“Who would want to set you up?” Salvi asked.
“I told you before, detective, during the Bountiful case. There are many people who do not want me to succeed in treating these individuals.”
“Who?” Salvi asked again more firmly.
Solme turned his eyes back to Ford but didn’t answer.
“Start naming names, Attis,” Ford said. “This is beyond hacking and theft now. We’re talking kidnapping, drug dealing, illegal tech on the streets, and murder. Including the murder of one of my own goddamn officers. So you start telling me some fucking names, now!”
Solme clenched his jaw. “Garner Town have made it clear they don’t want us to exist,” he said.
“Garner Town?” Salvi said. “They’re a survivalist community. They refute technology. How would they hack your systems? Why would they want the tech on the streets?”
“To finish me!” he said through gritted teeth.
“Who else?” Ford said.
“I don’t know!” Solme said. “Start by looking at everyone who opposed this facility, in the government, in the medical fields, in the corrections industry. The list is long.”
“You must have suspicions?” Salvi asked him.
“I just told you. Garner Town. They have openly threatened to shoot any of my Serenes or Subjugates that wander onto their adjoining property.”
“The survivalists hate tech and they hate your Subjugates,” Ford said, “and they’re protective of their property. I don’t see them paying a hacker to access your files.”
“If they wanted to ruin me they would.”
“When I interviewed you during the Bountiful case,” Salvi said, “you told me you were looking to win back trust in neural tech and get the markets opened again. Who else wanted them back on the market? Who supported you? Who was getting impatient about the wait for the law to be overturned?”
“I had just as many backers as I did detractors.”
“Who?” Salvi demanded.
“You need to give us the names of everybody we should talk to,” Ford said. “We’ll start with everyone on the board of Neuricle Corporation. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone, who wanted a piece of your pie, Attis.”
He stared at Ford.
“You’re right to be concerned, Attis,” Ford said, “this has the potential to close your facility down. Someone has stolen your tech, and they could ruin you, but we can fix this. If we find out who’s putting the tech on the street, we can save a lot of lives. If we don’t, many more will die.” Ford leaned forward. “They’re not using your tech to stop the sinners like you are, Attis. They’re using the tech to unleash the sinners. They’ve taken your tech and they’ve re-engineered it. They’re stimulating, accentuating the sex and violence, not stopping it. And it’s hit our streets and it’s only going to get worse.”
Attis shifted his eyes to Salvi.
“You need to right your wrongs,” Salvi said. “Not just for the Bountiful case, but for the war that’s breaking out on our streets right now. Stop keeping quiet on things you have a legal obligation to report and address. Did you learn nothing from last time?”
Solme exhaled heavily as though pushing down his anger. He sat forward, leaning his elbows on his desk. “Alright, I’ll give you names,” he said, then turned to Salvi, “if you right your wrongs.”
“Excuse me?” Salvi said.
“You promised my Subjugate he would become a Serene. You forced him to find the violence we worked hard to make him forget. You stirred him up, and you need to fix it.”
“I thought that was what your treatment was for? Why is this Subjugate so fragile you need me to speak with him?”
“Because we need to make him forget you.”
Salvi’s body stilled for the briefest of moments, as the memories of the Bountiful Case came rushing back. The memories of Subjugate-52. She lowered her eyes to the stone statue of Mary on his desk.
Ford eyed her, then turned back to Solme. “Subjugate-52 is your problem. Failure to report the hack and theft is also your problem. You’re in no position to bargain with me.” Ford stood. “Those names better be submitted to the hub 9 AI within two hours, or you will be arrested for withholding, among other things.” She moved to the door. “Detective Brentt, let’s go.”
Salvi stood and followed, but as she reached the door she paused and looked back at Solme.
“You don’t care how many die, do you? As long as your precious empire survives. We’re all sinners in your eyes, and as far as you’re concerned, those who don’t join you can be damned… I wonder if your God would feel the same way?”
And with that she left.
When Salvi stepped outside, Ford was waiting by the Raider with Serene-41. They both turned to watch her approach. As she neared the Raider, though, she saw their eyes divert over her shoulder.
“Brentt,” Ford said warningly.
“Subjugate-52,” Serene-41 said. “You’re not supposed to be out here.”
Salvi felt her body freeze.
“It’s okay,” another voice said calmly.
