The address on Ballantine’s driver’s license was a Department of Corrections reentry facility on 6th and Alvarado. Several of the residents could come and go as they pleased. Some had GPS tracking devices, but most wandered on an honor system. Because Ballantine had served out the full term of his reduced sentence and didn’t take advantage of the release program, he didn’t have an anklet. It would’ve made tracking his movements the night before a lot easier, but Nick realized nothing about this case was going to be easy.
The halfway house administrator let Nick into Ballantine’s room. It was bare. No personals. Bed made. It looked like the facility was waiting to fill the spot.
“Am I missing something?” Nick asked.
“Ballantine slept here because he had to as part of his parole. And that
