“We know what happened,” Decker said. “We know when it happened. What we don’t know are the circumstances … if there was a reason for what happened other than a drunken brawl. If you give us your explanation, you’d be helping yourself.”

Baer was quiet.

“Okay,” Decker said. “This is what we have. We have enough to arrest you for murder because we have your DNA mixed with Pauline’s DNA. We know you stabbed her—”

“Nope,” Baer said. “See? That’s why I don’t say anything. You morons jump to conclusions.”

“Then enlighten us,” McAdams said.

Baer threw down the bag of corn chips. He leaned back and exhaled salty breath. “I didn’t stab anyone.”

He seemed remarkably calm for someone accused of murder. Usually—unless you’re a Chris Donatti—people give off some kind of tell. Decker said, “Then explain to me how your DNA got mixed with Pauline’s.”

“Why bother?” Baer looked at him. “You won’t believe me.”

“Try me.”

“It was self-defense.”

He was right. Decker didn’t believe him. “Tell me about it.”

“She was a fucking lunatic. When I tried to grab the knife from her, I cut myself.”

Decker tried to keep his face flat. He said, “Are you telling me that she came after you. And you grabbed the knife in self-defense. And you cut yourself.”

“Exactly.” He shook his head. “See, you don’t believe me.”

“I just think there’s more to the situation, Baer,” Decker said. “Pauline was stabbed multiple times. How do you explain that?”

He stared at Decker. “She did it! Not me!”

“Pauline stabbed herself?”

“Not Pauline!” Baer sneered. “Elsie! She found us together, walking back to her house. Pauline was gonna leave her and go with me. Elsie found out and went fucking crazy! She went out looking for us. When she spotted us, she parked the car and charged us like a fucking bull. Swearing and cursing at me, but also at Pauline. She went after me at first, but I dodged her. Pauline got between us, and Elsie swiped her. I think it was an accident, but once she started, she wouldn’t stop. That’s why I grabbed the knife.” He made a lunging motion. “And that’s how I cut myself.”

In an even voice, Decker said, “You’re telling me that you took the knife from Elsie because she was stabbing Pauline?”

“Yeah. To get her off Pauline. When I did it, the blade sliced me open across my fingers.” He held up his hand. “I still got the scars.”

There was a jagged line across the insides of his fingers, between the first and second knuckles. McAdams said, “You took the knife away—from Elsie?”

“Yeah, I just said that.”

“What did you do with it? The knife?”

“Tossed it on the ground, I think.”

“You think?”