“Lord, I’m being parsed,” he said. “No, I haven’t abandoned the basic premise. I just haven’t come up with any buddies Duchay met in lockup yet. C.Y.A guy I spoke to said he had no gang affiliations, was ‘socially isolated.’ ”

“Any disciplinary problems on his record?”

“Quiet, compliant.”

“Good behavior,” I said.

“Yada yada.”

“So what’s next?”

“Talk to people who knew him, try to get a fix on his movements that day. I had Sean hit every store on Westwood for three blocks north of Pico to see if anyone spotted Duchay lurking around. Nada. Same for the Westside Pavilion, so if he went in there, he didn’t make an impression. Tomorrow morning I visit Reverend and Mrs. Andrew Daney.”

“Reverend and Reverend,” I said. “They were both studying to be ministers.”

“Whatever. I talked to her— Cherish, there’s a name for you. She sounded pretty broken up. All those good intentions blown to bits.”

“Why’d you take the case on, big guy?”

“Why not?”

“You don’t care much for the victim.”

“Who I like or don’t like has nothing to do with it,” he said. “And I am deeply hurt by your intimations to the contrary.”

“Yada freaking yada,” I said. “Seriously, you can pick and choose. Why this one?”

“I picked it to make sure you’re not in continuing danger.”

“I appreciate that but— ”

“A simple thanks will suffice.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Try to enjoy the sunshine until Dr. Gwynn returns.”

“What time are you seeing the Daneys tomorrow?”

“Not your problem,” he said. “Sleep in.”

“Should I drive?”

“Alex, these people were advocates for the boys. That could make you not their favorite person.”

“My report wasn’t a factor in the decision to certify them as juveniles. Which, I should point out, is exactly what their lawyers were asking for. There’s no logical reason for me to be targeted.”

“Strangling and beating a two-year-old wasn’t logical.”

“What time?” I said.

“The appointment’s for eleven.”

“I’ll drive.”

* * *

I picked him up at the station at ten-thirty and took the Sepulveda Pass out to the Valley. He said nothing as we crossed Sunset and passed the spot where Rand Duchay’s body had been found.

I said, “Wonder how he got from the Valley into the city.”

“Sean’s checking the buses. Probably a waste of time. Like so much of what we do.”

* * *

The Galton Street address where Drew and Cherish Daney advised spiritually was in a blue-collar Van Nuys neighborhood, a few blocks from the 405. The sky was the color of newspaper pulp. Freeway noise was a constant rebuke.