Mahler lifted the stack of binders and laid them in Eden’s arms. “It’s not always like the research. We don’t know why our killer did anything. Your job is to find evidence that tells us who killed these young women.” He turned to walk out the door.

Eden struggled to balance the binders. “I guess I don’t know what I’m looking for.”

Mahler paused in the doorway. “Look at the quality of light.”

(ii)

(TUESDAY, 3:00 P.M.)

The city council amphitheater consisted of rows of steep, stadium-style seating looking down at a stage with speakers’ table and microphones. Mahler sat at the table with Mayor Ransom and Chief Truro. A dozen reporters faced them in the stadium seats. The mayor suggested they wait a few minutes, to see if any more members of the media would arrive.

The dulled migraine lingered behind Mahler’s eyes. His nerves were still frayed from shouting at Eden and the run-in with Rivas. But impatient as he was with the pace of the two murder investigations—the latest Jane Doe and the earlier park victims—for the first time in his career, he could not see the path forward.

He looked out on the reporters—fewer and less professional than in years past. He recognized only three of them. Still, they made Mahler wary. Following the Hart murder, several news organizations had reported innuendos about his own culpability. Also, he had little to allay public fears, and the less the press and the public knew about his investigation, the better.

Mayor Ransom finally stood. She was a tall woman, with old-fashioned big hair and a speaking style that put special emphasis on the obvious. She started by saying that the press conference’s purpose was to keep the public informed of the police investigation. The city and police department were committed to making themselves available to the press in the coming days. Mahler watched a reporter in the front row drawing what looked like large loops on his pad.

Truro went next. In his Class A dress uniform, the chief spoke with a stiff military bearing. He gave an outline of the investigation, several times glancing at Mahler for confirmation. He noted the steps taken to ensure the public’s safety: coordination with the county for increased park patrols, enforcement of the park admission hours, and temporary suspension of overnight camping. At the end, he introduced Mahler and handed him the microphone.

Mahler ignored the microphone. “I don’t have a statement. If you have questions, I’ll try to answer them.”

A reporter at one of the alternative weeklies spoke up. “When do you expect to identify the victim?”

“We’ve received dozens of leads, and we’re hoping one will result in identification in the next few days.”

A tall man on the aisle who Mahler recognized as a San Francisco TV reporter raised his hand. “Do you know how the victim died?”