Salvi turned around slowly to see Subjugate-52 standing there, and the new head psych, Fen, a few steps behind him. Subjugate-52 looked as intimidating as ever, the tall, broad, serial killer of women, restrained only by the silver halo he wore on his scalp and the blanket of drugs that filled his veins. Her eyes dropped to his chest area, seeking any indication his personal alarm was soon to flash red, indicating he was due for his medication.
“Detective Brentt,” he said calmly, giving a small bow. “You’re leaving?” His blue eyes seemed curious.
Fen moved to stand beside him. “I’m sure she has a few moments to speak with you before she goes.”
Salvi turned her eyes from Fen back to Subjugate-52. Or was Edward Moses standing before her? The man saved from death row. The monster that Attis Solme hoped would be a pinnacle among his Serenes, that he could show off to the world.
“Subjugate-52,” she said calmly.
“I am glad you are well,” he said, giving another slight bow. He seemed very Serene. He was on his best behavior in front of the psych. Or had they tightened the control of his halo and topped up the levels of his drugs since his outburst?
“And you,” she said. “You’ve recovered well from your wounds?”
“Yes. Did you receive my letters, detective?” he asked.
Salvi stared at him.
Fen cleared his throat. “I have relayed the messages you dictated to me.”
“And?” he asked. “You have come to speak with Mayor Solme?”
Salvi darted her eyes to Fen who gave her a nod for her to roll with it. She looked back at the Subjugate, sickeningly handsome despite his heinous crimes.
“Yes,” she said. “I have spoken with Mayor Solme.”
“And? Am I to become a Serene?”
She darted her eyes to Fen again.
“In time, Subjugate-52,” she said when Fen did not speak. “What happened… it set your treatment back. But I can see you’ve set course for redemption again. It is only a matter of time.”
Fen’s face took on a displeased look.
“I was angry,” Subjugate-52 said, hands clasped together, “when I did not hear from you… But I prayed to God and the anger went away.”
“I’m glad,” she swallowed. “You did the right thing.”
“Yes,” Fen said, stepping forward. “Because anger is a sin, isn’t it Subjugate-52?”
“Yes.” He bowed his head and marked the sign of the cross upon himself.
“Brentt,” Ford said, yanking the Raider’s door open, “Let’s go.”
Salvi watched Ford get in, then turned back to Subjugate-52, Fen, and Serene-41 who had joined them, standing there silently watching her.
“Keep praying, Subjugate-52,” she said, opening her door. “May the Lord grant you calm and peace.”
As she got into the Raider and closed the door, she saw a small smile break across Fen’s fac
e. Ford started the engine.
“I’ll see you soon, detective,” Subjugate-52 said quietly.
Salvi looked out the window at him, at his blue eyes. It sent a shiver down her spine.
Ford reversed the Raider and Salvi continued to stare at the Subjugate, believing in her gut they were not merely words of goodbye, but instead a promise.
And it was a promise that concerned her deeply.
She kept her eyes on him in the rearview mirror as Ford drove the Raider toward the front gates of the Complex. As they neared, Ford began to slow, and Salvi looked forward again to see another vehicle approach from the opposite way.
“Sheriff Holt,” Salvi said, recognizing the vehicle and its occupant.
“From Bountiful?” Ford asked.
“Yeah,” Salvi said and motioned for Ford to stop.
The sheriff’s vehicle pulled up alongside theirs, and he stared past Ford to Salvi, giving her a nod behind his mirrored sunglasses.
“Detective Brentt,” he said, glancing back at Ford.
“Sheriff Holt,” she nodded back. “This is Detective Lieutenant Ford of hub 9.”
He gave Ford a nod and looked back to Salvi. “Glad to see you’ve recovered.”
“What brings you out here?” she asked, changing the subject.
He glanced at the main complex building. “Oh, I have some Council matters to discuss with Attis.”
“Still trying to shut him down?” Salvi asked, remembering that Mitch had told her Holt had called for an inquiry into the Solme Complex after the Bountiful case.
Holt stared at her but gave nothing away. “Well that’s for the Federal inquiry to decide,” he said. “And the purpose for your visit?”
“Confidential,” Ford said bluntly.
Holt eyed her again, then glanced back to Salvi. “Well, you have a good day now,” he said, tipping his head then continuing on as he followed the drone.
Ford looked at Salvi. “He’s trying to shut Solme down?”
Salvi nodded. “Yeah, but Holt’s like the Bountiful folk. He doesn’t do tech.”
Ford shrugged as she moved her Raider along. “Sometimes people will dance with the devil if they think the means will get them the end they desire.”
