“After he killed Avelos, Partridge went back to Albright’s mother’s house. The mother and grandmother were watching TV in the living room, and he found Albright alone in her bedroom. She asked him a few questions about where he was, but to Partridge, this sounded like an interrogation. He hit her on the side of the head with a closed fist. She lost consciousness. When she woke, she was facedown on the bed and he was on top of her. He cut her back, like the women he strangled.”

Mahler raised his eyebrows. “He did all this with mom and grandmom in the next room watching TV?”

“Apparently. But at some point, Partridge had enough awareness to know he couldn’t kill Albright without being discovered. He told her about Avelos and said she’s next if she tells anyone. He said he’d find her wherever she hides.”

“She believed him.”

Eden nodded. “She believed him.”

Mahler studied the group across the lot. His migraine had eased. The scotoma was gone. But he knew the relief was temporary. “We’ll need to get her full testimony,” he said.

“What’ll happen to her?”

Mahler shrugged. “Depends what she tells us.”

“Can we arrest Partridge now?”

“I sent Martin to do it as soon as I got your call,” Mahler said. “He’s making the arrest where Partridge works, a big box store called Brenners, off the freeway. Couple more units’ll be behind him.”

“You know Partridge’s there?”

“I’ve had Tom Woodhouse keeping an eye on him. Since last night.”

“Tom? Why since last night?”

“After we met Partridge in the parking garage, I wanted to keep track of him.”

Eden studied Mahler’s face. “You mean after he threatened me?”

“Okay, yeah, after he threatened you.”

“Would you have done that if he threatened Martin or Daniel?”

“I don’t know. Maybe. The point is, Detective Somers, you’re the one who pissed him off, because you worked the case.”

“Yeah, Albright just said Partridge would come after me.”

Mahler shrugged. “See what I mean?”

“Why didn’t you tell me about Woodhouse watching Partridge?”

“I don’t know. I should have.”

They watched Cipriani help Albright into the unit.

“I’d like to assist with Partridge’s arrest,” Eden said.

“It’s not necessary. Martin’s got it. Like I said, more units are on the way.”

“You don’t trust me after the way I pulled my weapon in the garage?”

“Nothing to do with that. If anything, I trust you more. You did this.” Mahler gestured toward the unit across the lot. He felt the smallness of his answer. Should he tell her, as Woodhouse suggested, how good an investigator she is—how she had broken through the Partridge case? He couldn’t get the words out of his mouth.

“What about Thackrey?”