Serpent's Tooth (21 page)

“Getting there.”

“What happened to Jezebel?” Decker asked.

Sammy said. “She died. They all died.
Navi
are books about dead people—”

“Shmuel—”

“She was pushed out a high window,” Sammy said. “Fell to her death, then was trampled by horses and finally eaten by dogs.”

“Lovely,” Decker said.

“It was a very fitting death,” Rina said. “
Middah kenneged middah
. ‘Measure by measure.’ She bribed some men to bear false witness against a man in order to seize his vineyard. The poor guy was stoned and dogs lapped up his blood. Because of this, it was prophesied that in the end, dogs would do the same to her.”

Jacob said, “They did more than lap her blood, Eema. They devoured her.”

Decker asked, “They ate everything?”

“Except for her cranium, hands, and feet,” Rina said. “Actually, just the palms of her hands and the soles of her feet remained intact.” Again, she focused in on her sons. “Okay, guys. Now what’s the logical question.”

Decker said, “Why wasn’t she eaten completely?”

“Exactly,” Rina said. “The cranium you can understand.”

“Too hard,” Decker said. “But why the palms of the hands and soles of the feet? It’s soft flesh. It’s the first part dogs would have eaten—”

“This is real sick,” Sammy said.

“That may be but your father is absolutely right.” Rina
looked at her husband. “You’ve really got a scholar’s head, Peter.”

“What’s the answer?” Decker asked.

Rina homed in on Sammy. “Why did Hashem spare her hands and feet? Because she did a mitzvah with them. A righteous deed from the heart. What deed could she have possibly done?”

No one answered.

Rina said. “What do you do with your palms?” She clapped her hands. “What do you do with your feet besides walking and running?”

Again no one spoke.

Rina said, “You dance.”

“
Kaitzad merakdim lifnai Hakallah?
” Jacob said.

“I’m
impressed
, bro!” Sammy said.

“I win the prize, Eema?”

“You win the prize,” Rina answered.

“What is…whatever you just said?” Decker asked.

“
Kaitzad merakdim lifnai Hakallah?
” Sammy said. “It means, ‘How do you dance before a bride?’ There are actually laws on what you should do before a bride…how you prepare her for her wedding, what to say to a groom.”

Rina said, “The one and only nice thing Jezebel ever did was dance with a gladdened heart before a bride. Ergo, God spared her hands and feet.”

Decker nodded, then abruptly burst out laughing, turning red in the process.

“What?” Rina said.

“Nothing.”

“Uh-oh,” Sammy said. “This must be good.”

“No, it’s really nothing,” Decker said.

“Come on, Dad,” Jacob piped in. “You usually don’t laugh like that. What is it?”

Decker looked at Rina. “No, I think I’d better not push my luck.”

“C’mon, Eema,” Sammy said. “Give the man a break.”

“I’m not his mother,” Rina shot back. “He can say whatever he wants. And he often does.”

Decker turned scarlet. “Well, I was just pondering what
would be left if the only good deed a man ever did was being fruitful and multiplying—”

The boys broke into unrestrained guffaws.

Rina stifled a smile. “Is this Shabbos talk?”

Decker said, “
You
set me up.”

“I was assuming you’d use good taste.”

Sammy chortled, “That’s where you went wrong.”

Jacob had tears running down his face. “C’mon, Eema. You’ve gotta admit it’s a funny image.”

She started to leave.

“C’mon, Rina,” Decker said. “Now where are
you
going?”

“To check on Hannah. I’ll be right back.” She left the boys to their infantile humor. When they were out of earshot, she exploded into unrestrained laughter. It soon turned into tears.

Choosing and discarding
a number of outfits. Among the rejects: the brown “no-nonsense business” suit, the red “foxy lady” dress, and the “Bohemian” flowered ankle-length sarong skirt. In the end, Rina decided to be true to herself. A black long-sleeve sweater over a black A-line skirt, the hem falling below her kneecaps. She tucked her ebony waist-length hair into a large black net that stretched to the tips of her shoulders. Attached to the net was a black silk scarf adorned with gold trim. The scarf covered her scalp, the gold band running across the crown of her head like a tiara. Her makeup was light, her earlobes highlighted by pearl studs.

