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“I won’t know that until I ask him.” He paused. “You, um, you want to come along, Natty?”
The man didn’t answer right away. He glanced at Lancaster and then said in a low voice, “I’m…I’m actually taking my wife out to lunch today.”
Decker gazed at him for a few moments. “I think that’s a better use of your time. I’ll fill you in when we get back.” He pointed at the phone on Natty’s desk. “Make the call and tell them it’ll be two of us.”
“Make that three,” said Lancaster.
“Mary, you’re recused from—”
“Screw recusal, Amos. This doesn’t have to do with Meryl Hawkins’s murder where Earl is providing an alibi.”
Decker glanced at Natty, who shrugged. “I have no problem with that.”
Lancaster said, “Let’s go.” She walked out of the room without another word.
“Hey, Decker,” said Mars, grinning. “She just did a really good impression of you.”
***
It was a two-hour drive, and Mars dozed in the backseat. Decker had introduced Mars to Lancaster as they headed out.
Lancaster checked the backseat and then glanced at Decker. “At the football field?” she said quietly.
Decker kept his eyes on the road. “Yeah?”
“What you said made a lot of sense.”
Decker just kept staring at the road and the approaching storm.
“I talked to Earl this morning.”
Now Decker glanced at her, his expression prompting.
“I think we’re going to…give it another shot.”
“And his lady friend?” asked Decker.
“I don’t think it would be an untruth to say that I pushed him into that relationship. Don’t get me wrong. Nancy’s nice and Earl likes her. Hell, I like her.”
“But it’s not what Earl wants?”
“No. He made that clear this morning. What he wants…”
“Is you.”
Lancaster touched her wrinkled face and ran a hand down her stringy hair. “Can’t really understand why. I look like shit. Nancy, on the other hand, is a real babe.”
“Who’s being shallow now?”
Lancaster looked embarrassed and dropped her hands in her lap. “I have to say I was surprised that you thought enough about my situation to tell me what I needed to hear.”
“Meaning that I only look inward?”
“Meaning that I know those situations are very difficult for you with your special—”
“Maybe I’m growing out of it,” interrupted Decker.
Lancaster absently touched her temple. “What did it feel like, when your…when your brain changed?”
