Chapter 50

Geraldo did what he said he would do. He went home. Inyu meowed happily when he opened the door. Geraldo opened a beer as he went through the same monotonous routine he always did. Feed his cat, make a reheated meal, drink, and work.

He watched the data spool over and over. Unable to keep his mind from the last few days.

“I always get my man.” He said to himself when he stopped the recording on Tanya’s face. “I always get my man.” He whispered once more before he made a hard copy of the tape and turned off the monitor. He put on his coat and left for the precinct, making one stop along the way.

He found Sally at her usual spot. It was far away from the explosion, but the area was deserted nonetheless.

“Detective.” Sally smiled. “You look like shit, hun.”

“Feel like it too.” Geraldo smiled.

“What do I owe for this visit? Is it for pleasure or business.”

“Business.”

Sally put out her cigarette. “It always is. What can I do for you?”

“Do you still have an encrypted subdrive?”

Sally tapped her temple. “Never leave home without it honey.”

“I need you to keep something safe for me.”

The charm slipped away from Sally's face. “What is it?”

“Insurance.” Geraldo pulled the copy of the tape out and handed it to her. “How much for you to keep it safe.”

“Nothing, for you Ger.” Sally slipped the tape between her breasts.

“Sally.” Geraldo grabbed her wrist. “What's on that tape is dangerous. Like, it will get you killed.”

“Geraldo.” Sally smiled once more and caressed his cheek. “You are the only one down here looking out for us. Let us look out for you, just this once. Okay?”

Geraldo touched her hand and nodded, sniffing back a sob. Sally wiped away a tear. “I won't look at what's on this. No one will know I have it.”

“Thank you.” Geraldo looked down and nodded.

“It okay, hun. Even heroes need to cry sometimes.”

Geraldo looked up. “I’m no hero, Sally. I’m just a man doing his job.”

“Oh sweetheart.” Sally touched his cheek again. “Not to us. You're so much more.”

Geraldo nodded. “You need to keep this safe.” He reminded her.

“What do I do with it if something happens?”

“Give it to a hacker known as Soma, do you know who I am talking about?”

“Yes.” She nodded.

“Thank you.” Geraldo turned and walked away.

“Geraldo.” Sally called out to him.

Geralod turned back slowly.

“You’ll take care of yourself, won't you?”

Geraldo smiled back at her. “You know me, Sally.”

“That's what I'm afraid of,” she called out to him.

Geraldo walked to the precinct, avoiding cameras and mass transportation as he did. He arrived before any of the detectives. A few officers gave him a pat on the back, congratulating him. He brushed past them without a word, retreated to the safety of his cramped office, and started writing his report.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

He had it ready before Tanya came in, and waited for her in her office. The report was on her desk.

“Geraldo.” She said in surprise when she opened the door to her office. “What are you doing here?”

“My report.” He pointed to her desk.

“This could have waited, Ger, you know that.”

Geraldo shrugged. “Tenacity is one of my finer qualities.”

She took her seat at her desk and looked over the report. “I see big things for you in this company, Geraldo.” She said as she flipped through the report.

“There are some supplements on your desk terminal.” He added.

“So thorough.” She smiled and turned on her monitor. The smile slipped away when she saw the memory recording playing.

“You were right, Tanya.” Geraldo said before she could speak. “I do always want to get my man, or woman.”

“Is this the only copy?” Tanya demanded.

“No.” Geraldo pulled out a cigarette and lit it. He took a deep drag and let it out slowly. “Imagine what I thought when I found this? I have been asking myself over and over; why would you put me on this case, if you knew that I wouldn't stop until I cracked it. It wasn't because you thought I lacked the skills to do it, was it?”

“No.”

“It was because,” Geraldo leaned forward and pointed at her. “If anyone was going to find the truth you knew it had to be someone you trusted, someone who had a vested interest in keeping it secret.”

“Geraldo, I didn't do this for me,” Tanya confessed "I did it for Vee.”

“Don’t.” Geraldo snapped. “Don’t bring Vee into this.”

“I did it for our daughter. I did what was best for her.”

“Bullshit, Tanya. What's best for Vee is keeping her safe!” Geraldo shouted, standing up.

“And she will be, Ger. You just have to trust me,” Tanya pleaded. “I know you and I both want what's best for her.”

“I gave her what was best for her, Tanya. I kept my mouth shut, watching from afar as another man raised my daughter. All so she wouldn't have the shame and stigma of being a crip’s kid.”

“She's a deviant, Geraldo.” Tanya spat back before she covered her face in shame.

“A deviant that was born from two gen perfects.” Geraldo forced his tone to be as calm and collected as he could. “She has access to resources I could never give her if I was her father. Walking away from you two was the best thing we could do for her, you agreed with me on that.”

Tanya nodded. “I know, Geraldo. I have always admired your devotion to Vee, your devotion to me. You made a sacrifice I couldn't have ever made, a sacrifice I can't even fathom.”

“And you pissed that all away on what? Money?”

“The lottery. I did it so she wouldn't have to make the sacrifices we made. So that she could have a good life. She wants to see the stars, Ger. Not die in the shithole city.”

“You had Brian with me so that he could cover any loose ends, didn’t you?”

“Please, Geraldo. You have to understand what was at stake.”

“Am I a loose end, Tanya?” He demanded

Tanya blinked. The look of shock on her face was genuine. “No, Geraldo. I would never-”

“And Dalis Sean?”

“He was-” Tanya paused and considered her words, “Collateral damage.”

“Jesus fucking Christ, Tanya. The kid is innocent. Do you know what the company will do to him?” Geraldo didn’t wait for her reply. “First thing they do will repo all of his implants, if he is lucky they will kill him first.”

“I know what will happen, God damnit!” Tanya shouted back. “I didn’t choose him. The company did. They needed someone to blame, and they picked him. Not me.”

Geraldo sneered. “I don’t see you doing anything to help him.”

Tanya threw up her arms. “And what should I do, Geraldo?”

“The right thing.”

“You and I both know that's not going to happen.”

“So, where do we go from here then?” He demanded.

“We go back to the way things were.” She smiled warily. “Gabriela is dead. I assume you destroyed all the evidence. No one knows our secret.”

“Your secret.” Geraldo stamped his cigarette out.

“What are you going to do, Geraldo?” Tanya asked as she rose slowly to her feet.

“First thing I'm doing is quitting. I don’t want to be a part of this any longer.”

“You can’t quit.” She blinked past tears.

“Just did.”

“Geraldo. The people I worked for are dangerous,” She warned. “They will not hesitate killing you if they know you went rogue.”

“Then cover for me, Tanya. You owe me that at least.”

“Okay.” She nodded and blinked past the tears. “You are retiring then.”

“Whatever you want to classify it as.”

“Ger.” Tanya stepped around the desk, coming closer to him. Geraldo held up his hands, warding her away. She stopped and stifled a sob. “Please, think about this. Think before you do something stupid.”

Geraldo stood there for a moment, collecting his thoughts. “He was going to come after you and Vee.”

“Who?” Tanya asked.

“Andrews. He knew about you. I had to kill him. I had to kill them all. And I didn't do it for you, I did it for Vee. That's how far I am willing to go for our daughter. I want you to remember that every day you wake up. Remember what I was willing to do.”

“Geraldo, please.” She begged one last time when he turned to leave.

“I’m done here, Tanya. You and me. We are done. Do you understand?”

Tanya nodded, but said nothing.

“Good.” Geraldo grunted as he left.