Walking into the station house, into the interview room. A conference table and lots of folding chairs. All eyes upon her. A nod to Peter. He nodded back. Three other men, all of them in dark suits. She recognized Strapp, nodded to him as well. There was one woman. She had short dark hair, focused brown eyes that scanned her intensely. Disapproving eyes, Rina thought. Her impulse was to look away. Instead, she met the stare and smiled. Habit made the woman smile back. Only half a smile actually, before she caught herself.

Strapp invited her to sit, introduced her. First to Jack Nickerson—a defense rep from the Police Protection League. Peter’s lawyer, so to speak. He was in his forties, solidly built. Square face, big shoulders, and a gut. He wore
his jacket open, displaying a tie too short for his stomach. A football player past his prime.

The younger suit as well as the woman were from the IAD: James Hayden and Catherine Bell. Both looked to be in their thirties and were more stylishly dressed. The man had on a double-vented, three-button wool crepe suit. The woman wore a double-breasted jacket and her pants had been tailored—straight leg and vented at the ankle.

Rina sat away from the others, at the far end of the conference table. She lowered her purse onto the ground, kept her hands loose but in her lap. Her posture was straight, but not stiff. Her eyes remained alert, taking in everything.

Peter, Nickerson, and Strapp were seated toward the middle of the table. But Hayden and Bell stood. Hayden was positioned behind Decker, Catherine in front of him, on the opposite side of the table. Strapp spoke first, telling the others that it had been his idea to invite Rina. Were there any objections?

There were none. So they went forward.

Turning on a video camera, the lens pointed at Peter’s face. Preliminary identification statements akin to name, rank, and serial number. What this inquiry was all about. That all parties questioned were under oath. Then Hayden read from the “sheet.” The charges made by Jeanine. He and the woman, Catherine, had some questions to ask Decker. At that point, Nickerson spoke up.

“My client claims the Fifth Amendment, reserves the right to refuse to speak on grounds that he may incriminate himself.”

In a calm voice, Strapp said, “As the captain of the Devonshire Division of the Los Angeles Police Department and as Lieutenant Decker’s immediate superior officer, I am ordering Lieutenant Decker to answer all questions regarding the charges made against him or risk immediate termination from his position.”

Nickerson said, “Responding to a direct order from his captain, Lieutenant Decker will speak for the purpose of this inquiry only. It is therefore agreed upon by all parties involved that nothing said here can or will be used against
Lieutenant Decker in any court of law or at any future court proceedings should the charges advance to that level.”

“Agreed,” Catherine stated.

“Agreed,” Hayden said. “May I remind Lieutenant Decker that he is still under oath.”

“He is duly reminded.”

All standard procedure, Peter had told her. Rina remained calm. Nickerson turned to Peter, nodded. “You may answer their questions now, Lieutenant.”

Catherine started first, leaned forward, trying to invade his sense of space. “How old are you, Lieutenant Decker?”

“Forty-six.”

“How many years have you been a police officer?”

“Twenty-five years.”

“How long have you been with the LAPD?”

“Seventeen years—”

“How many years as a detective?”

“Sixteen years as a detective.”

“Have you ever had charges other than this one brought against you?”

“Yes.”

“How many times?” Hayden asked over Decker’s shoulder.

“Ever made the list of forty-four?” Catherine shot out. “You know about the list, don’t you?”

“Yes—”

“Forty-four policemen with the worst track record,” Catherine broke in.

“How’s your track record, Lieutenant?” Hayden pushed.

“Can we
please
have one question at a time?” Nickerson asked.

Decker turned his head to look at Hayden. “As an LAPD officer, I’ve had one other charge brought against me. And
no
, I’ve never been on the list of forty-four.”

“Positive?” Catherine said.

Decker looked at Catherine. Before he could speak, Hayden said, “What charges were brought against you?”

