"Hold on," the man said. "I'll see if he's still around."

I waited, muttering, "Be there, you nosy bastard. Just be there."

"Hello?" a familiar voice said after a minute. "This is Shmuel Birnbaum."

I let out a breath. "Good evening, Shmuel. It's Adam."

"Adam! Please tell me you're not calling from prison."

"No such luck."

"That's a relief. Because springing you out is an experience I do not look forward to repeating."

"I'll do my best to steer clear of trouble so as not to strain your benevolence."

"That would be wise since contrary to popular opinion, my benevolence is not unbounded. Where are you calling from?"

"Jerusalem."

"Ah. How are things in the capital?"

"Cold and wet and miserable. I suppose you heard the news."

"Indeed, I have." His voice was even, betraying no hint of satisfaction in the government's triumph.

"Are you happy? Celebrating?"

A resigned exhalation. "Is that why you called, Adam? To repeat our argument?"

"No."

"I'm relieved. Because last time we had it, I nearly drove off a cliff, which is what you and your buddies were on the verge of doing to Israel two nights ago. But I'll answer your question anyway, and I do hope it will sink in. I am not happy about this decision. Neither is Ben-Gurion or the ministers or anyone else. You don't have to rejoice in doing what's smart and necessary. You just need to do it. That's the difference between being a responsible statesman and a destructive rabble-rouser. Now pray tell, why did you call me?"

"I need to ask you a question. It's about Baruch Gafni's wife."

Birnbaum was silent. In the background on his end, I could hear people talking, typewriter keys clicking.

"Are you there, Shmuel?"

"I'm here." His voice was lower, dead serious. "What do you need to know?"

"How she died, for one thing."

"She committed suicide."

"Yes, I know that. I'm wondering why you didn't bother telling me this, considering that you were just about sure I was going to investigate Gafni's daughter's death, and that she committed suicide as well."

"It wasn't my place. I assumed Gafni would tell you."

"Well, he didn't. I'm trying to figure out why. Do you know?"

"No, I don't." Now Birnbaum sounded just a little bit curious. His natural nosiness coming to life, perhaps against his will.

"What was her name?"

"Vera."

"How did she kill herself?"

"If I recall correctly, she slashed her wrists."

"I understand her daughter was the one who found her."

"It's possible. I don't remember. I'm not sure I ever knew."

"The story didn't make the papers?"

"It did, but I didn't write it, and we usually don't go into detail in such matters out of respect for the family."

"I'm sure Gafni appreciated it. He wouldn't want his reputation to suffer. It might be bad for business." I was getting angry now, my voice getting louder, my face turning hot. "Why did she do it?"

"I don't know."

"Was there a note?"

"I don't know, Adam."

"Did she kill herself because of her husband? And don't tell me you don't know, Shmuel. There must have been rumors, and I know you hear all of them."

A pause. A low exhalation. "There were some rumors, yes."

"What?"

Another pause. The background noises diminished a little, and I guessed Birnbaum had picked up the phone and moved as far away from his colleagues as its cord would allow. When next he spoke, his voice was low and cautious. "Word at the time was that Vera Gafni took her own life due to her husband's infidelity. Apparently, he was quite the womanizer."

"What about prostitutes? Were there rumors about that?"

"I don't know anything about prostitutes."

But I did. I knew about one. I gritted my teeth as the memory of Gafni emerging from Sima Vaaknin's building played in my mind.

"Did Moria know about this? Did she know why her mother killed herself?"

"I have no idea."

"Is that the truth, Shmuel? Is that the truth, or are you lying to me to cover up for your friend?" I was shouting now, shouting into the phone, and a couple passing by on the street were gawking at me. "What?" I barked at them. "What do you want?" The woman yanked the man away, looking terrified.

"Are you okay, Adam?" Birnbaum said. "Is everything all right?"