“The Bat Cave is dog free.”
Bob pulled at the leash and we continued walking.
“Everyone involved had a laptop,” I said. “Did they have anything else in common?”
“Singh, Howie, Rosen, and Klein were all computer geeks and loners. Paressi doesn't entirely fit the profile, but she became a computer junkie when she broke up with Scrugs. Probably there's a connection between her and Rosen. Maybe Paressi talked to Rosen about the game and Rosen came on board after Paressi was killed. They were all between the ages of nineteen and twenty-?seven. Rosen was the oldest. None were especially successful.”
“Bart Cone doesn't fit the profile, does he?”
Ranger was looking ahead at houses and cars. “Not entirely, but he fits better than Andrew.” Ranger turned at the sound of a car a block behind us, traveling in our direction. He had his hand resting on his gun and his eyes stayed steady on the car. The car passed without incident and Ranger dropped his hand off the gun.
"Andrew lives in a nice midrange house with his wife. It's a stable relationship. They like to cook. They vacation at the Jersey shore. They have two kids.
“Clyde lives in a rental house on State Street. He shares the house with two other guys. I'm guessing he's known them forever. I found a photo of the three of them when they were in high school. The house is pretty much a wreck inside and out. Thrift shop furniture, broken blinds, refrigerator filled with beer and take-?out boxes.”
“So Andrew and Clyde aren't loner computer geeks.”
“They aren't loners. I don't know how much time they spend on the computer.”
We turned the corner and headed for home. “You've been busy using your breaking and entering skills,” I said.
“I just enter. I don't usually break.”
“You broke down Pitch's door.”
“Lost my temper.”
Bob hunched again.
“Oh, for crissake,” I said.
Morelli was sitting on his front step when we got back with Bob. “Lucky you,” he said. “A two-?bag day.”
“I think we should stop feeding him.”
“Yeah,” Morelli said. “That would work.” He stood and took Bob's leash and looked over at Ranger.
“It's been quiet,” Ranger said. “No shooting. No one tailing us. No death threats or poison darts.”
Morelli nodded.
“Your watch,” Ranger said to Morelli. And he left.
“The bodyguard thing is getting old,” I told Morelli.
“Did you tell that to Ranger?”
“Would it do any good?”
Morelli followed me into the house. “I have some bad news and then I have some bad news,” Morelli said.
“Let's start with the bad news first.”
“I checked your email account this afternoon just before I left work. You have another carnation letter. It's on the sideboard. I printed it out for you.”
I looked at the email.
It will happen soon. Nothing can stop it. Are you excited?