The Immorality Clause (16 page)

“The sex robots?” Doctor Jones asked. “I thought the security systems for those things were supposed to be as solid as what the department uses on the police drones.”

“It’s supposed to be. They deal with a lot of personal information, so their programs are supposed to be tightly controlled…” I worked through the implications of a hacker taking over sex bots in my head. It would make sense that they could be present for the event without leaving fingerprints, but we’d had our tech guys go over the droids’ video and memory feeds frame by frame and byte by byte. The droids weren’t involved.

“So, did you find out what you wanted to about the witness?” she asked, stirring me from my thoughts.

“Excuse me?” I asked.

“Before the part about the hacker came up, you were telling me that you were investigating her records. Anything out of the ordinary come up?”

“She earns a lot of money to keep a lot of people happy,” I replied tersely.

The fact that I was uncomfortable with her question about Paxton told me what I already knew. I’d danced too close to a gray area of the department’s policies concerning witnesses—hell, I’d done more than dance; I’d ripped out the pages and wallowed across them. I’d allowed myself to rationalize that while, yes, it was currently an active case, it could be active for years given the lack of evidence. I was one hundred percent positive that Paxton had nothing to do with the murder, but my behavior with her was inexcusable.

Doctor Jones closed the book and then the open folder underneath. “Well, there have been several cases where killers went after the police officers investigating their crimes, so it’s not unheard of. I’d dig into the main witnesses at the other locations to see if the same thing happens, maybe the killer is monitoring all of them and you only triggered the response by digging deeper. I’d be interested to hear the results.”

“Hmm… You’ve given me some things to think about,” I remarked, looking at my notebook, which only had a few notes. She’d given me a good idea about checking the calendar for overlapping events and the part about the average hacker’s disorder, but I hadn’t gotten as much as I’d hoped to from her. The idea that the hacker was controlling the droids was interesting, but in reality it was a distraction since the department had already proven they weren’t involved. More questions, zero answers.

She stood and handed the files back to me. “I know that it wasn’t a lot, Detective. I want to help, but with the evidence that you’ve been able to find so far, I’m not sure how much more I can offer or if a profiler would even be of any use yet.”

“No, your recommendation to cross-reference the calendar is extremely helpful, thank you.”

“Any time,” she replied as she came around the desk and indicated the door. “I hope you catch this guy soon. The city council is up in arms about the potential loss of revenue if business in your district declines due to this case.”

“I’m working on it as best I can,” I grunted. “See ya next time, Doc.”

It all comes down to money—well, sex and money
, I amended my thoughts when I remembered Councilman Jefferson sitting in the locked room with his two pleasure droids, waiting to be released after he gave his statement. I wondered how many of our fine city councilmen and women visited the Easytown clubs on a regular basis.

In the back of my mind, I also wondered how long it was until my own illicit behavior with Paxton was discovered.

I noticed that the sun had broken through the cloud cover overhead as I exited the headquarters building. I smiled as the warmth hit my face and thought about taking a walk with Paxton after lunch. We could go for a stroll through one of the parks by the Pharaoh and then head back to my place for the afternoon until I had to go in to work tonight.

Those types of thoughts were totally out of character for me. I didn’t understand why I’d become infatuated with Paxton. Yes, she was beautiful, smart, sexy
and
willing, but I didn’t normally have thoughts about taking a walk.
What is wrong with me?
I asked as I shook my head, grinning like a schoolboy.

My mood was shattered as ten reporters assailed me on the building’s steps. They thrust their cameras in my face and began shouting questions from all directions.

“Detective Forrest! Detective, there are rumors that the Easytown neighborhood has become the haunt of a new serial killer. Is that correct?”

“What? I— No, the latest murders in Easytown are under investigation.”

“Are they related?” another voice yelled out.

“It’s unknown at this time.” I tried to push my way past them as the BMW pulled up to the curb.

“Is it true that there are five unsolved murders in Easytown, all closely related?”

“Four… Dammit, let me by.” I hadn’t meant to give them any information and I’d accidentally verified their story.

“Detective, is it safe for people to go to Easytown?”

“It’s as safe as it always has been,” I replied. I felt myself getting angry and mentally forced myself to calm down.

“Is the department recommending residents avoid any of the establishments in the district?”

“No. These are isolated incidents. Excuse me. My car is waiting and I don’t need to get a ticket.”

They finally parted to let me through and I jogged down the steps to the car, practically diving through the open door into the darkened interior.

