanctuary from the mob, either.”

“Agreed.” Rina kissed Hannah. The baby held out her arms to Decker. “You want to go to Daddy?”

Decker took the baby and let out a small laugh. “Hey, Hannah Rose. How about a game of chess? I’ll set up the pieces and you can throw them across the room.”

The baby grinned broadly. Decker smiled back. “At least someone knows how to have fun.”

According to cousin Sharona Bar Lulu’s phone records, Dov Yalom had made a call at 5:07 to her number from a booth located in front of an ice cream store. The parlor was located in a block-long shopping center on Devonshire, about two miles from the Yalom house.

Decker started his search there. Three hours later, he ended his search there. He had come up with a big, fat goose egg. Nobody he had talked to had an inkling about the kid. He figured Dov made the call and ran.

Several theories, each one flawed.

One: The entire family was on the lam. Dov had momentarily escaped from them to make a farewell call to his cousin.

Then why would the parents’ passports be left behind when the boys’ passports were missing?

Two: Dov and Gil were directly involved—as perpetrators—in their parents’ disappearances. They killed the parents and split. Dov made the farewell call before disappearing.

Then where did they do the killing? No evidence in the house. And where were the parents’ bodies? Furthermore, why was Gil’s car still in the garage if the boys had taken off in a hurry?

Three: Dov and Gil had
nothing
to do with their parents’ disappearance. But they knew something bad had happened to their parents. They were worried they might be the next victims. So they grabbed their passports and left, Dov making his final call before blending into the miasma.

Then why didn’t they use Gil’s car? And wouldn’t they have
packed
something?

Four: Dov killed his brother
and
his parents. That would explain Gil’s car in the garage. Dov wasn’t old enough to drive.

But why would Gil’s passport be missing, too? And wouldn’t Dov have packed something or emptied out his bank account? He would have needed something to live on.

Five: Marge’s spy theory. Someone whacked the entire family, parents first. The boys tried to escape, allowing Dov to make his call, but then they caught up with the boys and whacked them, too.

If this was the case, Decker would never find the bodies.

No bodies, no evidence.

If a homicide falls in the forest…

Tug Davidson sorted through the logs and reports.

“You got nothing unusual in the bank accounts.” He paged through the papers. “Credit is fine, the Yaloms were current. Looks like the Jew knew how to hold a buck.”

Decker was impassive. Was Davidson riling him on
purpose? Probably not. The statement was made too casually. He’d promised Marge he’d let her do the talking. She wanted it that way and he was happy to oblige her.

Davidson said, “You got interviews with the neighbors and friends and schools.” He squinted as he read Marge’s synopsis. “The kids were in school the entire day?”

Marge said, “Their last-period teachers had them marked as present.”

“When does school get out?”

“Three-ten.”

“And then they disappeared.”

“We can’t trace their whereabouts after three-ten.”

“Did the older kid drive to school that day?”

“No one’s sure,” Marge said. “That’s why I’d like a little more time—”

“To come up with more diddly-squat?” Davidson looked up from the notes and sat back in his seat. “We need evidence of a crime. You got nothing so far.”