“Ernst got stung by a bee,” Marge said. “Blew up like a blimp.”
“How is he?” Decker asked, shuffling photos.
“Beats me. Haven’t seen the sucker for two weeks.”
Decker looked up. “You’re kidding. I thought you two were tight.”
“Appearances are deceiving,” Marge said.
“What happened?” Decker asked.
“It was mutual. I think I was too much woman for him.”
“I’ll say,” Hollander snickered. “You outweighed him by a hundred pounds. Take a look at this, Pete.”
Another blonde girl, not more than fifteen, was performing cunnilingus on a gaping vagina. Decker studied the snapshot closely.
“I’d say no, but it’s close. What do you think, Marge?”
She scrutinized the picture.
“Too close to call. My gut instinct is no, but I’d check it out.”
“This photo reminds me of a joke,” Hollander said. “What’s the difference between pussy and parsley?”
“Not everyone eats parsley,” Marge said. “That’s old, Mike. Even older than you.”
“Okay. How about this one?” said Hollander. “What’s the difference between pussy and parsley?”
“What?” Decker asked.
“Parsley leaves a good aftertaste.”
Decker smiled, but Marge frowned.
“You’ve been munching the wrong carpet, Mike,” she said.
“You sound jealous, Margie,” Hollander said, grinning. “Maybe it’s your recent loss of male companionship. For a small fee, I can accommodate your needs sooner than the twenty-first century.”
“Don’t make me ill,” she answered, looking ill.
“Give me the snapshot, Mike,” Decker said. “We’ll start a close-call pile over here.” He turned to Marge. “You want me to spread the word around that you’re available?”
“Thanks, but I just met someone.”
“Jesus, you don’t waste any time, do you, girl,” Mike said.
“When you’re hot, you’re hot,” Decker said.
“Who’s the lucky guy, Margie?” Hollander asked.
“Carroll.”
Hollander looked at her. “A girl?”
“Watch your mouth, Mike. Two r’s, two l’s. He’s six six and weighs a hard two ninety.”
“Carroll’s a great name,” Hollander said quickly.
“What instrument does he play?” Decker asked.
“He’s tone deaf,” Marge said glumly.
“That’s a departure,” said Decker, discarding another photo.
“Yeah, well, I haven’t done too well with the musicians in my life. I figured it was time for a change. The only trouble is now I don’t have anyone to play my flute with.”
“What a shame!” Hollander said, holding back a smile. Marge was a terrible musician, but that didn’t stop her from performing in public, usually with her musician boyfriends. No one had the heart to tell her the truth.
“But it’s good for me,” she continued. “I’ll work on some solo pieces and let you guys know when I’m ready.”
Decker stifled a groan.
“Great, Marge,” he said.
“How’s Rina?” Marge asked.
“Fine.”
“You two going to do something soon?” Mike asked. “You’re obviously smitten by the lass. Or is it smote? You should know about that, Rabbi. Didn’t the Jews smote the Egyptians or something like that?”
Decker shrugged. The digs were good-natured and he let them pass. After all, his transformation over the past months had to seem strange to his colleagues. No doubt they attributed his metamorphosis to Rina; he loved her and was changing to please her.
But Decker knew it was deeper than that. Religion had given him a spark of renewed faith, and though it hadn’t blossomed into fire—maybe he was too cynical for it to ever get that bright—it was still better than complete darkness.
His thoughts were interrupted when a young detective with a pencil-line mustache stuck his head in the room.
“You’ve got a call, Pete.”
“Okay, George.”
The mustache turned upward into a grin.
“Want me to take over for a while, Rabbi?” George asked. “All those immoral photographs must be very unsettling to the spirit.”
“That won’t be necessary,” answered Decker. He picked up a receiver on an empty desk. A shrill young voice broke through.
“Ya know, you guys have a lot of nerve. I musta called this number a hundred times over the weekend and nobody answered. What if I had something important to tell you? I don’t think you give a shit who gets ripped off just as long as it don’t happen on your precious weekend—”
“Who is this?” Decker yelled into the receiver.
“It’s your informant, Decker.”
“Got something you want to tell me, Kiki?”
“Not over the phone.”
“I’m not meeting with you unless you tell me what this is about.”
There was a pause.
“Well …” she teased.
Decker checked his watch. “I’ve got a shitload of work, Kiki, so either put up or shut up.”
“I didn’t find out anything about the girl, but I’m still trying.”
“At least you’re honest.”
“Yeah, that and ten cents—excuse me—twenty cents won’t get me a fucking phone call. I do have a name for you. A photographer who shoots porno. Lots of young ones and runaways.”
Decker grabbed a scrap of paper.
“Go on.”
“He runs a legit operation, also. You know—weddings, graduation, confirmations—”
“Name Kiki.”
“Cecil Pode. His place is in Culver City. Is that worth anything, Decker?”
“Could be.”
“Man, I’m busted. Have a heart.”
“What do you want?”
“A sawbuck would sure feel fine.”
“Get me some names of pimps who specialize in runaways and we may be able to work something out.”
“By what time?”
“Two.”
“Okay,” she said. “Meet me at the Teriyaki Dog on Sunset and Vermont. It’s across the street from the kiddy hospital. I should be able to dig up some names by then. How’s your arm, Decker?”
“Fine. I’ll see you at two.”
“Did you go to a doctor?”