Before I’d even adjusted my ass on the leather, the car’s phone rang. It was a blocked number, so I punched the button. “Hello?”

“Forrest, what the fuck are you doing talking to reporters?”

Shit
. “I didn’t, Chief. They ambushed me outside the headquarters.”

“I saw the interview. You better believe the mayor and the FBI will too.”

“I—”

“Dammit. Nothing we can do about it now,” Chief Brubaker growled. “They were gonna find out soon anyways.”

“They—”

“Don’t talk to any more reporters. You understand?”

“Yes, si—”

“What the fuck are you doing down at headquarters?”

“I came…” I paused, waiting for him to cut me off again. When he didn’t, I restarted. “I came down here to talk to the shrink.”

“The shrink? Are you losing it on me, Forrest?”

“No, sir. I wanted to get her opinion on the sex club case.”

“What’d she say?”

“That she isn’t a criminal psychologist, but she believes that the murders are linked. We ran through a couple of interesting scenarios.” I was hungry, so I tapped the address for the Pharaoh into the nav system as I talked. “The killer may be purposefully misleading us with the timing of the murders. We expect the next event to happen this Saturday, so we were going to blanket Easytown with as many cops as possible.”

“Yeah, it’s a good plan,” the chief replied.

The car’s console beeped, indicating a received message. I tapped it. It was from Paxton; I’d have to read it after my conversation with Chief Brubaker was over.

“What if that’s what the killer wants us to do? Maybe he’s trying to distract us from some other event that will happen Saturday—or two Sundays from now—because we’re fixated on this pattern and will try to preempt another murder.”

“You’re giving this guy a lot of credit.”

“He’s killed four people in the middle of crowded clubs without a single witness or a shred of evidence,” I stated in rebuttal.

“Shit, you’re right. I’ll have people begin working on the calendar aspect. When are you coming in?”

“I need to grab lunch and then I’ll be down at the office, Chief.”

“Fine. I’ll get Cruz to cover the night shift tonight.”

“There’s no reason to, sir. I’m good to go as long as I’m just on call instead of sitting in the office.”

“Authorized,” he replied. “Guess this blows your cover about dying in the Pontchartrain, huh, Forrest?”

“Dammit. I hadn’t gotten time to think about that yet,” I admitted.

“Well, keep an eye out and watch your back. I’ll see you soon.”

The chief hung up and I glanced out the window at the old St. Louis Cathedral as the BMW crawled by in the lunchtime traffic. I tapped the nav screen; there was an accident along my normal route, so this must have been the fastest way. Street performers and people tricking tourists into paying for crystal ball and palm readings crowded along the side of the road, taking advantage of the rare break in the rain.

I remembered Paxton’s message, so I looked away from the carnival-like atmosphere outside the car and tapped a few more times on the screen.

Paxton’s message displayed on the dash:

“REMEDIATION CREW COMPLETE. WENT TO WORK. WILL MAKE IT UP TO YOU SOMETIME.”

I liked that she didn’t type in shorthand. Half the time, I couldn’t understand Amir’s messages when he sent them to me. Although, I wondered what she meant by the wording of her message. Wasn’t she returning to my apartment tomorrow morning once she was done with work?

I tried to call Paxton, but the phone went directly to her message folder. I left a simple message requesting that she call me back and hung up. Then I tried to connect with Andi, but couldn’t do that either, she must still be mad at me.

“Guess I’ll be having a table for one,” I told the BMW as I stared out the window on the way to the Pharaoh.

TEN: MONDAY

“Wow, Zach, you almost caused a riot when you came in here yesterday,” Karina stated from behind the hostess desk when I walked into the Pharaoh’s Tomb. “Are you sure you don’t want to give it a few days?”

“I don’t know what’s going on with Teagan, but I didn’t cause it,” I replied gruffly.
What’s wrong with all these kids recently?

“Okay, keep telling yourself that. Mike can take you this afternoon.”

I glanced over at my normal table. Two people sat at it and it looked like Teagan was just beginning to take their order. Every table in her section was full, including my normal seat, so I sighed resignedly. “Sure, let’s go.”

I didn’t dislike Mike, but I
did
like my table. I could keep an eye on the door and most of the restaurant from that seat. A few of the wait staff and even Regina, the manager on shift, stared at me as I walked behind Sarina to the table. I sat in the booth with my back to the kitchen so I’d have the best view of the doorway. I’d never liked placing my back to any door that led to the outside and the dislike had only gotten worse after my stabbing.

