“Long Island’s got a name to go with the DNA hit. Alex Lopez.” She recited his date of birth, and then explained her idea that he might have been one of the kids from the COP camp who’d hung out at Janice Beale’s house.

“It’s a good theory,” Steve said. “Regardless, given the guy’s age, no way he could have anything to do with Summer.”

Ellie didn’t know whether to feel relieved or disappointed. She realized she had gotten her hopes up about finding an alternative explanation for her father’s death.

“Lopez apparently made a call to the main headquarters at LockeHome a couple of months before he died. Do you know if there’s a way to track whether a call was transferred to a direct line from there?”

“I do know, and unfortunately, the answer is no. We just investigated a former employee for stealing intellectual property and selling it to a competitor. He was definitely working with someone who was still inside, but he was calling the main switchboard and transferring the call from there. We’re getting the system modified, but the changeover hasn’t happened yet.”

“Got it. Any chance Alex Lopez’s name rings a bell from the COP camp?”

“No, but when you get to be my age, you’ve forgotten five times the number of people you currently know. You want me to make a call? See if my name still means a thing there?”

“That would be great.”

“Any other work you want to pawn off on me while we’re at it?”

She snickered. “You’re the best. I owe you beers the next time you visit. Hey, did you know about Melanie’s Senate run before it was announced?”

“You seriously overestimate my importance to the organization.”

“Max was wondering if you’d be going to DC with her.”

“Only if it’s in a casket. You should bring him to Wichita, you know. Your mom would be over the moon. She keeps saying she wants to meet the man you’re living in sin with. Didn’t have the heart to tell her I met him over Christmas.”

“Another reason I owe you.”

When she hung up the phone, Rogan was giving her the side-eye.

“Woman, you told me earlier that you had come to your senses and were staying away from this mess. Your version of staying out of something looks a whole lot like doing some other cop’s job.”

“And this looks a whole lot like my partner getting all up in my business by eavesdropping on my phone calls.” Decker had been awfully quick to let her work his case, but she got the impression he was in over his head.

Rogan’s face lit up. “All up in your business, huh? You’re all street now?”

“Word.”

He shook his head, not satisfied with her response.