Which phrase fits best: "The police __________ that the criminal was careful to avoid clues?"

The phrase "The police knew that the criminal was careful to avoid clues" conveys a sense of certainty and established understanding. Using "knew" indicates that the police have concrete information or evidence to support this belief about the criminal's behavior. It suggests that they are confident in their assessment based on their observations, experiences, or intelligence gathered.

In contrast, the other options imply varying degrees of speculation or possibility. For instance, "could note" and "could indicate" suggest potential observations or indications without the certainty inherent in "knew." These phrases do not imply that the police are fully aware of the situation but rather that they might have noticed or could suggest it based on incomplete information. "Could predict" introduces an element of foresight about future behavior rather than an established understanding of past actions, which again diverges from the certainty expressed in the correct choice. Thus, "knew" is the most appropriate phrase to clearly state the police's definite understanding of the criminal's behavior.