Mike came up and took my order, not making any small talk or trying to sway my opinion with a more expensive item from the menu. I was halfway through my “Egyptian-style” cheeseburger when Teagan walked up from behind me and sat down in the seat opposite me.

“Hi, Zach,” she said. “Dining alone today?” Her voice practically dripped with sarcasm. I wondered what was wrong with everyone in this place the past couple of days.

“Hey. Are you okay?” I asked, deciding to be diplomatic with the girl. “Amir said you had a problem in your personal life and everything seemed to be falling apart yesterday.”

“Oh, I’m just fine.”
Lie
. “Where’s your girl?” Besides the tone of her voice, her cheeks shone a muted shade of pink.

“I— I don’t have a girl. The woman I had lunch with yesterday went to work.”

“She a stripper or call girl or something? She ain’t working in no office with that hair and them fake-ass boobs.”

“What’s going on with your accent?” I asked. “You don’t normally talk like that.”

“Like what? Easytown trash? You seem to like that.”

I was friends with Teagan, but she was purposefully trying to push my buttons and I’d had enough. “Teagan, I don’t know what fucking game you’re playing, but you need to stop. I’m sorry that a boy broke up with you or whatever, but I had nothing to do with it and I won’t be talked to like that.”

“I ain’t gotta…” She trailed off and stood up. “Later, gotta go back to work.” I half turned to watch her strut off into the kitchen.

“Jesus,” I muttered and took another bite. Maybe I should have had Andi send me something to eat at the office. I didn’t need this shit on top of everything else I was dealing with.

Two slender, tanned hands landed on the edge of the table with a loud slap and Teagan leaned over me. “You know, Zach. I didn’t do anything to be treated like that.”

Her street accent was gone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Teagan. If you want to sit and talk about it like an adult, then please, have a seat.” I indicated the seat across the table.

“Nah. Like I said, I gotta work. But you’re right, you
don’t
know what I’m talking about.”

“Nope,” I grunted. “But, I know it wasn’t my fault. I don’t know why you’re singling me out to take out your anger at the male population. Grow up.”

“Fuck you, Zach.” She tossed her apron on my half-eaten sandwich and walked out the front door.

Regina came rushing over. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I’ll comp your meal today, Zach. If she comes back, Teagan is in big trouble.”

I held up a hand. “No. There’s no need. She’s going through some things. I don’t know what, but getting in trouble at work will only make them worse.”

“She can’t treat customers that way, even if she thinks she has a good reason.”

I glanced up at Regina. She wore the same ridiculous black wig that the staff wore, but hers had a brass ring around the crown of her head and she wasn’t dressed in the rest of the Egyptian costume.

“What’s going on with her?” I asked. Maybe Regina would give me a straight answer now that the girl was in trouble at work.

“You really don’t know, do you?”

I threw up my hands. “You, Amir, Amanda—heck, even Teagan—all of you keep saying that. What are you talking about?”

“Teagan likes you,” Regina replied. “Actually, she’s been crazy in love with you since her sophomore year when you helped her with those street thugs outside of her apartment, Zach.”

It was a good thing Teagan had covered my sandwich or else I’d have choked on the damn thing.

The trip to the Easytown Precinct station went by quickly after I left the Pharaoh. To say that I was shocked by Regina’s revelation would be an understatement. During the drive, I’d tried to go over the hundreds of conversations that Teagan and I had engaged in. None of them stood out to me as indicating that the girl liked me. I
really
hadn’t known.

Everyone seemed to know, but she’d kept her cards close to her chest when I was around. What was she doing? I was eleven years older than she was. Maybe that wouldn’t have been a problem if we were both ten years older, but she was in her twenties, just a couple of years past the legal drinking age in most of the country. It seemed like a big difference at this point in our lives.

Besides, I’ve started seeing Paxton
, I tried to tell myself. The truth was, I had no idea what was going on with her either. She hadn’t replied to my message, but Andi said all of her stuff was still at my place. Did that mean she was coming back?

I cursed under my breath. How was I so bad with women? Even worse, why did I seem so enamored with Paxton? She was a beautiful, sensual woman who seemed to say all the right things to me, but even then, I wasn’t normally like that around women. I wasn’t used to feeling insecure about the next time I’d see someone.

The BMW’s door unlocked and I hopped out. I’d have plenty of time to contemplate my problems after I got off work, so I shoved them away and rushed inside in case there were any more reporters waiting in ambush.

