While Rhodes logged the pills into evidence, she switched on the wireless broadband card and within a few seconds had a secure connection to the Internet. She found her bookmark for AutoTrackXP and clicked it. When she arrived at the Web site, she typed in her user name and password and the information gate to billions of current and historical records swung all the way open in a single instant. She typed Joseph Fontaine’s name and phone number into the search windows and hit ENTER. In another instant, the man’s entire life rendered before her eyes. “I’m up,” she said. “I’ve got him.” “Who is he?” This was where every background check began. Lena studied the screen, grateful that the department had an account and that she had access to such an extensive database: names, aliases, every job ever worked, every address ever used, every phone number, all registered vehicles, all property owned, his relatives, neighbors, associates, credit history, and tax records.
