He raised his hands. Coyle was pale, with a few lonely hairs on his scrawny chest, his body dotted with several skin tags. She didn’t see any cuts or bruises on his body that would indicate he’d been in a violent struggle. But nobody with a slashed throat, or multiple stab wounds in their torso, can put up much of a fight.

“Why are you here?” he asked, appearing dazed and confused. “What’s going on?”

Eve said, “Stand up, face the wall, and put your hands over your head.”

Coyle did as he was told, facing one of the Planet of the Apes movie posters and lobby cards that Eve now noticed were all over his walls.

Eve tossed his pillow aside, just to make sure there wasn’t a gun underneath, then holstered her weapon. “Turn around slowly and keep your hands on your head.”

Coyle did as he was told. Ross kept his gun trained on him. A different man faced them than the one who’d turned to the wall. In the intervening seconds, Coyle’s grogginess had dissipated and he seemed unnaturally relaxed, even amused.

He smiled at Eve. “Good morning. It’s always nice to wake up to a pretty face.”

She wanted to punch his crooked teeth out. “I’m Detective Eve Ronin, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.”

“I thought I recognized you. You’re the Deathfist cop. I’m in my underwear and I’ve got a celebrity in my bedroom. It’s a dream come true.”

“We have a warrant to search your home and car.”

“What are you looking for?”

“Evidence related to the assault and suspected murder of Tanya Kenworth and her two children, Caitlin and Troy.”

“I don’t know them and I’ve never hurt anyone in my life. I’m a lover, not a killer,” Coyle said. “Can I get a selfie with you?”

There was a slimy, flirtatious tone to his remark, which she assumed was meant to sexualize and belittle her in some way. It wasn’t working. All he’d managed to do was come across as creepy, which didn’t help sell his innocence.

In the hallway, she heard a deputy report on his radio. “We have secured the lone occupant and cleared the premises.”

“Where were you on Wednesday and Thursday?” Eve asked.

Coyle made a show of thinking back, his hands still on his head. “I was home sick on Wednesday. Must have ate something on Tuesday that disagreed with me. Thursday was my day off. I felt better so I went hiking.”

“Where?”

He looked her in the eye and his smile seemed to widen. “Topanga State Park.”

It was clear that Coyle was well aware that Eve already knew that and it pleased him. She figured this was his way of gloating to her face about the beating he gave her on the hill.