Twenty Nine

Brian insisted on driving, which Geraldo was more than happy to oblige. His face hurt, and the two aspirins he had popped before they left was doing little to ease the pain.

“Man, they sure took a liking to you, didn’t they?” Brian shot him a sideways grin.

Geraldo grunted but said nothing more.

“Did they buy you a beer after they fucked you up?” The awkward silence hung between them. “At least offer to cuddle.”

“Can you shut the fuck up?” Geraldo rubbed his temples and shut his eyes. The lights of the city were growing more prominent as the sun sat.

Brian raised his fingers off the steering wheel. “Just trying to break the ice, partner.

“We are not friends and we are sure as hell are not partners. You are a fucking babysitter. Nothing more.”

“Guess that makes you the baby then?”

Before Geraldo could give the man his caustic retort, his terminal rang. Geraldo fished it out of his pocket and groaned when he saw the call was coming from Cy-Tech.

“What?” He growled.

“I just got your email, Detective Montez.” Andrews’ all too cocky voice answered. “I am glad you came around.”

“What can I do for you, Andrews?” Geraldo shifted his weight in the seat before switching the terminal to is opposite ear.

“I spoke to your Chief, Tanya Wedge.”

“And.”

“You two have a long history. You both started with the company around the same time. She was your first and last partner as detective and got promoted seven months before she gave birth. I wonder if you had anything to do with that?”

“I don’t have the kind of pull to get someone promoted.” This was a power move, and Geraldo knew it. Andrews was proving to him that he had some sort of pull over him.

“I meant the pregnancy.”

“Yeah, I know what you meant,” Geraldo cut him off. “Is there something I can actually help you with, or are you just calling to take me down memory lane?”

“Chief Wedge said that Gabriela has an alibi?”

“Possibly.” Geraldo held up the receipt. Reading over it again. It showed the purchase of a case of imported beer and a choco choco bar.

“Think it’s legit?”

“Hard to say just yet, but I as soon as I have some more info you will be the first person I call.”

Andrews laughed. Even his laugh was sleezy, yet somehow charming. “You and I both know that’s not true.”

“As soon as I find out anything I will give you the sanitized version. Now,” Geraldo sighed. “Do you have any pertinent information for me?”

“The dead spots have stopped.”

“So, she no longer has a net breaker helping her?”

“No, I am sure she still has help. I just think they are one step ahead of us. My analysists have reviewed the digital imprint in the Ether from the Bioloxys facility that Gabriel escaped from. The net breaker was able to not only able break into their counter corporation espionage system, but also highjack their interactive AI.”

“Should that mean something to me?”

Andrews gave another sleazy laugh. “I forgot you are a ground pounder. AIs are sophisticated, even peaking at their code is harder than peaking up a nun’s skirt, and taking full control over one, well.” Andrews let his words trail off, letting Geraldo fill in the blanks.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

“We aren’t dealing with just any net breaker.”

“No, we think she is being helped by a mancer who calls themselves Soma. They are a digital terrorist that has been working with the Sons as of lately.”

“You still pushing the domestic terrorist angle?”

“Hey, if the shoe fits, right?”

“We’ll see,” Geraldo responded before he cut the connection.

“Sounds like a real prick.” Brian added.

“Mind your own fucking business and just drive, Brian.” Geraldo grumbled. Typically he would be more reserved, especially around someone who had as much pull as Brian, but he was in a mood; maybe it was because he had gotten the shit kicked out of him by the man he was now supposed to be licking his boots.

Brian didn’t say anything else as they drove to the market. It was what you would expect for a dive food mart. Bright signs advertising beer and wine, which was overshadowed by the bright store sign displaying the store’s name, which was so generic Geraldo had forgotten it already.

The bell chimed when he opened the door. A young, spotty kid with bushy red hair and a pimpled face looked up from the counter and stiffened.

Geraldo looked over as Brian circled around with the facade of a man perusing the wears, stopping now and then to pick up a bag of chips and a bottle of soda.

