The Broken Window

and how it was impossible to steal data even if you got inside. “They’ve had one intruder—a reporter—who was just after a story, not even stealing trade secrets. He did time and his career is over with.”
    “Vindictive, hm?”
    Sachs considered this. “No. I’d say protective . . . . Now, as for employees: I interviewed most of them who had access to people’s dossiers. There are a few that weren’t accounted for yesterday afternoon. Oh, and I asked if they log downloads; they don’t. And we’ll be getting a list of clients who’ve bought data about the vics and fall guys.”
    “But the important thing is you let them know about an investigation and gave them all the name Myra Weinburg.”
    “Right.”
    Then Sachs took a document from her briefcase. Arthur’s dossier, she explained. “Thought it might be helpful. If nothing else, you might be interested in it. Seeing what your cousin’s been up to.” Sachs removed the staple and mounted it on the reading framenear Rhyme—a device that turned pages for him.
    He glanced at the document. Then back to the charts.
    “Don’t you want to look through it?” she asked.
    “Maybe later.”
    She returned to her briefcase. “Here’s the list of SSD employees who have access to the dossiers—they’re called ‘closets.’ ”
    “As in secrets?”
    “Right. Pulaski’s out checking their alibis. We have to go back to talk to the two technical managers but here’s what we have so far.” On a whiteboard she wrote their names and some comments.
    Andrew Sterling, President, Chief Executive Officer
    Alibi—on Long Island, to be verified
    Sean Cassel, Director of Sales and Marketing
    No alibi
    Wayne Gillespie, Director of Technical Operations
    No alibi
    Samuel Brockton, Director, Compliance Department
    Alibi—hotel records confirm presence in Washington
    Peter Arlonzo-Kemper, Director of Human Resources
    Alibi—with wife, to be verified
    Steven Shraeder, Technical Service and Support Manager, day shift
    To be interviewed
    Faruk Mameda, Technical Service and Support Manager, night shift
    To be interviewed
    Client of SSD (?)
    Awaiting list from Sterling
    “Mel?” Rhyme called. “Check NCIC and the department.”
    Cooper ran the names through the National Crime Information Center and the NYPD equivalent, as well as the Justice Department’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Program.
    “Wait . . . may have a hit here.”
    “What is it?” Sachs asked, moving forward.
    “Arlonzo Kemper. Juvie in Pennsylvania. Assault twenty-five years ago. The record’s still sealed.”
    “The age would be right. He’s about thirty-five. And he’s light-skinned.” Sachs nodded at the 522 profile chart.
    “Well, get the record unsealed. Or at least find out if it’s the same guy.”
    “I’ll see what I can do.” Cooper typed some more.
    “Any references to the others?” Rhyme nodded toward the suspect list.
    “Nope. Just him.”
    Cooper ran various state and federal database searches and checked some professional organizations. The tech shrugged. “Went to UC-Hastings. No connection with Pennsylvania that I can find. Seems like a loner: Aside from college credentials, his only organization is the National Association of Human ResourceProfessionals. He was on the technology task force two years ago but hasn’t done much since.
    “Okay, here’s what they have on the juvie. He attacked another kid in a detention home. . . . Oh.”
    “Oh what?”
    “It’s not him. No hyphen. The name’s different. The juvenile was first name Arlonzo, last name Kemper.” He glanced at the chart. “He’s ‘Peter,’ last name ‘Arlonzo-Kemper.’ I typed it in wrong. If I’d included the hyphen, it wouldn’t have shown up at all. Sorry.”
    “Not the worst of sins.” Rhyme shrugged. This was a sobering lesson about the nature of data, he reflected. They seemingly had found a suspect and even Cooper’s characterization of him suggested he might be the one— He seems to be a loner —yet the lead was completely wrong, due to the minuscule error of missing a single keystroke. They might have come down hard on the man—and misdirected resources—if Cooper hadn’t realized his mistake.
    Sachs sat down beside Rhyme, who, seeing her eyes, asked, “What is it?”
    “Funny, but now that I’m back, I feel like some kind of spell’s been broken. I think I want an outside opinion. About SSD. I lost perspective when I was there. . . . It’s a