“Do you still have a number for him?” Ballard asked.

“I’m sure we could dig one up for you,” Pearlman said. “I’ll have Nelson look in the old Rolodex. Now, how close are you to cracking this case and bringing some justice to my sister and my family?”

Ballard didn’t tell Pearlman everything about their progress but provided enough details for him to know that the case had the most important thing going for it: momentum.

“We have several irons in the fire and it’s my hope that we will be able to identify a suspect soon,” she concluded.

She knew as soon as she said it that she had just made a political promise and that there would most likely be retribution if she didn’t deliver on it.

“This is good to hear,” Pearlman said. “I look forward to that phone call. I’ve been waiting many years for it.”

Hastings came back to the pod and put a hand on Pearlman’s shoulder, a wordless reminder that they were on the clock. The councilman ignored it and asked another question.

“So, the campaign button,” he said. “Is that just a coincidence? Because it’s sort of weird, you know?”

“Well, we can’t dismiss it yet,” Ballard said. “We have actually located the button and we’re going to see what it brings us. That’s where my in-the-field detective is at the moment.”

“Fantastic,” Pearlman said. “Let me know about that. Meantime, do you have everything you need here? What can I do?”

“I appreciate that, Councilman,” Ballard said. “The one thing I’ve found since we started over here is that we need secured storage. We bring in evidence and property from the old cases and have no place to secure it. We’ve been using the second interview room for some storage, and, of course, this is a police facility, so things should be pretty safe, but most squads have a place to keep things locked up and secure.”

Before Pearlman could respond, Hastings leaned in with a verbal prompt this time.

“Jake, we really gotta go,” he said.

Pearlman stood up and Ballard followed.

“You mean like a safe or something?” Pearlman asked.

“Yes, an evidence safe would be good,” Ballard said.

Pearlman turned to Hastings.

“Nelly, remember that,” he said. “We need to get a safe in here.”

“I’ll remember,” Hastings said.

Pearlman turned back to Ballard and put out his hand. The videographer focused on their hands as they shook.

“Thank you for what you’re doing, Detective,” Pearlman said. “It means a lot to me, but more importantly, it means a lot to this city and this community. We can never forget our victims.”

“Yes, sir,” Ballard said dutifully.

She walked the group out and then returned to her workstation, expecting the others to crowd around and ask questions about the high-powered visit. But only Colleen Hatteras poked her head up over the partition.