“He wouldn’t tell me what it was. He’s faxing me a copy. He told me to read the transcript and get back to him.”

“You’re in over your head, you know that? This is not how you treat a fellow officer.”

“When he found out I was in Santa Rosa, he said I may as well talk to Gina Cipriani, who worked the tip line and is now working for the Santa Rosa PD.”

Cipriani stepped close to Eden. “I’m going to say this thing once, since you’re young and new to law enforcement and obviously don’t know how things are done. I shouldn’t have to, but I guess someone thought it was a good idea to give you this job, even though you don’t know what the fuck you’re doing.”

Eden fought the urge to back away from the larger woman but couldn’t move.

“This is a small department in a small town.” Cipriani stuck a finger in Eden’s breastbone. “Word gets around about this, the way you treat me, you’re going to have a real hard time with the uniforms. You work with Eddie Mahler, you start to behave like him, and you’ll have everyone lined up against you. That what you want?”

Mahler’s name triggered something in Eden. Suddenly his voice sounded in her ear. “I’m investigating the murders of three girls whose bodies were dumped in a park, and I don’t give a fucking shit about your code or whatever this is.” It came out before she could stop herself.

“You freaking little princess.” Cipriani looked down at Eden. “We weren’t officers, you’d be on the ground right now.”

Eden stared back. “Well, at least, for once, you remember what your job is.”

Cipriani pressed her lips together. She slowly turned away and walked into the parking lot.

Eden watched Cipriani make her way between the cars. “What’re you afraid of?” she whispered.

(ii)

(THURSDAY, 6:30 P.M.)

Rivas sat at the kitchen table, finishing Teresa’s salad—part of his wife’s efforts to help him lose weight and lower his cholesterol. He watched her across the room, working at the sink. He remembered his Aunt Malena saying, “When you get older, Danny, love looks different. It’s still there, if you’re smart or lucky, but now it’s in her eyes, or a joke between you, un chiste, or the food you make for each other. The trick is to see what the love is in your life and not to expect what it isn’t.”

“Should I take some posole to Steve?” Teresa asked without turning around. “The hospital food’s probably not very good. Do they let you bring food to patients?”

“You can try. But he’ll probably get out tomorrow.”

Teresa looked over her shoulder. “Really? The way he’s hurt?”

“You know him. All that macho Marine stuff.”