I think you're right on.
Did Howard find the card in Daniel's stuff...and tracked him down?? AND TRY to contact the PI??
Did the PI then come out to "protect himself"? In other words, did he tell Howard to stop calling...and do a Howard..."Reminding Howard of the Harrassment Laws"?
Or did he suck Howard in first...AND TAPE IT. Sometimes asking a question can be viewed as TMI...and we know that TMI was Howard's early MO.