"Good news, Swami!" he said. "I've got the name of a sex offender who bought a Volt Wheel electric bike in Oxnard, California. The guy's name is John Luke Grasso."
"Do you think he's our guy?"
"Hold your horses, Swami. I've got some checking to do before I whip out the bible and swear to it. I'm trying to call in favors for information. It was a whole lot easier when I was back on the job."
"Is he a registered sex offender?"
"Yeah; that's public information, but something tells me that only works if he actually registers; you think? Anyway, first thing I did was attempt to check records in and out of Canada but getting that stuff is like pulling teeth."
I thought only briefly before giving him Daniel Brennan's phone number. "I've got a contact for you but protect this like your girlfriend at a drunken frat party. Leaking this guy's involvement is something you don't want to do."
"This is for real, huh?"
"Don't over use it. People are watching." After he thanked me I asked, "Did you have any luck on your own?"
"I struck out, at least under his name."
"False identities aren't easy to get," I said, remembering Daniel Brennan obtaining ours.
"Maybe not in your blueberry muffin world but anyone who spent as much time as this guy in prison picks up a classroom of connections. A Paul Weber crossed in and out of the great north on the dates I ran. He was the only one."
"Do you have license plate?" I asked.
"Stick to your crystal ball and leave the detective work to me. I'm checking it out; I have access to that data base, but I bet the plate is stolen."
"Does this Grasso character fit your pattern for being the person we're tracking?"
"Yeah, and I bet he started a long time ago on his first run. After he spent years in prison, he was released last summer, in California. I'm on my way there now. In the meantime, watch your back, Swami."
John Luke Grasso. It appeared our Delabama killer had a name.
Keene, New Hampshire. I think I'll prowl around town on such a nice night. A simple reconnoiter until I have all the pieces to my chess game. And delight of delights; there's a pretty young girl in the game!