“Clete, think about this,” Reddick said. “You’re facing a long list of first-degree felonies, armed burglary, burglary with assault, to name a few. We’re working on more. Don’t help us and you’re facing up to thirty years in prison, but if you cooperate, help us clear cases, that could be reduced to seven or ten. So you see, this is your onetime chance to help yourself. You want to do seven years, or do you prefer thirty? Think about that because, when we walk out of here, your one and only chance goes with us.”

Loften blinked, then his swollen lip began to move. “Ask your questions.”

“All right,” Cruz said. “Let’s confirm a few things. We understand you work in construction. Are you currently employed?”

“I’m between contracts.”

“What is your specific line of work?”

“I’m a framer for new houses. I do the doors and windows.”

“Would you consider yourself an expert at doors and windows?”

Loften shrugged. “Sure.”

“You currently reside in the Oceanwave Gardens, a motel residence in Allapattah?”

“Yes.”

“How long have you resided there?”

“Three or four months, maybe.”

“Where did you live before that?”

“Atlanta.”

“So you don’t stay in one place long?”

“I go where there’s good-paying construction work.”

“You own a twenty-sixteen Dodge Ram fifteen hundred, white with gray on the bottom?”

“Yes.”

“All right. I’m going to show you a few things.” Cruz swiped through files on her iPad and came to photos of a serrated knife. “This was recovered in your possession at the location of the most recent offense. How did you acquire it?”

“I don’t know anything about that knife.”

Cruz moved to photos of Loften’s shoes, dark blue sneakers, then to close-ups of the left one, the lower-left eyelet with a tear running near it.

“These are your shoes. Were you wearing them the night of the eleventh, morning of the twelfth?”

Loften didn’t respond.

“Can you account for your whereabouts on those dates?”

Loften didn’t answer.

“We can put you in those shoes with that knife attacking a woman in a residence in Palm Mirage Creek on the morning of the twelfth.”

Loften was silent.

“We found your bag with burglar’s tools,” Cruz said. “These were also found in your bag.”

She swiped at her iPad and photos of a package of condoms appeared on the screen.

“You weren’t there to steal valuables, were you?”

Loften swallowed.

“Mr. Loften, we have you for two separate events in Palm Mirage Creek.” Cruz swiped to the maps, timeline and summaries the crime analyst had created for them.

“Within recent weeks in Pinecrest, someone broke into a residence through the sliding door on the side. Residents were out at the time but report the only items missing were bras and panties.