It's A Dead Man's Party

John was frustrated. Which didn't happen often. He was very good at what he did.

After listening to the Avalon meeting report, he had taken the shaving from Armstrong and retired to his back room to do his thing.

Except nothing happened. Repeatedly. He had a name (probably fake), a description, and the shaving. It should have been enough. He'd even taken the time to do a Ritual Casting. Still... nothing.

He knocked on Tyria's door.

Slightly embarrassed, he explained his lack of results, then had to sit there as Tyria's eyes bored into him for several long minutes as she considered the problem.

"Occam's Razor, John," she finally said. "This 'Eric Bethem' no longer exists."

Aha.