Page 148 of Head Room

“Not entirely,” Russ said.“He used names that are part of his legal identity.However, he had not used those names in the other jurisdiction.”

Click.

I said, “He used a different last name in South Carolina because of the nepotism, because his uncle was the chief.”

Jarvis spoke quickly.“We cannot speculate on why he didn’t use the common combination from his full legal name, but from the public record we can say that he did not do so in that other jurisdiction.”

Public record likely being the National Decertification Index.

“In other words, you might not — probably don’t — have him on the hook for a straightforward charge of lying about his identity.The stronger case for that would be in South Carolina where he didn’t use his legal last name.”

Law enforcement liked theneither confirm nor denymantra.But the trio’s silence confirmed my statement, even if it was against their will.

They needed Kyle Vaughn Quetcher Moser to pin himself down in order to stop him from ever being in law enforcement again anywhere.

“We determined it would be most beneficial to first confirm the connection and his intention without betraying our knowledge to the man who applied here as Vaughn Moser,” Jasper said.

“Makes sense,” Mike said.“How did you connect this particular applicant with the incidents in South Carolina?”

“A deputy brought the potential concern to our attention.”

“Which deputy?”I asked.

This time their silence didn’t confirm anything.But I was about to usedenyas a weapon against them.“You don’t want to give credit to that individual?”

In a grumbling undertone, Russ said, “Go ahead, Wayne.”

I couldn’t tell if the invitation was toletShelton answer or tomakehim.

“Alvaro.”

“How did he recognize this guy?”

A precursor growl from Shelton gave me a little thrill.“Podcasts.”

Richard Alvaro had cyber skills.I knew that.But that he watched those kinds of podcasts...?I stifled a crow of amusement in front of his chain of command.But wait until I got him alone.

In the meantime, hearing the word on Shelton’s lips made me all giddy.

“What made him interested in this applicant in the first place?”Mike asked.

It was a great question.And the way Mike asked, all casual and one-of-the-guys was masterly.

Russ and Jasper shot looks toward Shelton, then at each other.Shelton looked only at Mike, but either sensed their looks or decided to answer without consultation, much less permission.

“A law enforcement officer mentioned an acquaintance was applying.Alvaro thought there was something off.Pursued it.”

I let him off the hook.For now.

“You — all of you — need another way to snag this guy.Not by his name...Fingerprints?The written test?But you’re not trying to catch him cheating.The interview?Even if you record it, he could plead a slip of the tongue.Bad with his history, but still...You need something more.Something clearer.”

I looked from Jasper to Russ to Shelton.

“Something indisputable.Swearing to his work history, maybe?And even if that’s part of your regular process, perhaps tightening the language, in an effort to ensure this man does not work in law enforcement ever again.Under any name.”

After a beat, Jasper said, “That sounds like a portion of a compelling report for KWMT-TV.”

Mike and I exchanged a look of confirmation.I followed it with a nod for him to respond.He was, after all, the owner.