Decker craned, looked up at Hayden.

“
Alleged
charges,” Nickerson broke in. “They were dismissed.”

Hayden said, “Why don’t you let the lieutenant tell the story.”

Decker’s eyes went to Nickerson. “Should I answer?”

Hayden was annoyed. “Yes, you should
answer
!”

Decker said, “Can you come around into my line of vision, Sergeant? I’m getting a kink in my neck.”

Hayden moved slowly, exaggeratedly. He stood to Decker’s side, leaning forward. “Better?”

“Much, thank you.”

“What charges were brought against you, Lieutenant?”

Decker said, “Assault.”

“Don’t you mean police
brutality
?” Hayden asked.

“Yes, he did falsely claim police brutal—”

“Did the charges warrant an interdepartmental Fact Sheet? Were you questioned about the incident?”

“Yes.”

Catherine said, “Did you go to court?”

“No, it never went that far—”

“But there were charges brought against you—”

“A Fact Sheet and an inquiry.”

Nickerson said, “Why don’t you ask him how the charges were resolved?”

Bristling, Hayden said, “I believe we ask the questions, sir.”

Catherine said, “
Were
the charges resolved?”

“Yes.”

“By who?” Hayden said.

“By whom,” Decker corrected.

Strapp glared at him.

“By
whom
?” Hayden said, red-faced.

Decker said, “By the department.”

“What was the resolution?”

“Unfounded.”

Hayden said, “Are you sure you don’t mean Unsustained?”

“No, not Unsustained.
Unfound
—”

“How long ago was the incident?” Catherine broke in.

“
Alleged
incident,” Nickerson said.

“Answer the question, please, Lieutenant,” Hayden said.

Decker said, “Ten years ago.”

“Were any other charges ever brought against you?”

“No—”

“You said you worked for twenty-five years as a police officer,” Catherine said.

“Yes.”

“Seventeen years with LAPD?”

“Yes.”

Hayden sat down, leaned into Decker. “
Whom
did you work for other than LAPD?”

“
Who
did I work for?”

“Decker…” Strapp warned.

Rina also shot him a “cool it” look. Still, she admired his spunk. The interrogators were jerks. But it didn’t help his case to make them mad at him. Hayden leaned into Decker’s face, waited for an answer.

Decker’s expression remained flat. “I was employed by the Gainesville and Miami Police Departments in Florida. I worked three years as a uniformed officer, two years as an undercover agent in Narcotics, and three years as a detective in Sex Crimes.”

Catherine faced him with intense eyes. “Were any charges ever brought against you while you were employed on the Gainesville force?”

Decker paused. “I have to think a moment—”

“It’s a simple question, Lieutenant,” sniped Catherine. “Yes or no.”

“It was a while ago.” Decker remained placid. “During my first year as a patrol officer, I think a complaint was filed but immediately drop—”

“What were the charges?” Hayden said.

“The complaint—in the singular—was police brutal—”

“So you’ve had two incidents of police brutality brought against you?”

Nickerson said, “Sergeant Hayden, may I remind you that the allegation against my client as a member of the
LAPD was resolved as being Unfounded, which means—”

“I know what it means—”

“Why was the Gainesville charge against you dropped?” Catherine asked Decker.

“It was a complaint.” Decker smiled, then stifled it. “I don’t know why it was made, I don’t know why it was dropped.”

Hayden touched his shoulder. “Something funny, Lieutenant? You were smiling. And may I remind you that you’re still under oath?”

“I realize that.”

“And you still contend that you don’t know why the charge was made?”

“I
suspect
the complaint was registered by one of the
many
people I arrested during the
many
anti-Vietnam War demonstrations that took place during that period.”

“Are you a vet?” Hayden asked.

“Yes.”

“Made you mad to have those punks spit in your face, didn’t it?”

Nickerson spoke before Decker could. “Can we go on with the immediate inquiry, please?”

“So you don’t know who filed the complaint?” Hayden persisted.

