“The guy eats like a ten-year-old,” Duncan said. “Did he use a credit card?”

“He paid cash,” Bert said.

“Of course he did,” Duncan said.

“But we have him on video,” Bert said. “I can show you.”

“That would be great,” Eve said.

Bert led them off the sales floor and into a tiny windowless room just large enough to hold a console of security monitors and two office chairs with torn upholstery that had been repaired with strips of duct tape.

“I’ve got it cued up for you,” Bert said, settling into a creaking chair and hitting a button on the keyboard.

The screens showed various high angles on a white man in his late twenties or early thirties, in decent physical shape, about six feet tall, with a few days’ growth of patchy stubble on his pale, angular face. His short brown hair was wet and messy, like he’d washed it, dried it quickly with a towel, and didn’t bother combing or brushing it afterward, which Eve thought was exactly the explanation.

He wore a navy-blue T-shirt and jeans and was rummaging around in a bargain bin that was nearly overflowing with cheap DVDs. His shopping cart contained Doritos, Ding Dongs, the Cokes, as well as two bottles each of Clorox and Lysol cleanser, the box of trash bags, and the sponges. Eve felt an almost electric charge shoot up her spine. This was the killer. She was certain of it.

“He’s got everything we found at the crime scene,” she said.

“Except for the DVD and snacks,” Duncan said. “What was he planning to do? Relax with a movie after he finished cleaning up?”

They watched the man sort through the DVDs, pick one out, and continue on to the cashier at the front of the store.

“What movie did he buy?” Eve asked.

“Planet of the Apes. The original one with Charlton Heston.” Bert twisted his face into a snarl and spoke with a raw, angry voice: “Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!”

The reference to the movie scene made Eve think back on the beast that attacked her. Could it have been an ape? It was ridiculous, and she immediately dismissed the thought as the result of her fatigue.

“That last shot of the Statue of Liberty is the best twist ending of all time,” Bert added.

“Which you just ruined for me,” Duncan said. “Do you have any cameras on the parking lot?”

“Only the area directly in front of the store.” Bert hit a few more keys and the monitors showed high angles looking down into the first space or two of the four parking aisles directly in front of the store. It was night and the picture was muddy. They saw the man walk out, carrying his bag, and get into a white compact car.

“Is that a Corolla?” Duncan asked.

“I think so,” Eve said. “The design from four or five years ago.”

“I was afraid of that. It’s one of the most common cars in Los Angeles and one of the most stolen cars in the country.”