Obsidian Detective by Michael Anderle

Author:Michael Anderle [Anderle, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LMBPM Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Three

Jia stood in front of Captain Monahan’s desk, her arms folded and her posture stiff. Erik lingered beside her, disinterest on his face. She had a hard time reading him and was half-convinced that much of the time he was putting on a show for the benefit of those around him.

Perhaps he had the right idea, though.

The captain heaved a sigh. “Before we begin, let me check that you’re both okay?” He focused on Erik. “I know you’ve got a cybernetic arm, but you don’t need any time off?” Slight distaste flavored his mention of the arm.

The revelation had shocked Jia, but after that, she found she didn’t care much.

She had her Purists tendencies, but Erik didn’t seem like the kind of man who had let augmentation rob him of his humanity. If anything, with his passion, he was too human.

Erik rotated his left arm. “Yeah, they slapped a patch on it. It stung a little, but I’m fine. Sometimes not being pure has its advantages.”

The captain shook his head. “That is why I don’t like this kind of thing. Cops get hurt. I should have never authorized the raid. I didn’t expect anything like that to happen, and if I’d had even an inkling that it would…” He stopped speaking and sighed.

“With all due respect, Captain, you’re never going to stop real trouble without someone putting their lives on the line.” Erik shrugged. “This is also why you don’t rely on machines to guard things; they malfunction too easily. But they’re all trashed, and we’re both still alive, and we don’t have to pay for them. So there’s nothing to worry about.”

Captain Monahan frowned. “Part of me wants to complain about you bringing that TR-7, but if you hadn’t done what you did, you’d both be dead.” He paused for a moment before answering something with his personal HUD, then focused on the two of them. “I’ll have to reach out about possible charges. Windward has already assured me they’ll be firing several people in the security and management teams over the incidents, and they’re going to do everything they can to fully cooperate going forward.”

Erik looked at the old-time clock on the wall. “That was quick. We just got back here.”

“The company can’t let this linger,” Jia told him. “It’s too much of a black eye, especially with law enforcement being fired on like that.” She shook her head. “Even if it was an accident, it smells too much of insurrectionists or terrorism. At a minimum, it’s antisocial.”

The captain nodded at her. “They don’t want this incident becoming well known, and I think it’s in the best interests of this enforcement zone and the department that we don’t advertise it.”

Erik shrugged. “Why not? We won. It might send a message to people not to screw with the 1-2-2.”

“We’re keeping this quiet,” the captain replied crisply. “And that’s a direct order. Did I make myself clear?”

Erik nodded, although he retained the defiant grin on his face. “Yes, sir.”

“And what about the case, sir?” Jia asked.

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