“You Tony?” Geraldo asked as he sauntered up to the counter and leaned against the ballistic glass the kid all but cowered behind.

“Maybe?” His voice was rough and dull.

“Maybe? You don’t know your own name?”

“It depends who’s asking?” The kid sniffed and nervously scratched at the stump of his left arm.

Geraldo scowled and pulled out his badge and pressed it against the glass. “Why don’t you cut the tough guy shit. Come out from the box and shut down the store. We have some questions for you.”

Tony’s persona practically melted, his face turning a pale white. “I didn’t have nothing to do with it.”

“To what?” Brian joined them, dropping the chips on the counter before he popped the cap on the soda and took a swig. “We haven’t even accused you of anything. Yet.” He added.

“Come on.” Geraldo motioned with his finger.

Tony was visibly shaking as he turned off the open sign and shut down the front building lights. He nervously looked back at them as he limped along.

Geraldo noted at least two camaras in the store, and he was willing to bet there was at least a third somewhere behind the glass box.

The kid locked the door and slowly turned around. “I swear I didn’t do anything.” He began to sob.

“Relax kid, we just want to ask you some questions.” Geraldo assured him. “Just want to know if you have seen this woman.” Geraldo pulled up a photo of Gabriela on his terminal and turned it so Tony could see.

“She’s the one everyone’s looking for.” He pointed out.

“No kidding, dipshit.” Brian laughed past a mouthful of chips.

Geraldo shut Brian up with a single glare. The man raised his hands and took a step back.

“I get it, it’s your show, cowboy. I’ll let you two talk; crip to crip.” He added after popping another chip in his mouth and walked away.

“We have reason to believe that she was here late last night, early morning. You were working between twelve and four?”

Tony nodded and swallowed. His adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “Yeah, I was.”

“Do you remember seeing her?”

“Yeah, I think I did, but I can’t really be sure. Lots of people in here at that time.”

“Do these cameras work?” Geraldo slid his terminal back in his pocket.

“Yeah.”

“They closed circuit?”

“I think so. They are all hardwired into a computer.”

“Please tell me the computer is not hooked up to the Ether.”

The kid licked his thin lips nervously and Geraldo cursed to himself. He was hoping beyond hope that whoever owned this shop was as cheap as it was, and that the camaras where all closed circuit recording to a stationary device, but nothing was ever easy.

“I am going to need to see the video of this morning from 0200 to 0203. And I want to see all of them, not just one.”

“Okay.” The kid put his head down and walked to a room behind the glass box.

Geraldo motioned for Brian to follow. The back office was little more than a broom closet with a dingy old monitor well past its prime. Tony sat in a rickety chair and quickly pulled up the video surveillance. Four different video streams popped up, each showing Gabriela walking into the store.

“Holy shit,” mumbled Brian. “There she is.”

They watched as she bought a case of beer and a choco choco bar before she left. She only stopped to hand vouchers to a homeless man setting outside. It was just how she explained it.

“I want the drive these are stored on.”

“I can make you copies.” The kid offered.

“No. I want the whole fucking drive.” Geraldo snapped. His hands clinched in white knuckled fists.

“I need to ask my boss.” Tony started to explain.

“Go ahead and give him a call kiddo, but the drive is coming with us.” Brian reached behind the server and pulled the small disk like drive from the back. The computer beeped and the screen went black.

“Tell him to call us.” Brian finished by flipping a business card at Tony, which caused him to flinch when it smacked into his stunned face.

“Here.” Brian handed the drive over.

Geraldo pocketed it and pulled out a cigarette, he started to walk away.

“What do I tell my boss?” Tony called after him.

“That he can get bent.” Geraldo mumbled past the smoke. The doors to the market chimed happily as he threw them open and the stench of the night air greeted him.

Brian rushed to the car. “Let’s get the drive over to Cy-Tech.”

Geraldo got into the car slowly and shook his head. “No, we are going back to Taurus.”

“What? Why?” Brian demanded.

“Because the video is doctored. Now drive.”