Nickerson said, “Sergeant Hayden, Lieutenant Decker was not brought here today to answer questions about a twenty-five-year-old
resolved
incident—”

“He didn’t say the incident was resolved—”

“He said the complaint was dropped.”

“That doesn’t mean it was resolved,” Hayden went on. “For all I know he could have harassed the complainant just like he harassed Jeanine Garrison—”

“
Allegedly
harassed,” Nickerson said. “Speaking of which, why don’t you ask him about the Jeanine Garrison incident?” He turned to Decker. “They’ve read you the charges against you, Lieutenant. Would you like to respond?”

“Yes.”

The room was quiet.

Catherine gave him the go-ahead. Unhurriedly, using his notes, Decker took them through his interview with Jeanine Garrison. Rina was impressed by Peter’s organized mind, by his simple language. His recounting was followed by more questions. Specific questions about her charges. Procedural questions. Then, of course, came the personal questions.

“Jeanine Garrison is an attractive woman,” Hayden said.

Decker said nothing.

“Did you hear me, Lieutenant?”

“Yes, Sergeant. You made a statement. I didn’t think it required an answer.”

“Do you agree with my statement?”

“Yes.”

“Did you notice that she was an attractive woman when you met her?”

“Yes.”

“Did you think she was beautiful?”

“I noticed she was good-looking—”

“Answer the question, sir.”

Decker squirmed slightly. “Yes, I thought she was beautiful.”

“Sexy.”

“Yes.”

“Very sexy—”

Nickerson interrupted, “Sergeant Hayden—”

Hayden shot him down. “Lieutenant Decker has agreed to answer questions for the purpose of this inquiry. Let him answer the questions.”

Hayden waited.

Decker said, “What was the question?”

“Did you find Jeanine Garrison very sexy?”

“Yes.”

“Were you sexually attracted to her? Remember you’re under oath.”

“And may I also remind you that you’ve offered to take a polygraph,” Catherine added.

In other words, lying made no sense.

Hayden said, “Did you find Jeanine Garrison sexually attractive?”

Decker sighed. “At that time, yes.”

“At that time, did you fantasize about having sex with her?” Hayden asked.

Rina winced at the directness. Decker glanced at her, at Hayden. “I don’t remember—”

“Lieutenant, you’re under oath,” Hayden said. “Did you want to
fuck
her—”

“Sergeant Hayden,” Strapp broke in, glanced at Rina. “Show a little courtesy, please.”

Hayden said, “Did you want to have
sex
with her, Lieutenant?”

Rina nodded to her husband, telling him to answer the question.

Decker said, “Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“That’s correct.”

“Are you sure you don’t mean
yes
, Lieutenant?”

“No, I mean maybe.”

“You were attracted to her?”

“Yes—”

“Extremely attracted?”

“I wouldn’t say extreme—”

“You’re telling me—under oath—that no sexual thoughts about Jeanine Garrison entered your mind?”

“I had some sexual thoughts,” Decker said.

“Such as?”

Decker said, “That she was attractive.”

“I think my mother is attractive.” Hayden laughed mockingly. “Doesn’t mean I have sexual thoughts about her. You wanted her, didn’t you, Lieutenant?”

“Sergeant…” Nickerson admonished.

Decker spoke calmly. “I don’t remember my exact thoughts because they came and went very quickly. Then I was all business.”

Catherine said, “During your interview with her, you never
once
entertained the thought of getting Jeanine Garrison into bed?”

“No.”

“A moment ago, you said maybe,” Hayden corrected.

Decker said, “I said
maybe
I had those thoughts when I first
met
her. During the actual
interview
, I had no thoughts other than my business.”

“Amazing you can turn yourself on and off so quickly.” Hayden’s smile was mean. “You must be a man of considerable control.”

He hadn’t asked a question so Decker said nothing.

Hayden glanced at Rina, “How old is your wife, Lieutenant?”

“Thirty-four.”

“And you’re forty-six?”

“Yes.”

Catherine said, “She’s quite a bit younger than you.”

“Yes.”

Hayden said, “First wife?”