WHEN DECKER WALKED into the station house at eleven, Wanda Bontemps snapped her fingers to get his attention. She was on the phone and pointed to an unoccupied extension. Decker punched in the lit button and quietly picked up the receiver.

“I don’t understand how you could lose a whole bag of jewelry!”

It was Chuck Tinsley. Decker took up a notepad. Wanda said, “I’m sure it’s not lost, Mr. Tinsley, just misplaced. I just want to assure you that all the pieces have been photographed and described. If we have to replace them, you’ll get full monetary compensation.”

Decker gave her the thumbs-up. She smiled.

Tinsley said, “I don’t give a rat’s ass about compensation. The items were sentimental. They belonged to my late mother. How are you going to replace heirlooms, huh?”

“I’m sure they’ll turn up—”

“You know, I never had much respect for the police. And you know why? You guys have no respect for the people you serve. I mean, you treated me like a criminal and meanwhile the real jackass who murdered Adrianna is still out there. You guys are a bunch of clowns, you know that?”

“I know you must be frustrated, Mr. Tinsley—”

“What’d you do with my stuff? Take it home for yourself?”

“I will let you know when we find the pieces.”

“Yeah, right. In the meantime, give me cash.”

“Do you want cash compensation for the items?”

“No, I want the items. But if you can’t find them, give me money. And don’t take all year to cut me the check, if you know what I’m saying.”

“I will put in for the money right now, if you want.”

There was a silence over the phone. “Then what happens if you find the pieces?”

“I give them back to you and you return the cash.”

“You should give me the pieces and the cash for all the aggravation you’re putting me through.” He hung up abruptly.

Wanda and Decker put down their respective receivers. She said, “He wants his trophies back.”

“He certainly seems attached to them.”

“Put to rest the lie that he’s just a thief. If that was the case, he would have been thrilled about the cash. He wouldn’t have to bother with a fence.” She stood up and stretched. “I’ve been here for a couple of hours. Need a change of scenery. I’m going to bring the jewelry over to the lab myself. Want an update?”

“Always.”

Wanda flipped through her notepad. “Spoke to Oxnard PD. I’m going up tomorrow to look at the file and compare notes. The primary detective isn’t working today. I left a message. It would be great if Tinsley’s name showed up in the Oxnard file.”

“One can wish. What about Oceanside PD?”