"I'm willing to put my ass on the line and help where it might do some good but I'm just a private citizen.
I thought of Frank Vasapolli and the difficulty he had securing certain information. "You have some access to data bases that could be helpful." I told Brennan about Frank and the help we were getting from him.
"He must be sharp to get that Cleveland hospital connection. I struck out on that."
"He gets stymied at times because of lack of access to certain information sources. Could you possibly help him out?"
Brennan took a few moments to reply. "I could drop off the radar for a time. I can't say for certain, but I feel eyes on me. If I can slip them, I may be able to help. The problem is they'll know what I did sooner or later and when I resurface, they'll be on me like John Dillinger at the movie."
"Would you be able to access national data bases?"
"Yes and I can go back to asking questions I haven't been able to ask and I have sources to get answers. Only the guys watching me will know I'm making the inquiries for you. It's not a solution but it will help a lot more than doing nothing while this guy may be getting closer. All you need to do is tell me where you do your fishing and who's in the boat. I don't even want to know which one of you is baiting the hook." I started to but he interrupted. "Think about it a couple of minutes. I've got some more information for you."
"I hope it's good news."
"You tell me. You asked about a con named Willard Humphries a while back and I told you he was out of prison and floated off in the breeze." He was the person suspected of murdering Howie's sister, Annie, fifteen years ago.
"I remember," I said.
"Humphries is out of the system, according to a friend of mine. He found God, started a church and homeless shelter in Philadelphia, and confessed to every rape he'd committed. He had his what-sis cut off and publically apologized to each victim he could find. He even keeps in touch with some of them. Naturally, the statute of limitations has expired so he's as free as a summer breeze. He claims he never hurt anyone seriously and the case file seems to bear him out."
"Do you have a victim list?" I asked. When he said yes, I gave him the name Annie Abbott. She was not listed.
"When was she molested?" he asked. I told him the year, the Santa Barbara, California location and the fact Annie was abducted and murdered. I didn't have an exact date.