Something Missing_ A Novel - Matthew Dicks [100]
Unless the man lived with a roommate or was renting the home, Martin was relatively sure that he had identified the Pearls’ intruder by name.
Next, Martin conducted an online search for the name Clive Darrow, hoping to turn up any information on the man. After scanning several websites containing the name (including one on which a Cayman dive-master by the same name frequently posted in the scuba forums), it did not appear that any matched the Clive Darrow who had visited the Pearls’ home earlier that day. None of them seemed to have any recognizable connection to Connecticut.
In possession of the intruders’ probable name and address, Martin next went to an online directory in order to secure his telephone number. In less than a minute, he had this bit of information as well. A well-timed call from a nontraceable phone would likely give Martin the confirmation of the intruder’s name, either by tricking the man into confirming his name (Martin would falsely represent a charity in this case) or by listening for the intruder to identify himself on his answering machine (which most people did).
Next, Martin logged onto a website that provided in-depth background checks for a monthly fee. There were dozens of these websites in existence, and after extensive research, Martin had found the service that he thought was best. Simply enter the client’s name and at least one other identifying piece of information (current address or Social Security number, for example), and in minutes Martin would receive a report that included up to ten years of address history with all listed phone numbers, a marriage and divorce history, an instant criminal background check, a Sex Offender Registry check, as well as a list of bankruptcies, tax liens, and small claims judgments. The report would also include a local and national Web-based search of more than five hundred sources, including major U.S. newspapers and magazines, trade publications, websites, and newswires.
As he waited for the report to arrive in his e-mail box, Martin conducted a search of eBay for Clive Darrow’s name, turning up no further information.
At that moment the phone rang, startling Martin. Though he was engaged in nothing illegal, he couldn’t help but think that the intruder was watching him, tracking his every move. He involuntarily glanced at the open kitchen window just to be sure.
Martin picked up the phone during its third ring, as he always did, and was surprised to hear Laura’s voice on the other end. “What are you doing right now?”
Laura had a way of dispensing with formality and getting right to the point. This both excited and unnerved Martin. The absence of formality made Martin think that the two were becoming close despite the short amount of time that they had known each other, but at the same time, the lack of a standard greeting and other social rhetoric flustered Martin, not allowing him time enough to develop an appropriate response.
“Just getting ready for lunch,” Martin managed to answer after a moment. “Why?”
“I’ve got an hour for lunch. Want to meet me someplace?”
“Sure.” Martin hadn’t thought he’d see Laura before Saturday, so this was quite a treat. Their conversations on the phone had started out awkward and stilted, with Martin taking notes on everything Laura said and reviewing them later for future conversational topics. But in the past couple of days, he had found himself able to speak to her with less and less mental exertion. In fact, he had inadvertently stopped taking notes for more than ten minutes during their last phone call before realizing his gaffe and attempting to remember what had been said in order to jot it down. It had been his most relaxed conversation with her so far, and the prospect of seeing her in person thrilled him. “Where?”
“Max’s in the Center makes a great Caesar salad with oysters,” she said hopefully.
“Sounds good,” Martin answered, though he despised