The bartenders were women. All the other bars had checked out, so him getting it wrong about the bartender bothered me. Byrd had an apartment in Hollywood back then, so I looked for something closer to home. That's where I found it, a little place between Santa Monica and Sunset. They were trying to look like the Alaskan wilderness. They had these fake totem poles behind the bar, not tiki idols. They still had the security tape, and there he was, having his drink. The time code put him in Hollywood during the window when Yvonne Bennett was murdered. The judge agreed. The DA. Everybody. That's why they dropped the charges.

Maybe I was still trying to convince myself, but I didn't see the hole. I didn't see how Lionel Byrd could have killed her, and I didn't see how Bastilla could be so certain that he had.

Pike said, What about the other murders?

I was all over this guy's life for eight days. I had his priors. I had everything. There was nothing to suggest he was a killer or was involved with anyone who was.

Pike put my files aside.

Only now the police say Byrd did it.

I got up for a bottle of water and looked for the fire Pike had seen, but the fire was out. The firefighters had moved in hard and killed it. That's the best way to stop these things. Kill them before they grow.

I returned to my desk.

Listen, take off for Ray's without me. I'm going to call Levy.

I can wait.

I scrolled through my Palm for Levy's number and put in the call. I had not called or spoken with Alan Levy in almost three years, but his assistant immediately recognized my name.

Alan's in court, but he told me to find him. He might not be able to talk, but I know it's important. Can you hold while I try?

I'll hold.

Pike hadn't moved, so I covered the mouthpiece.

You don't have to wait. I'm going to be here a while.

Pike still didn't move. Then Levy came on, speaking quickly in a low voice.

Have you heard about Lionel Byrd?

Two detectives just told me Byrd was good for seven murders, including Yvonne Bennett. Is this for real?

I got a call this morning from Leslie Pinckert in Major Crimes did Pinckert talk to you?

A detective named Bastilla was here. Crimmens was with her. They told me they have something that puts Byrd with the murders, but wouldn't say what.

Wait, hang on

Muffled voices and court sounds whispered in the background, then he returned.

Byrd had pictures of the victims in some kind of album. That's all she would tell me. They don't want this thing out of the bag until they've gone public.

That asshole Crimmens tells me I got two of those women killed, and they're playing it tight? I need more than that, Alan.

Just settle down.