Decker grabbed a written report from a nearby table and turned to Sebeck. "Sergeant, there's critical information missing from your report on the first murder scene. Specifically the cable winch. We need the manufacturer, model, serial numbers-"

Sebeck stopped him. "I pulled the evidence unit onto the CyberStorm scene after the second murder. We were going to follow up."

"Now's your chance." Decker tossed the report and a plastic bag containing a gate key and remote. "I want to know when the winch was purchased and who installed it. Maybe the installer can tell us what other work they've done. Also find out if a permit was pulled with the city. I want the revised report on my desk ASAP."

Mantz looked to Sebeck. "I'll head over to the city permit office, Pete."

Sebeck felt the heat of this professional slight coursing through his veins. He took a breath and tried to keep a clear head. He wasn't used to being closely managed. "All right. I want to revisit the first scene, anyway."

The training room phone rang and Vasquez grabbed it. He listened and then called to Decker. "Neal. NSA."

Decker addressed the room. "Gentlemen, we're going to need non-FBI out of this room. Chief Eichhorn, plan for an early afternoon search of Sobol's estate."

"Will do." Eichhorn and the deputies soon found themselves being hustled out of their own training room. The door closed behind them, and the five men stood in the hallway.

Sebeck gestured to his rejected report. "Hell of a morning."

Eichhorn pointed. "I want to see that revised report before you hand it to Decker." He turned to the others. "Burkow, Larson, come with me. We've got to scare up some manpower." They moved off toward the division offices.

Mantz slapped Sebeck on the back. "Don't let him get to you, Pete. I'll hook up with you after the permit office." Mantz headed down the hall.

Sebeck watched him go. Just then, two FBI agents emerged from a nearby interrogation room. They had one of the suspects from Alcyone Insurance in tow-an exhausted-looking Jon Ross. Ross's laptop bag was slung over his shoulder, and he was folding up his flip phone. One of the agents turned to shake his hand. "Mr. Ross, thanks for your cooperation. We know this has been disruptive to your business."

Ross slipped the phone into his pocket. " Disruptive?I just got a voice mail from Alcyone's lawyers. They're threatening a lawsuit, and they canceled my contract. I have messages from two other clients who are putting my projects on hold, no doubt because of you guys."

"Be sure to let us know where to get in touch with you if you leave town." The agent handed Ross a business card. "And don't leave the country."

Ross stared at the card. "Don't leave the country? I have a project in Toronto next month." He studied the unsympathetic expressions on the agents' faces, then pocketed the card. "Any chance of getting a ride back to Woodland Hills?"

"Check with the sheriff's. But it might be quicker to call a cab. Thanks again." Both agents made a beeline for the training room door. They knocked twice and ducked inside, leaving Ross staring after them in the busy corridor.

Sebeck called across the hallway, "I see the Feds haven't lost their light touch."

Ross regarded Sebeck warily.

Sebeck approached and extended his hand. "Detective Sebeck."

"I know who you are, Sergeant. You were at Alcyone last night."

"You need a ride someplace?"

"I can call a cab."

"C'mon, it's the least I can do. It looks like you've gotten the short end of the stick in this whole thing. I'm heading out, anyway."

Ross hesitated, then nodded. "Thanks."

Sebeck and Ross drove in silence for a few minutes. Ross was absorbed by a smart phone in his hand. He brushed his finger through several screens, reading intently. Eventually he looked up. "Interesting."

Sebeck glanced at him. "What's that?"

"I finally got a chance to read the news. It's nice to know what I was almost accused of."

Sebeck said nothing.

"Your murder case is all over the headlines. Look, there's you." Ross held up the phone to show a news Web site with a photo of Sebeck at the press conference.

Sebeck barely looked. "Well, it's not my case anymore." They drove on for a few moments in silence. "So, you're some kind of computer consultant, is that it?"

"Yes. I design relational database management systems."

"How does a young guy like you get such big clients?"

"Word of mouth. I'm good at what I do. You look young to be a sergeant of detectives."

Sebeck grimaced. "I got an early start." They came up on the entrance ramp to the 101 freeway, but Sebeck headed across the bridge to the far side of town.

"Sergeant, you just missed the freeway ramp."

"I need to stop off somewhere first. Listen, can I ask you some computer questions?"

Ross looked uncertain. "What about?"

"That virus at Alcyone. Everybody there was looking to you for help. So, you know a lot about viruses?"

"I already told all this to the FBI. I've been cleared, remember?"

Sebeck waved his hand in acknowledgment. "I know, I know. But our in-house guy doesn't have the chops to deal with much more than teen hackers and drug dealers."

"Sergeant, the FBI has a cyber crime unit to deal with this. They don't need my help."

"It's not the FBI that's asking."

Ross looked to Sebeck. "Ah…I see." He raised his hands to represent headlines. "Local cop cracks case."

Sebeck looked darkly at Ross. "I'm just trying to stop a killer."

"To be frank, Sergeant, you're going to have a difficult time finding whoever killed those men. This is essentially a computer forensics case, and the FBI is better equipped for that."

Sebeck took a chance. "What if I told you I know who the killer is?"

Ross tensed visibly.

"No, not you."

"That's why the FBI let me go?"

Sebeck nodded. "What if I also told you that the killer was dead at the time of the murders?"

Ross looked puzzled for a moment-but then a look of realization came over his face. "No way."

"That's what I need to know. Is it possible?"

"Holy shit, you're serious."

"The Feds believe it. But I don't. I think the real killer is over at CyberStorm and that he's framing this dead guy for the murders."

"It's Matthew Sobol, isn't it?"

Sebeck cast a surprised look at Ross. "Where the hell did you hear that?"

Ross gestured to his phone. "The news said Sobol died this week from brain cancer. He's your dead killer, isn't he, Sergeant?"

Sebeck realized he might be in trouble. "Whatever you learn here doesn't go to the media, your friends-anyone. If I even thinkyou leaked this, I'll charge you with interfering with a police investigation. Do you understand?"

"Your secrets safe with me. But if I were you, I'd be more concerned about Sobol. If that's who's behind this, then there's more going on than just these murders."

"How come everyone but me has heard of this Sobol guy?"

"I'm a hard-core gamer, Sergeant. Sobol was a legend. He helped build the online gaming industry."

"Legend or not, how could a dead man have known when to trigger his traps? He'd have to know in advance the exact day he'd be dead."

"Not necessarily." Ross held up his phone again. "He could be reading the news."

"Don't talk science fiction crap."

"Sergeant, it's a trivial matter for a computer program to monitor Web site content. It's just text. All Sobol would have to do is create a program to scan news sites for specific phrases-like his obituary, or stories about the deaths of certain programmers. A simple key word search."

Sebeck considered this. "That virus you stopped over at Alcyone Insurance. Could that be the program that was waiting for Sobol's death?"