Luckily, there weren’t any reporters, but the chief was ready for me when I got upstairs.

“Forrest, my office,” he shouted down the hallway as I came into view. I didn’t even bother to take my raincoat and hat to my office.

“What’s up, Chief?”

“Sit.” He took a second to pour his coffee, not offering me any and then sat behind his desk. “The mayor saw your little impromptu press conference and he’s not happy.”

“Sir, those reporters surrounded me,” I replied. “I could have shoved my way through them, but that would have been even worse for the department.”

“I know. We afford these people all of their rights and they act like that. Then get offended when you try to maintain your own rights. America.”

He took a sip of coffee and continued, “Look, we need this thing stopped. I’ve already had Mai check out the calendar, there’s nothing special going on Saturday that she can see. We’re sticking to the plan to put undercover officers throughout the sex clubs and uniformed officers everywhere else along The Lane.”

“Alright, sir. Did she look two weeks out, to the Sunday?”

“There are two large events. The US Secretary of Energy is attending the groundbreaking of a new research facility near the port and then giving a speech at Tulane at 8 p.m. that night. And then, there’s a large writer’s convention at the Morial Convention Center that Saturday and Sunday.”

I thought about what it meant. I’d have to check the VIP list of the convention, there might be a big-name person coming into town for that, but the Secretary of Energy was potentially a big target. I’d have to do some research about the secretary; I had no clue who was currently in office. Was he or she the reason behind all the murders?

“Hey, Chief,” a man said from behind me. I turned to see Simmons, one of the detectives from Petty Theft, standing in the door. “Oh, hey, Forrest. This concerns you too.”

“What is it, Simmons?” Chief Brubaker asked.

“We just had a reported theft from The Stud Farm over on The Lane.”

I shrugged. “Big deal. Somebody gets robbed every couple of minutes in Easytown.”

“This is different,” Simmons said. “The Stud Farm is where that murder happened a few weeks ago, remember?”

“Yeah. I remember,” I muttered, annoyed.

“The robot that was with the victim when he died has gone missing.”

“What do you mean ‘missing’?” I asked.

“I knew that’d get your attention,” he smirked.

“Can it, Simmons,” the chief ordered. “What are you talking about?”

His expression faded away. “We don’t know if it’s actually a theft or a malfunctioning robot, Chief. The droid finished its cleaning protocol and then walked right out the front door. The manager tried to chase after it, but the robot punched him and disappeared into an alley. A taxi was waiting for it and the robot was transported out of Easytown to another taxi in Venetian Isles. That one took it to a bus station. We lost video evidence of where the droid went after two or three transfers on the RTA, both bus and rail.”

I turned back around and leaned back in my chair. The implications hit me like a brick. The hacker. He’d attacked Andi, took over my Jeep, and now he’d taken over that robot.

“I think the hacker may be controlling robots in the sex clubs,” I stated.

The chief slapped his hand on the desk. “You’ve investigated all the video evidence and the department’s analysts have examined the feeds, there’s no sign of tampering. Even if this guy were a primetime hacker, he couldn’t eliminate the digital fingerprints.”

“It’s still a huge clue,” I replied. “Maybe he didn’t do anything with them before, but if he can control the robots, then he may use them in the future.”

“Sure, but it doesn’t meet his M.O.,” Brubaker countered.

“His M.O. changes with each murder, Chief,” I replied. “With the exception of the location, there’s been little that’s the same. I think we should consider closing down the clubs and locking down the droids until we can figure out what’s going on.”

“Whoa!” he cried with his hands up. “You need to slow down, Forrest. Do you realize the loss of revenue for the city that even one night of closure would create? It’s a non-starter.”

He sighed and glanced at Simmons, then back at me, “There’s nothing linking this potential theft to the murders other than it happens to be the same robot. I’m not a big believer in coincidence, but there’s no way the mayor would authorize a shutdown on an educated guess.”

“Maybe if I could talk—”

“Not a chance, Forrest,” the chief cut me off. “I’m not letting you anywhere near the mayor, but since you’re itching to talk to someone, I do know somebody you could speak to.”

“Who’s that?” I fired back.

Brubaker smiled. “Go talk to Tommy Voodoo. Find out what he knows.”

Me and my big mouth.

I was practically asleep on my feet by the time I got back to my apartment in the afternoon. The late night conspired with the early morning to remind me that I normally slept during the day before my shift. By the time I walked through the door, all I wanted to do was sleep.