“Just prior to that, a residence was burglarized in South Miami. The resident, away at the time, reported her underwear was stolen. We’re going back and looking at similar cases in Coral Gables, Coral Terrace, Olympia Heights, Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay.

“I’ll ask again. You’re not breaking into homes to steal valuables at all, are you, Mr. Loften?”

He didn’t answer.

“We understand if you have, let’s say, compulsions that you can’t control, an overwhelming need that must be satisfied. We can assist you in getting the help you need.”

Cruz looked at Loften long and hard, then nudged her iPad a little closer to him so he had a better view of all the mapped crimes, webbed like a digital splatter on the screen.

“Why don’t you help us clear all these cases, make a formal admission detailing all of your activities in South Florida. We’ll inform the State Attorney, and I’m confident it’ll help you in the long run.”

Studying the map, Loften’s breathing quickened.

Reddick stood and leaned into Loften’s space.

“Clete, we’re running your prints and DNA through every data bank we can. We’re in the process of securing warrants to search your room at Oceanwave Gardens, your truck, your phone, laptop. What do you think we’re going to find?”

Loften swallowed. His neck muscles spasmed, and despite the air-conditioning, he was sweating.

“I want to exercise my right to remain silent, and I want a lawyer.”

27

In the days after Jeff had battled with Clete Loften, the twenty-five-million-dollar contract with the South American conglomerate had been signed, and work had begun.

By now, the scratches on Jeff’s face had started to fade, and everyone in his office had heard his telling of his ordeal or learned of it from conversations while getting coffee in the office kitchen.

Winning the huge Argentine deal and fighting and arresting a criminal had earned Jeff the admiration of most people in Asgaard-T-Chace’s Miami branch. While he enjoyed his elevated status, he downplayed it because there was much work ahead, and they couldn’t afford to become distracted.

“I can’t emphasize this enough. Our goal is to humanize Globo Aedifico with a campaign that creates an uplifting moral experience for the audience. One that not only works globally but translates locally,” he said at one of the planning meetings.

And there were many meetings. Jeff’s day would begin early with meetings and usually end with a late one. Teams met to lay out a launch schedule and coordinate it with a media schedule. There were calls and discussions to ensure all the specialty groups were working in sync and on the same page. Meetings were held to discuss the research data that had been mined, then others to screen preliminary video-production ideas, still others to develop concepts for logos and visuals.