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off.”
    At the lake there was further proof that Zodiac’s considerable weight was not padding. He had impressed unique marks deeply into the earth. A
    circle on the sole reading “SUPERWEAR” showed clearly in Narlow’s plaster moulages. Zodiac’s military motif, suggested by a black holster at his
    belt containing a blue-steel semiautomatic military .45, was enhanced by the identifying logos of his shoes—black boots used primarily by the
    Navy. Wing Walker shoes were worn almost exclusively by aircraft maintenance crewmen for walking the wings of jets. Narlow discovered that, but
    only after his men cul ed 150 shoe boutiques with names like “The Spinning Wheel” and “Wil ow Tree.”
    In 1969, 103,700 pairs of Wing Walkers had been shipped to Ogden, Utah. The Weinbrenner Shoe Company of Merril , Wisconsin, had
    manufactured them per a 1966 government contract for one mil ion pairs total. The last pairs were distributed to Air Force and Naval instal ations
    on the West Coast. Only active-duty personnel or former active-duty personnel, or their dependents, could have purchased such shoes. These
    personnel were required to present an I.D. card that carried a thumbprint and photo to enter any base exchange and make any purchases there.
    Val ejo, its economy directly related to military operations, served as home for many skil ed employees with Navy or Air Force ties. They toiled at
    Travis AFB, north of Val ejo near Fairfield, or at Hamilton, Mather, and McClel an Air Force Bases, nearby Mare Island, Alameda Naval Station, and
    Treasure Island. The FBI believed in the military connection.
    “UNSUB [unknown subject of an investigation] may have military background,” the FBI file said, “inasmuch as UNSUB used bayonet and two
    separate 9mm weapons and one of the surviving victims observed UNSUB to be wearing military-type boots.” Not only were these unusual-looking
    chucker-type boots available only through a limited outlet, but police had their size. Zodiac wore a size 10½ Regular shoe, which indicated a tal
    man, as did his long stride.
    Toschi, recal ing Zodiac’s unusual homemade costume, later told me: “We sent our artist to Napa County [on October 24, 1969]. Surviving victim
    Bryan Hartnel described the Zodiac’s hood as black and sleeveless, the white circle and crosshair in the middle of the chest. The hood looked wel
    made and wel -sewn [the corners had been stitched and there was neat stitching around the flat top] with clip-on sunglasses over the eye slits.” And
    Starr could sew (he had been a sailmaker). But the police in that cramped refinery office scarcely wondered about the suspect’s sewing skil s or
    paid much attention to his shoes—they were studying his face. Beyond his strength and the build of a potential Gold Medal swimmer gone to seed
    was a highly intel igent mind. Starr’s I.Q. was 136.

    “We’re investigating the Zodiac murders in San Francisco and Val ejo,” said Armstrong, “and we have some questions for you.” The detective
    pul ed out a chair for the chemist. Toschi noticed barely perceptible droplets beaded on Starr’s wide forehead. “An informant has notified us that
    you made certain statements approximately eleven months prior to the first Zodiac murder,” continued Armstrong. “If these are true, then they are of
    an incriminating nature.” Armstrong, though referring to Cheney’s recol ected dialogue with the suspect, did not mention his name. “Do you recal
    having such a conversation with anyone?”
    “I don’t recal such a conversation,” Starr said mildly. Oddly, he failed to ask with whom he had reportedly conversed. He seemed already to
    know. “Others are quick to react to what you say and do,” his horoscope had read in that morning’s Chronicle. “Choose your words careful y.”
    “Have you ever read or heard of Zodiac?”
    “I read about the Zodiac when it first appeared in the newspapers,” said Starr. “I didn’t fol ow up on