"Murder In Soho" Part Seven

    I arrive at the police station and immediately notice that the parking lot is empty of patrol cars. Going inside I ask the Sargent at the front desk, "What is going on? Where is everyone?"

    He tells me, after taking out a pencil from a tin can which holds a bunch of number twos. "The Captain says she is tired of seeing all of her officers just sitting around getting fat while the AIs do all the work. So today she implemented a new procedure where one officer and one AI ride together patrolling the city streets."

    "Wow,' I say, watching as he puts the pencil back. "The Captains has gone all gun-ho all of a sudden. I wonder what's bugging her?"

    "I don't know," says the Sargent, picking up a different pencil and wiggling it between two fingers. "But, in the unscheduled impromptu meeting she called today, which by the way you didn't show up for, she says there is crime out there in our city and we need to go find it. The Captain says we are going back to the days when police officers patrolled the city streets. Starting this evening, each officer is working overtime and assigned an AI as his new partner."

    He puts the pencil back into the tin cup.

    I get the gist of what this guy is saying, but all I can think about is, hasn't any of the AIs told this guy how redundant he is? How does anything get done around here?

    "Detective Luna? Detective!" the Sargent practically yells, pointing a new pencil at me. "The Captain will see you now."

    "Sorry, I was thinking about the case I am working on." I say hopefully. To explain why I was drifting off. I didn't want him thinking I was being rude in anyway towards him because of his boring redundant personality. I might need him to do me a favor someday.

    "Thank you." I tell him smiling and walk to the frosted glass door marked, Captain Murphy.

    Just outside her door, I look up, wave to the security camera, and smile as if I mean it.

    "Get in here Detective, now!" I hear her yelling through the glass door. She didn't even bother trying the camera's intercom.

    "Hi Murph," I say as I enter. "What's up?"

    "Don't try getting friendly with me Detective." she growls. "How many times have I told you not to put your handheld or neural-net on, do not disturb?"

    "I don't know. Maybe....

    "Shut up and sit down. I have a new new policy you are going to adhere to religiously.

    "You know I'm not religious." I say smiling. "What's got you all edgy today boss?"

    Before she answers, the Captain looks past me, and I see a large smile broaden her face. I turn around to see the investigator AI that I am working on the murder case with enter the room.

    "Don't tell me you are going to pair me up with this bot?" I ask. "I swear, something is wrong with his programming."

    Hearing her fingernails press a few glass keys on her built in desk top computer, Murphy says triumphantly, "Perfect. Now I have the last piece to the puzzle."

    I turn around to look back at her and ask suspiciously, "What are you talking about? Last piece to what puzzle?"

 

This is,

I Cannot Wait To See What Happens Next

Jim Hauenstein

 

And,

 

“The liar's punishment is, not in the least that he is not believed, but that he cannot believe anyone else.”
- George Bernard Shaw -

 

That is my story and I am sticking to it!

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