Mahler wondered if Thackrey’s shaking leg was tuned to a beat inside his head, keeping time to music only he heard. “How about last evening around seven? Where were you?”

“Last night? You know, I’m getting pretty tired of this. I was here. I’m always here. And I was alone, with no one to ‘back me up,’ as you say.”

Mahler imagined asking, Were you inside my house last night?

“Besides, what difference does it make where I was?” Thackrey said. “Wasn’t Elise already deceased by that time?”

“It was a…related incident.”

“A related incident? That makes it all clear.”

“Were you in Fresno in April 2017?”

“Good God. Fresno? 2017? You people have the strangest way of questioning someone. No, I was not in Fresno in April 2017.” Thackrey laughed. “And anyone who says I was is a liar.”

“Do you own a firearm?” Mahler asked.

“A gun? Do you have any idea how insane this is? I’m a Stanford grad. I built startups that are on the Nasdaq. I live in wine country. Why would I have a gun?”

“Do you own a firearm?”

“No, I do not.”

Eden, who had been quiet for the last few minutes, spoke up. “I understand you were questioned two years ago in the disappearance of Reggie Semple?”

Thackrey lowered his coffee mug and peered at Eden with new interest. “That’s correct. I was questioned.”

“And Ms. Semple was never found. Is that right?”

“I believe so. I haven’t followed the news.”

“You were dating Ms. Semple at the time of her disappearance?”

“Dating? Wow. I haven’t heard that word in a long time. Yes, I was in a relationship with Reggie for a while. I believe she was seeing other men as well.” Thackrey put his coffee mug on the table in front of him. He frowned. “I’m not sure what my relationship with Reggie has to do with events here in Sonoma County.”

“Did Elise know Ms. Semple?” Eden asked.

The question brought silence to the room. Mahler, who had risen from the sofa in expectation of leaving, stood still.

Thackrey’s right foot stopped rocking. He looked back at Eden. “Know her? Of course not. How do you even imagine that happening? I haven’t seen Reggie in years, and when I did, it was down in the city. I met Elise up here in Santa Rosa. Different worlds.”

“With you in common.”

“With me? Yes, I suppose—although I don’t know what you’re implying by that.”

Thackrey faced Eden as she stood. He smiled. “I must say, Detective Somers, you don’t have the usual personality of a police officer.”

“What personality is that?”

Thackrey glanced at Mahler. “Smugly moralistic.”

“I don’t find those sorts of generalizations hold true.”

“Is that right? I only meant you seem a bright young woman. I never associated intelligence with law enforcement.”

“Maybe we’ll surprise you.”