“I had to pay him an exorbitant fee, and I also had to spring for his honeymoon. That’s how sure I am he can get us what we need. He knows all bets are off if he can’t deliver.

“I spent the day going through the series we ran on identity theft victims. Ted and Joe will be revisiting those same people again to see what if anything will come up. Now that we know Harry’s mail habits, we have something more to go on. If he pays all his bills at the beginning of the year, then it falls right into place with the other victims we interviewed, which leads me to think it’s a ring of people, as opposed to one person, because that’s around the time someone stole all their identities. The major difference is that the other victims were immediately made aware of what was happening when they opened their mail to see their credit card statements and notices from their banks. All the victims were cleaned out like Harry was. Ergo, my reasoning for thinking it’s a ring. It’s a pattern, and it took a lot of effort on the part of a lot of people to bring it off in a short period of time.”

“Definitely makes sense,” Lizzie said thoughtfully as she scribbled notes on the pad in front of her. “Did you send copies of the profiles to the mountain?”

“I sent them out midmorning today. I suppose it’s possible they might pick up on something, but I doubt it. First thing tomorrow morning, after Ted and Joe visit the other victims again, they’ll visit their credit card companies. Depending on what Abner comes up with, I might have to engage his services for phase two. It’s a crapshoot, Lizzie.”

Jack weighed in. “I find myself wondering if the perp, or perps, is someone all these people know. How were they chosen by the perp? Do they know him or her? Is it someone involved in their daily lives? With Harry it could be anyone. He has private classes. He works with the local police, and he works with the FBI and the CIA. The list is almost endless. A disgruntled class member or parent of one of the kids or some hyped-up kid who thinks he’s smarter than the law.”

Maggie shrugged. “All of the above. We’re blind at the moment, but with Abner, Ted, and Joe on it, not to mention Charles and the girls, we should come up with someone or some group that will pique our interest. We have to start somewhere.”

They talked for another hour and a half, with Lizzie making copious notes. When they finally said good night at eleven o’clock, Lizzie knew what she had to do. She gave Harry a quick hug and told him not to worry. Harry just nodded as he followed Jack out to his car.

Maggie stayed on a few moments longer, chatting with Lizzie about her new married life. “It must be hard with you here and Cosmo in Vegas. I know you probably talk throughout the day, but it isn’t the same as being together. But”—she winked at Lizzie—“I bet the reunions are spectacular.”