He gave her an exhausted look as he approached. “Listening to rich people either complain about their lives or brag about all the cool shit they do is not my idea of a good time.”
Salvi smiled. “But was it fruitful?”
“Maybe. I heard one of the guys asking a woman if she wanted to take flight. I’m assuming he was talking about our Flyte. She asked him what it was and he whispered something in her ear, then they left together.”
“You follow them?”
“No, but I got word to Noble and he sent one of his officers. Even if they were about to take or buy Flyte, they were headed elsewhere. They left the club. How’d you go?”
“I had an early one. Chaney wasn’t at the club, so I left my details. I’m going to leave it a day or so, then follow him up.”
Bronte nodded and yawned.
“Go get some rest, party boy. I’ll catch you up later.”
He nodded again and disappeared into his room. Salvi looked back to the data pane before her. It could be days before he received the message from the barman. That is, if the airhead even remembered to pass it on. Or, worse, assumed it was a ploy to get him into bed and not Chaney. Regardless, she needed to work other angles while she waited.
She used her iPort and comms gear to contact Riverton.
“Detective Brentt,” its golden androgynous form greeted her.
“Hi, Riverton. How’s your status?”
“Busy, detective. I am assisting with multiple homicide cases.”
“Nothing you can’t handle, I’m sure.”
“Yes, detective. I have capacity for more queries. How may I be of assistance.”
“I want an update on the latest homicides within Taskforce Trident. Is there anything new your algorithms have noted about these cases?”
“Yes, detective. Regarding the gang fight in the Mission, several members of the victorious side were wearing metal devices at their temples. Security footage confirms this.”
“Yes, Noble mentioned that,” she said. “Can you show me the video?”
In her vision, Riverton’s image was replaced by the footage. The fight was brutal. Salvi glanced away in parts.
“Do we have close-ups of the devices?” she asked the AI.
“Yes, detective,” it said, and she watched as screenshots appeared. Sure enough, several of the gang members had the silver devices at their temples, curling back behind their ears. Another image showed a device up close, but it was blurry and partially concealed by the hood the man wore. From a distance it could look like a piece of jewelry, or an intricate earpiece for a cell phone, but Salvi knew better. Where the Subjugates at the Solme Complex wore one piece curved around the back of their skull, these devices were two individual pieces. She was certain they were not ornamental, but that they were indeed neural devices.
“My analysis of these images,” Riverton said, “indicates the devices are placed in a prime position to stimulate electrical activity in the amygdala of the brain.” Riverton’s form appeared on screen again. “You will note the devices are located in such a position that if of a temporary nature and removed, they may leave marks similar to what was found on Myki Natashi and also Jayden Kinnear.”
“Who’s Jayden Kinnear? Detective Grenville’s vic, the one who had his tech stolen when he was killed?”
“Yes, detective.”
Salvi nodded to herself. “And have you had any luck tracing these devices to anyone?”
“Not as yet. They appear to be a new design, not equal to any of the models that were on the market prior to The Crash. Ideally we need a physical specimen for further analysis.”
“We’re working on it,” Salvi sighed. “So, it sounds like these devices were something someone was working on behind the scenes, that someone continued to develop after the ban took place after The Crash?”
“This is a highly likely theory, detective. Despite the events of The Crash, many were unhappy the implants and devices were taken off the market.”
“Yeah, but that doesn’t narrow down our suspect list.” She sighed again, rubbing the back of her neck. “Has anyone been back to have another chat with Myki Natashi since you found the footage of her leaving Floor To Ceiling with Barker the night he was killed?”
“Not as yet, no, detective,” Riverton said. “They’ve had new cases every day that have required processing.”
“I need to have another chat with Myki, then.”
“It is not wise for you to visit her, detective.”
“I know. I’m gonna call Beggs now, make him do it.”
When Beggs took her call he was standing on a street corner in the ‘Sation. She’d locked the call on visual, knowing he would opt for audio-only if given the chance, but she couldn’t take the risk of him doing that. Beggs was her partner and she wanted to see him with her own eyes, wanted to see how he was coping. As he reluctantly answered, she had her answer.
He stared down at the lens on his iPort, looking like he was running on caffeine alone; his face pale and gaunt and wracked with tiredness.
“What is it?”
“Well, hello, to you too.”
“Brentt, I’m busy. What is it?”
“You got another one?” Salvi asked, studying the ‘Sation behind him.
“No,” he said. “Last night was quiet.”
“Quiet?”
“You seen the news?”
“No. What’s happened?”
“The crime wave is all over it. Word’s out there might be neural tech involved. It’s unearthing a whole lot of uneasiness. There’s still a lot of PTSD out there from The Crash. Naturally, the politicians and the anti-tech movement are having a field day and milking it for all it’s worth.”
“I bet.”
“I think all this heat is keeping people indoors and behaving, but who knows how long for.”
“Well, maybe that means you can get some shut-eye.”
“That why you called, mom?”
“I’m your partner, aren’t I?”
“Not right now you’re not. What do you want?”
Salvi stared at him a moment but decided not to push it. Beggs was very old school, and if he didn’t want to talk, he wasn’t going to talk. “The marks on Myki Natashi were clearly from the neural
