Decker said, “According to Milligan, Arik Yalom had become threatening and abusive toward her and toward VerHauten. According to Arik’s letters, he was being cheated by VerHauten.”

Menkovitz translated Decker’s words to Yalom.

“VerHauten cheat all peoples,” Yalom piped in.

Menkovitz said, “How was VerHauten cheating Arik?”

“I’m not quite sure,” Decker said. “Arik had some landholdings in Angola that he wanted to sell to VerHauten. VerHauten passed.”

“Passed?” Menkovitz asked.

“VerHauten passed up buying the land. They weren’t interested.”

“It wasn’t good land?”

“It might have been very good land,” Decker said. “But for whatever reason, VerHauten didn’t want to buy it. Then there were a few letters…let’s see how I can explain this.”

Decker paused while Menkovitz translated to Yalom.

“Let’s try this. VerHauten said that the land Arik was trying to sell them wasn’t even legally owned by Arik. Do you understand?”

“Cain, cain,” Menkovitz said. “Did he own land?”

“Kate Milligan seems to say no. But I definitely saw land deeds that belonged to Arik. That’s why I wondered what you and Kate Milligan were talking about. Maybe she asked you about land deeds?”

“She says nothing about land deed. Only talks about diamonds.” Menkovitz translated for Yalom, then turned quiet.

Decker blew out air. “Mr. Menkovitz. Milligan doesn’t work for VerHauten anymore. I know that. And I have a feeling you know that. She’s on her own now. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Menkovitz didn’t answer.

“So why would she bother asking you about your diamonds?”

“She still does work for VerHauten.”

“As an international lawyer, not as the director of marketing and sales in Overseas Operations. She wouldn’t be asking you questions like that anymore.”

“But she did.”

“Is that all she talked about, Mr. Menkovitz? Just diamonds?”

Menkovitz hesitated. “She’s interested in Arik’s business. I don’t know why. Arik is small time. But she keep asking questions.”

“What did you tell her?”

“I told her I don’t know. She should talk to the partner, Shaul Gold.”

“Shaul Gold,” Decker said, mildly. “Did Ms. Milligan ask you some questions about Shaul Gold, sir?”

“Yes, and I wonder why.”

“What kind of questions?”

“Have I seen him? Have I heard from him since the murders? Do I know if he is in Israel?”

“And what do you say?”

“I tell her nothing.” Menkovitz was matter-of-fact. “I don’t like Milligan. I don’t like the way she acts. She has power and is bully with it. She would have been a fine Nazi.”

“Why do you think she was asking about Gold?”

“I don’t know, I don’t even ask. Because if I ask, I could say something wrong.”

Decker said, “Have you heard from Gold?”

“Why do you want to know?”

“He’s disappeared from the States. He claims to be looking for your grandsons. I’d just like to know where he is, why he fled from America so suddenly.”

“If he goes to Israel, it isn’t fled.”

Decker felt his heartbeat quicken. “Then he is here, isn’t he?”

“He has nothing to do with this terrible thing. He is an honest boy. He loved Dalia.”

“So I heard.”

“You hear but you do not understand.” Menkovitz shook his head. “Yes, he loved her. But after she marry Arik, there is no funny stuff. She is good girl. He is good boy.”

“Shaul Gold is looking for your grandsons, am I right?”

The room was quiet. Decker didn’t wait for an answer. “Mr. Menkovitz, do you know where your grandsons are?”

Again, Menkovitz shook his head.

“But they’re here.”

Menkovitz picked up a cucumber sandwich. He put it in his mouth and chewed slowly. “Take some food. It will help you think.”

Decker thanked him and picked up egg salad, ate it and sipped his tea, making sure he didn’t rush anything. Then he said, “Where are your grandsons, Mr. Menkovitz?”

“I don’t know.” He turned to Yalom. “Do you know where they are, Moshe?”

“Just they are here, not where.”

Menkovitz said, “We heard from them maybe two, three days ago. My wife…she was so happy they are alive. Dovie, the little one, say they are here in Israel. And they are both here in Israel. But they are not together.”

“They split up?” Decker asked.

Menkovitz nodded.

Swell! Decker thought. “And Shaul is looking for them?”

“Shaul knows the boys are afraid. He thought they come to Israel to hide with us. Shaul knows we help the boys any way we can. Shaul looks for the boys to find out why they are afraid. Because Shaul is afraid, too. If he finds out why boys ran away, maybe he finds out who did this terrible thing to my daughter.” He looked at Yalom. “To our children.”

“Do you know where Shaul Gold is?” Decker asked.

“Lo. Shaul says he looks for the boys, then he will call me. I ask Shaully where are you staying, but he won’t tell. He says it’s better if I don’t know. I think he’s right.”

Decker noticed that Shaul had become Shaully.

Menkovitz straightened in his seat. “I wish I could help, but Dov tells me nothing. Shaul tells me nothing.”

“Dov didn’t give you any idea where he might be staying.”

“Lo. Only he and Gil are apart and we should not look for them. I want to, of course, but Dovie says no, no, no! Don’t look, he will call later.”

Decker allowed himself a pat on the back. He had been the right man for this case because he was Jewish. Rina had drummed it into him. Every identified Jew alive looked to Israel for sanctuary. The Yalom boys were no exception. And if Honey needed a city of refuge, she and the family were probably here as well. He said, “Dov hasn’t called you yet?”

“Not yet. So I wait.” Menkovitz sipped his tea. “Yes, I wait. My wife waits. The Yaloms wait. We don’t say anything, we just wait. And wait and wait.” His eyes misted. “I hope he don’t wait too long. I am an old man. I’d like to see my only grandsons before I die.”

As if she didn’t know, the sign said it all: Tourists were advised to turn back. If not, they traveled the roads at their own risk.

Rina plowed ahead, tailing the Fiat at a brisk pace.

Congestion eased as they moved out of downtown Jerusalem. The road wound its way out of the city, framed by old Arab homes-big houses with doors and grillwork painted blue to ward off the evil spirits. Flower boxes decorated the balconies, impromptu gardens springing up in empty spots. The hillsides were lush with vegetation. It must have been a wet winter. Farther along, past the old houses, were the newer Israeli developments. Hundreds of attractive-looking apartment houses waffled into the mountainside. Then as fast as they appeared, they faded. Once again, the ground was opened for cultivation.

Rina passed olive groves, citrus groves, and cultivated fields. Here was strong land. Here was fertile land. And here was contested land.

The sun was high, beating downward with unmolested power. The road to Hebron bordered on the Judean Desert and Rina had forgotten how hot the Mediterranean sun could be, even in the tail end of winter. She switched on the air conditioning.

The road continued to ebb and flow through hilly terrain. Rina kept her eyes not only on the Fiat but on her rearview mirror. Though in hostile territory, Rina was calmed by the slew of army jeeps she had passed-in front of her, behind her. In about ten minutes, she knew she’d hit Bet Lechem-Bethlehem. Once the Christian Arab city had been a sleepy little berg that had catered to Christian tourists wishing to see the Church of the Nativity. It had been full of tiny little shops stocked with religious articles and icons. The stores had done a bang-up business around Christmas and Easter. But when the uprisings had swung into full gear, tours had been canceled. The result? Lots of empty shops.