"Maybe later."
She returned to her briefcase. "Here's the list of SSD employees who have access to the dossiers--they're called 'closets.' "
"As in secrets?"
"Right. Pulaski's out checking their alibis. We have to go back to talk to the two technical managers but here's what we have so far." On a whiteboard she wrote their names and some comments.
Andrew Sterling, President, Chief Executive Officer Alibi--on Long Island, to be verified Sean Cassel, Director of Sales and Marketing No alibi
Wayne Gillespie, Director of Technical Operations No alibi
Samuel Brockton, Director, Compliance Department Alibi--hotel records confirm presence in Washington Peter Arlonzo-Kemper, Director of Human Resources Alibi--with wife, to be verified
Steven Shraeder, Technical Service and Support Manager, day shift To be interviewed
Faruk Mameda, Technical Service and Support Manager, night shift To be interviewed
Client of SSD (?)
Awaiting list from Sterling
"Mel?" Rhyme called. "Check NCIC and the department."
Cooper ran the names through the National Crime Information Center and the NYPD equivalent, as well as the Justice Department's Violent Criminal Apprehension Program.
"Wait . . . may have a hit here."
"What is it?" Sachs asked, moving forward.
"Arlonzo Kemper. Juvie in Pennsylvania. Assault twenty-five years ago. The record's still sealed."
"The
age would be right. He's about thirty-five. And he's light-skinned." Sachs nodded at the 522 profile chart.
"Well, get the record unsealed. Or at least find out if it's the same guy."
"I'll see what I can do." Cooper typed some more.
"Any references to the others?" Rhyme nodded toward the suspect list.
"Nope. Just him."
Cooper ran various state and federal database searches and checked some professional organizations. The tech shrugged. "Went to UC-Hastings. No connection with Pennsylvania that I can find. Seems like a loner: Aside from college credentials, his only organization is the National Association of Human Resource Professionals. He was on the technology task force two years ago but hasn't done much since.
"Okay, here's what they have on the juvie. He attacked another kid in a detention home. . . . Oh."
"Oh what?"
"It's not him. No hyphen. The name's different. The juvenile was first name Arlonzo, last name Kemper." He glanced at the chart. "He's 'Peter,' last name 'Arlonzo-Kemper.' I typed it in wrong. If I'd included the hyphen, it wouldn't have shown up at all. Sorry."
"Not the worst of sins." Rhyme shrugged. This was a sobering lesson about the nature of data, he reflected. They seemingly had found a suspect and even Cooper's characterization of him suggested he might be the one--He seems to be a loner--yet the lead was completely wrong, due to the minuscule error of missing a single keystroke. They might have come down hard on the man--and misdirected resources--if Cooper hadn't realized his mistake.
Sachs sat down beside Rhyme, who, seeing her eyes, asked, "What is it?"
"Funny, but now that I'm back, I feel like some kind of spell's been broken. I think I want an outside opinion. About SSD. I lost perspective when I was there. . . . It's a disorienting place."
"How so?" Sellitto asked.