“Did you have any IT training on the job?”

“Lots of it. I worked with our IT squad for five of my ten years.”

“Give me your contact info. I’ll pass it on to our IT LT, who’s always looking for tech-savvy people. You don’t have to have a good knee to work on a computer.”

He wrote down his info and gave it to her. “Thank you.”

“Appreciate your help. Vernon, let’s go.”

“That was a very nice thing you did just now, ma’am,” Vernon said as they walked out together.

“I’m a nice person.”

“Won’t hear me arguing.”

“You’d better not tell people that, you hear me?”

His snort of laughter followed her out the door.

Chapter Eighteen

Gonzo was on the sidewalk talking on the phone. “Did you issue a description of our guy?” he asked Sam.

“I did. Patrol is looking for him. Our next stop is his apartment.”

“I gotta go,” Gonzo said into the phone. “Talk to you later.” He stashed the phone in his pocket as they got back in the SUV. “That was one of my informants. He might be on to something. He’ll get back to me if he has anything.”

“This case is making my head hurt.”

“They all do.”

“True, but this one is worse than most.”

“Because it involves your sister’s family.”

“What did you find on Day?” Sam asked.

“The name Richard Day is an alias. He’s also known as Richard Kent, which is his legal name. Under that name, he has numerous priors, including DUI and intent to distribute cocaine, heroin and meth. He did three years at Jessup on the drug charges and was released on probation eighteen months ago.”

“I wonder if his probation officer knows he’s using an alias.”

“I highly doubt it. Call your probation officer friend Brendan Sullivan and ask.”

“I’ll send a text.” What can you tell me about a Richard Kent, out on parole after three years at Jessup for dealing? Also goes by Richard Day.

Not one of mine, but I’ll see what I can find out and let you know if I have anything. Might not be one of ours.

Thanks.

“He’s going to get back to me if he’s in their system.”

Sam checked her phone and found a message from Haggerty. Same white packet, same S20 pills found at Newell home, zipped into a pocket in her purse. HazMat is coming and will get them to the lab. Moving to Diaz home.

Thank you for the update and the great work. Appreciate you.

He sent back a thumbs-up.

“CSU found the same pills at Morgan Newell’s home,” Sam said. “That makes three from the same batch.”

“That right there is called progress,” Gonzo said.

“If you say so.”

“I say so.”

Sam called HQ and asked for the Patrol commander.

“Dawkins.”

“Hey, it’s Holland. Just making sure you got the word that we’re looking for Richard Day along with the description. Last seen in Georgetown.”