Zero Day

Leaving the diner, Puller and Cole are followed by Bill Strauss, the chief operating officer (COO) at Trent Exploration, and his son Dickie, who, Cole tells Puller, was in the Army. The two men catch up with Cole and Puller. Strauss tells Cole he heard about Molly Bitner’s body being found at the meth house and asks what she has learned about the murder. He doesn’t seem upset about Molly’s death; he says he didn’t know her well. Puller asks Dickie about his military service. Dickie tells them he was discharged from the infantry. Puller asked whether it was a bad conduct discharge (BCD) or a dishonorable discharge (DD). Strauss hurriedly pulls his son away before he can answer. Puller explains to Cole that BCDs are often related to drug use and notes Dickie has a sleeve tattoo identical to that of Eric Treadwell, the other murder victim from the meth house.

Cole promises to find out more about Dickie’s tattoo. Puller phones Kristin Craig, a supervisor at the United States Army Criminal Investigation Lab (USACIL). She tells him both the Secretary of the Army’s office and the FBI have called her office and asked to be kept in the loop on the case.