Stone Kiss Read Online Free PDF Page B

Hershfield answered. “Then there is the other possibility.”
    No one spoke.
    “Yes, I would say that’s important,” Hershfield said. “Especially since he was supposed to be baby-sitting his fifteen-year-old
     niece.”
    “My wife had previously asked Shayndie if any funny business was going on. She adamantly denied it.”
    Neither Decker nor Hershfield answered.
    Jonathan stammered, “Yes, of course, it’s a possibility that she was lying—or covering for him. But how would murder be part
     of that picture?”
    Decker said, “Maybe he had been threatening her, Jonathan. Maybe she had had enough.” He looked pointedly at Hershfield. “In
     which case, she’ll be needing a very good defense lawyer.”
    “Then why go willingly with him to the art exhibit, Akiva?” Jonathan said. “Believe me, Shayndie is an outspoken girl. If
     he was molesting her, she would have said something.”
    “Not always, Jonathan. Especially if she was in love with him.”
    Jonathan bristled. “At this point, it’s all speculation.”
    Decker put a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t mean to upset you, Jon. But if I’m thinking of these kinds of questions, and Mr.
     Hershfield is thinking about these types of questions, I’m sure the New York Police are thinking the same thing.”
    “Now that is true,” Hershfield said.
    Jonathan seemed to wilt. “I’m sure you’re right.”
    Hershfield said, “I’m intrigued about this relationship—uncle, niece. It is unusual, especially in that community where postpubescent
     girls are not allowed to be with single men except their fathers. Why do you think the girl’s parents allowed such a relationship
     to flourish?”
    Jonathan went on to explain Shayndie’s problems. “Ephraim seemed to have a special rapport with her. I never saw anything
     inappropriate.”
    “How much time did you and your wife spend with your niece?”
    “She’d come over for dinner on Sundays… spend an occasional
Shabbat
, although Chaim wasn’t wild about that. He was often vocal in his objection. We’re Conservative Jews, and my brother’s Chasidic.”
    “So to him, we’re all goyim.”
    “Probably,” Jonathan admitted.
    “And your brother-in-law didn’t like your entertaining his daughter because you’re Conservative. But he didn’t object to his
     unmarried, drug-addicted brother spending time with her?” He turned to Decker. “What am I missing?”
    Decker shrugged. “You’re more in the loop than I am.”
    Hershfield said, “You said that you and your wife had questioned Shayndie about her relationship with her uncle, your wife’s
     brother. Why?”
    “Just to… make sure.”
    “So there was no…precipitating factor that led up to the questioning?”
    “No, not at all. Raisie and I discussed the relationship, and we both decided that the girl should be talked to. You know
     as well as I do that in that community, sex is taboo.”
    “So is an uncle-niece liaison.
Halachacally
, it’s equivalent to incest.”
    “As far as I know, he wasn’t molesting her.”
    “Let’s switch gears for a moment,” Hershfield said. “You told me that Chaim works with his father in the business. What about
     Ephraim? What did he do other than dabble in drugs?”
    “Like I said, he’d been sober for over two years,” Jonathan insisted.
    “All right. Have it your way. And he worked in the family business with his father and brother.”
    “Yes.”
    “Alongside Chaim?”
    “Chaim’s been in the business for twenty years, so he has seniority naturally. Ephraim knew that.”
    “So there haven’t been any problems?”
    “Not that I know of. From my perspective, Papa was thrilled that his son finally showed some interest in family affairs.”
    “All right. And what about the business? Is it solvent?”
    “Akiva asked the same questions. Sure, it’s been going through some rough times. Everyone’s on edge and the economy isn’t
     the greatest. But yes, as far as I know, the stores