“Likely had his tools in the backpack,” Reddick said. “And he was wearing a balaclava?”

“Yes, but I could see his eyes and mouth.”

Reddick made notes in his pad. “And from what you could see, he appeared to be Caucasian?”

“Yes, he was a white guy.”

“Was there anything familiar about him? His voice, his build, anything that maybe reminded you of someone you’d passed on the street, at the mall, a restaurant or gas station?”

“No, we’ve only been here about three or four weeks.”

“Let’s go back a bit. I need you to really think. Were there any distinguishing characteristics about him? His voice, any marks on his skin, anything you can remember about the way he moved or spoke, or about his clothing?”

Jeff’s hands gripped his legs as he thought for a moment, shook his head slowly before stopping. “His shoe.”

“What about it?” Reddick checked his notes. “You said he had sneakers, dark blue.”

“Yes, but the left one… I glanced down when he lifted Lisa—” Jeff looked into space as if the scene were replaying in front of him. “It was fast, but I remember the fabric near a left eyelet was frayed, about an inch, exposing white lining.”

“Really?” Reddick stared at him. “With everything going on, you saw that?”

“It’s weird, but I did see it, because when he lifted her, my attention went there for an instant, maybe because Lisa’s toes barely touched the floor.”

“Okay, that’s specific.” Reddick noted the detail. “Now, you say that it appears as though none of your belongings are missing.”

“That’s how it appears, yes.”

“You still have credit cards, bank cards, ID, keys, phones, computers, prescription drugs, that sort of stuff?”

“Yes, it doesn’t look like he got anything, but we’ll check again.”

“It’s possible that you interrupted him before he got to whatever it was he wanted. Is there any chance you might know this guy? Is there anyone you might suspect?”

“No. I just wish—” He shook his head, biting his bottom lip, and his knuckles whitened as he dug his fingers into his legs, wrestling with a growing fury.

Jeff’s reaction was not lost on Reddick. “What do you wish?”

“That I could’ve stopped him from doing what he did to Lisa. If I could do it over, I’d find some way to kill that piece of sh—”

“Take it easy.”

“I just stood there, frozen, doing absolutely nothing.”

“He had a knife to her throat, Jeff. Your response likely kept her from being hurt.”

“I should’ve done something to protect her.”

“No one knows how they’ll react when something like this happens, believe me. Now, can you think of any reason why someone would target you?”

Jeff leaned his elbows on his knees and thought.