“Yeah, but how did Calabri get his hands on the Fyte to kill Barker, or the Flyte to dope Myki out?”
“If he doped Myki out,” Mitch countered. “And how do you know there was Fyte involved if you have no ID on the killer. You can’t tie him to the crime scene. All we know is that she was at the club beforehand and she most likely had it there.”
“Yes, but I saw Devon Barker’s smashed skull. I have no doubt that whoever killed him was on Fyte. Vincent Calabri was seen in the area. He works for Mellon. Mellon was Myki’s ex-boyfriend.”
“You really think Mellon ordered Calabri to kill Barker to erase his competition for Myki?”
“No,” Salvi shook her head. “They’d been broken up for months, but I know that Barker was taking photographs at Floor to Ceiling, photographs of women wearing the neural devices–” Salvi paused.
“What?” Mitch studied her carefully.
“Barker took photographs on the Ceiling…” she said, staring at Mitch. “Yes, it appeared to be a staged, promotional shoot, but what if he captured something he shouldn’t have in those images? And I’m not just talking about that woman’s neural device. What if killing Barker was Mellon cleaning up evidence for this ghost? The fact he was Myki’s new boyfriend may just have been a cherry on the cake to him. We need to review all Barker’s photographs. Now!”
While they waited for Riverton to confirm Hinde’s location, Salvi and Mitch reviewed the images on the Raider’s console while the autodrive took them around the city.
“That’s the one,” Salvi said, pointing to the women raising their glasses. She zoomed in on the one that wore the neural device.
“It looks just like the device I wore,” Salvi said.
“But, like you say, this was a staged promotional shoot. Surely he wouldn’t have been killed for taking that,” Mitch said. “Check the backgrounds, maybe he caught something else he shouldn’t have.” He looked at Salvi. “Maybe he caught our ghost’s face?”
Salvi zoomed back out. There were no visible faces in the background of the women’s photograph. She started scrolling through Barker’s other shots. Mitch split the screen and started searching through different ones.
“Riverton?” Mitch called to the Raider’s console.
“Yes, Detective Grenville,” it answered.
“When you scanned each of these photographs into your databank, did you notice anything out of the ordinary?”
“No, detective. I scanned them into the databank as per evidence protocol but have not undertaken further analysis. Would you like me to?”
“Yes,” Mitch said. “Check for anomalies. Digital footprints. Has anyone been erased from these pictures?”
“Yes, detective,” Riverton said. “And detectives? I’ve just located Detective Hinde. He’s outside hub 9 about to enter the building.”
Salvi and Mitch looked at each other.
“Beggs!” Salvi burst out.
“Shit!” Mitch said, snapping off the autodrive and taking the wheel.
When the Raider raced to a stop outside hub, they were not surprised to see Hinde and Beggs arguing as they stepped outside the front doors.
“Goddamnit, Beggs!” Salvi hissed.
Hinde stormed his way toward his vehicle with Beggs in tow, yelling at him. Mitch lurched the Raider forward to cut Hinde off from his car.
“What the fuck?” Hinde yelled, stepping back then banging his fist on the Raider’s hood. Salvi and Mitch were quick to exit, and while Salvi moved to Beggs to hold him back, Mitch approached Hinde.
“Hey, what’s the rush?” Mitch asked Hinde.
“Get your ride out of my way,” Hinde said. “I’m leaving.”
“We just got a few questions first.”
“Beggs already asked, and I told him I don’t know what he’s talking about.”
“You’re on the security footage,” Mitch said. “You were there. Cut the bullshit. What aren’t you telling us?”
“Fuck you,” Hinde said, moving around the Raider to his car and opening the door.
“Did you see Caine there?” Mitch asked, following. “You see those girls?”
Hinde got into his car, but Mitch caught the car door before he could close it.
“Hey! Fuck you!” Hinde yelled.
“He knows who killed Caine,” Beggs yelled, pushing past Salvi. “He knows and he’s not saying.”
“I don’t know shit!” Hinde yelled.
“Do we need to call Sorenson?” Mitch said. “Tell him what you were doing there?”
“I was working a case!”
“Were you? That why you went to the basement?” Mitch bluffed. “To Diabolique, huh?”
Hinde angrily got back out of his car and butted chests with Mitch. “Get the fuck away from me,” he said, pointing a finger in Mitch’s face. “You don’t know shit!”
“Enlighten me!” Mitch stood his ground.
“We got you, you fucker,” Beggs said, moving in and pointing at Hinde now. Mitch thrust an arm in front of Beggs and moved him back, as Salvi grabbed Beggs’ coat and pulled him back also. “You’re going down!”
“Yeah? Fuck you!” Hinde stepped toward Beggs and viciously shoved him backward. Beggs smacked into Salvi and sent them both stumbling back to the ground.
“Hey!” Mitch grabbed Hinde and the two tussled, but Hinde quickly brought his gun up into Mitch’s face.
“You want to join your friend?” Hinde hissed. “Back off!”
Mitch stepped back calmly, hands in the air. “What the fuck have you got yourself into?”
Hinde got back into his car, gun still aimed on Mitch as he closed the door.
“Something you can’t get me out of.” Hinde started his car and thrust it into reverse.
Beggs got to his feet and thumped on the vehicle’s boot. “Stop, you son of a bitch!”
“Beggs!” Salvi shouted, getting to her feet.
Mitch pulled up his iPort. “Riverton, alert all drones and units…”
Hinde screeched the tires as he made a sharp turn, pulling out onto the street. Beggs chased after the vehicle. “You’re going down, you fuck!”
But it was no use. Hinde raced away into the night, and Beggs slowed to a stop, panting and staring after the fading taillights.
An autocab parked by the curb nearby suddenly flicked on its lights and lurched out into the street with speed.
“Beggs!” Salvi yelled.
Beggs turned just as the autocab plowed into him. Salvi gasped in terror as Beggs’ body was thrown high
