Expert: Loren Stevens - 8/11/2004

Question
Hi, Loren,
I'm still working on that book you helped me with a few months ago!  It's slow going.  

Here's the scenario that's got me stuck:

A cop meets a woman at some sort of convention in a big city, say NY(can you tell me if they go to a convention for computer devices, or surveillance equipment or something?  He's a detective) They have a brief fling.  She leaves.  She finds out she is pregnant, and writes him a note from another town where she is on business.  The note says "I'm pregnant, but I'm telling my boyfriend it's his.  I just thought you'd want to know." (because the cop had been told he was sterile and couldn't reproduce.)

Now for my dilemma: I want the detective to be unable to find out where this woman really lives for a few years.  (she is dead now, and he comes to her hometown and meets the heroine, who is the legal guardian for his child.)

I'm just feeling like the detective, if he's any good, would have found the legal guardian and his child sooner than, say, the three years out that I need it to be!  Surely he'd have been able to trace her through her company, or her SSN or utility bills (see, I've read the Idiot's Guide to Private Investigation!) would have led him to her address.  Can you think of any good reason why he would have been delayed in the process?  What if he was involved in a misconduct case in his department, where he was set up for taking money in a drug bust?(you may remember this part from before!) Could that have held up his personal investigation into the whereabouts of a possible child?

Thanks for any help you can give me again, Loren!I'm working hard, and if I ever finish and sell this thing, I'll give you some credit!

Sincerely,
Melissa

Answer
Hey Melissa,
Kind of a convoluted story line isn't it?
If this Investigator required 3 years to merely locate someone that was seemingly not trying to hide, says little for his investigative skills. Maybe he is more suited for the level 4 reading group in a special ed class!
Yes, cops go to conventions. Usually it's the tech support personnel that go to the electronic fairs etc.
It kind of determines what kind of convention as to what Dets attend. Something like a porno convention, the vice dets go, to see what/how the skin flicks are being made/marketed, and who all is attending from that trade.
Planes and cigarett boat confabs the narcs attend.
"global" stuff, eg a state Attorney Gen conference attracts a variety of folks.
Computers and state of the art soft ware is so generic, it would probably work for you, and not be so "subject-specific"
The "brief fling" is kind of troubling, as they should both be hip enough for safe sex, especially to someone not well known, and a one-night-stand. It would probably be more viable to have a condum break, otherwise it kind of puts a "stupid jacket" on them both. The ones that tend to break, are lambs membranes eg, "4xxx" brand. Latex can also break, but not as readily. Just a thought.
Or, have the condum fall off, something to expand the anxioty index of both.
The cop would NOT acknowledge the pregnant note, as it could complicate potential litigation. And, a point of logic. What is the point of her telling this "one-night-stand" if he has no way to contact her for future communication? Also, neither of these people have any emotional equity in their "relationship'' It seems like a waste of attention/book space.
A guy saying he is sterile, is about the same as a gal saying she is on the pill. Neither commentary has much validity in the heat of the moment in a passion crazed orgasmic motivated coupling.
The STD's would be the issue for these players.
If the cop REALLY wanted to find this gal, he'd take the obvious shortcut to do it. He'd speak with a cop where the convention was, and ask him to descretely get the information off the hotel registration/ and credit card numbers. Also, any room activity like telephone calls.
They would have also had to discuss their mutual interest on why each one was attending this convention.
You may be able to dodge this path, by having her use a company issued credit card, and hotel registration listing her co. address. Then, she will only use a first initial, and last name. The last name should be something VERY common. This would make it tougher to find her. Then, that she is no longer employed with that firm, and all personnel are located at an off site repository in another state. The co. is litagation sensitive, and by policy, will not expose any personnel files info w/o a court order. Maybe something like that will work for you?
The Det would or should not have her SS#, utility bills et al. These type things are usually not factored into a night of "slap&tickle" between relative strangers.
If he took $ on a drug case, he'd have been arrested, and certainly fired.
How about something else, a bit softer that would make him spooky, but not lose his job or be arrested for.
Say, taking $ or some other remuneration from a company that does repossessions. The Det uses police computers to better locate info for the repo folks. For that, he gets fantastic DEALS on a late mdl car or something.
Something hard to prove, but puts him under ongoing suspicion. And, makes him spooky about using police resources for ANYTHING other than official business. Just a thought.
Also, maybe it wasn't that he was inept about finding this gal. Why would he want to? All that's in it for him, is 20 years of child support.
Maybe he chose not to find her, until he found religion or something, that would inspire him.
Melissa, I seek no recognition or attribution. This is YOUR initiative. I'm just a passive "sounding board". I've had plenty of "Andy Worhol" moments in my life to satisfy any ego needs in that area.
I may be going back to eastern Europe to do some more consulting. So, if I don't respond to your inquiry, it is not due to being illmannered.
But, this won't be for a month or so I wouldn't guess.
good luck, keep hitting it.
loren