Part 14 (1/2)
”They were very close,” Dora went on.
”Your son and his friends?” I encouraged.
Dora smiled the first smile I'd seen on her face. ”Such inquisitive minds. Always reading. Always questioning. Arguing. All night, some times.”
”What was the priest's name?” I asked.
Dora gave a tight shake of her head.
”He was from the Beauce. I remember that. He called us zayde zayde and and bubbe. bubbe.”
”Where did your son meet this priest?”
”Yes.h.i.+va University.”
”In New York?”
Dora nodded. ”Avram and Yossi had just graduated from McGill. Avram was much more spiritual back then. He was studying to be a rabbi. This priest was taking courses in Near Eastern religions, or some such thing. They were drawn to each other, being the only Canadians, I suppose.”
Dora's eyes drifted.
”Was he a priest then?” she said more to herself than to us. ”Or did he become a priest later?” Dora's fingers tightened. Her hand trembled. ”Oh, dear. Oh, my.”
Miriam stepped toward Ryan.
”Detective, I really must object.”
Ryan caught my eye. We both rose.
Miriam sent Ryan off with a carbon copy of her earlier adieu.
”Find who did this, Detective, but please don't upset my mother-in-law when she is alone.”
”First, she seemed more in reverie than upset. Second, I can't have such limits on my investigation. But we will attempt to be kind.”
Nothing for me.
Back in the car Ryan wondered why I'd asked about Lerner.
”I haven't a clue,” I said.
”Good impulse,” he said.
”Good impulse,” I agreed.
We also agreed that Lerner deserved follow-up.
While Ryan drove, I listened to my messages.
Three.
All from Jake Drum.
I've got contact information for Yossi Lerner. Call me.
I've talked to Yossi Lerner. Call me.
Amazing news. Call me.
Each ”call me” was more agitated than the one before.
I told Ryan.
”Call the man,” he said.
”You think?”
”Yes. I want more on Lerner.”
”I'm anxious to hear what Jake's learned, but I'll be home shortly. I'd rather wait and talk on a land line. Mobile to mobile is worse than phoning Zambia.”
”Have you phoned Zambia?”
”I can never get through.”
Ten minutes later, Ryan dropped me at my condo.
”I've got a stakeout this weekend, and I'm already late.” He took my chin in his hands and thumbed my cheeks. ”Stay on this Lerner thing. Let me know what Jake's got.”
”Heart-thumping surveillance,” I said.
”You know what I'd rather surveil,” he said.
”I'm not sure that's a word.”
Ryan kissed me.
”I'll owe you,” he said.
”I'll collect,” I said.
Ryan headed back to Wilfrid Derome. I headed inside.
After greeting Birdie and Charlie, I changed into jeans, and made a cup of Earl Grey. Then I took the handset to the sofa and punched in Jake's number.
He answered on the first ring.