Salvi and Ford began the drive back to the city. For whatever reason, Ford had opted to operate the Raider and not switch it to autodrive. Salvi’s mind ticked over the case as she watched the quiet countryside slowly turn into the concrete metropolis she called home. All the while, every now and then, the slingshot train sped past them in its silver snake-like form.
“We need to bring Chaney in for questioning,” Salvi finally said, breaking the silence.
Ford didn’t answer, but Salvi saw her mind turning over too.
“I’ve blown it with him,” Salvi said. “I’ve got nothing to lose by laying my cards on the table.”
“What do you think he’ll tell us?”
“He has to give us a name,” Salvi said. “He’s using illegal, stolen tech in his club. He promotes the taking of unauthorized substances, and I saw some pretty young-looking people there as well. I bet if we check all the patrons’ IDs, we’ll find at least a few who’re underage. There’s a whole list of charges we can throw at him, if he doesn’t talk to us.”
“We’ll be charging him regardless. Diabolique will be shut down.”
“He’s big on privacy and discretion. He stakes his reputation on it. If he gives us the names we want, we can shut the club down but leave the rest of his clients alone.”
“You want to do a deal with this guy?” Ford asked.
“That man will have a lot of important names in his data cloud that he’ll want to protect. We tell him the club is shut down but his patrons’ discretion is secure, so long as he tells us who is involved in the drugs and tech.”
“If people find out we’re talking to him, our window for answers and evidence will grow significantly smaller. Whoever is behind this isn’t scared of erasing evidence, including police officers.”
“We get a warrant and access all his records, his security footage, everything. We’ll prove that Caine was there the night he died. We’ll prove the Chief’s daughter was there before she disappeared. He’ll have to talk. He’ll have no choice.”
Ford looked at her. “And if he’s not behind the drugs and tech hitting the street? If he’s not responsible for Caine’s death or Clare’s disappearance?”
“He’ll know his clientele better than anyone. If there’s a particularly sick fuck who’s stealing his clients and making them disappear, putting Fyte on the streets, he’ll know who it is. He’ll have to. I saw him on the Ceiling and in Diabolique. He’s on first name basis with a lot of his clients.”
“If it wasn’t him, we’ll need to place him under protection.”
“Agreed, and as you say, our window is growing smaller by the hour.”
“Alright,” Ford said. “I’ll get Grenville and Hernandez to pick him up and bring him in. Once we get the list of names from Attis, we can cross-check to see who they both have in common.”
“Yeah,” Salvi said, studying Ford.
“What?” Ford asked, glancing at her.
Salvi wondered whether she should raise her relationship with Solme. Part of her felt it wasn’t any of her business, but the other part of her, the cop part, needed to know.
“Solme told me that you and he go way back. Is that correct?” she eventually asked.
Ford glanced at her, then looked back at the road. “Yeah. We go back a ways.”
Salvi nodded. “I know about the drink-driving incident.”
Ford glanced at her again, her eyes slightly harder, then she looked back at the road. “Grenville, right? Of course.”
“Hey, just like you don’t care what I’m doing with Grenville, I don’t care about your past with Solme, but I do need to know if he’s using that to blackmail you for information.”
“Blackmail me?” Ford’s brow furrowed in irritation.
“Yeah. How the hell did he find out I was back on active so soon?”
“You think I told him?”
“I don’t know how else he could’ve found out.”
“Listen, Brentt, there’s one thing you need to know about Attis and that is that he’s connected. He’s all about making money and a lot of people want to help him do that and get their cut. I didn’t tell him shit, but it would not surprise me if someone else in hub 9 did for a fee or a favor.”
“Who?”
Ford shrugged. “Beats me. But so what if he found out?”
“I don’t like Solme keeping tabs on me.”
“Yeah, well, the Bay Area isn’t as big as you think. Everyone is connected. There’s nowhere you can be anonymous these days. You ever heard that saying, keep your friends close and your enemies closer? Well, I suggest you keep things civil with Solme.”
“And that’s what you’re doing? Keeping things civil with Solme so he doesn’t out the driving incident?”
Ford’s jaw clenched briefly before she ran her hand over her face and sighed. “Look, Brentt, before I married Elise, I spent some time checking out both teams, alright? And I was still deciding what to do with my life and my career. I wanted to climb the ranks in the force, and I knew the politics of it all couldn’t be avoided. I met Solme at some event and, look, the affair was brief–”
“You and Solme?” Salvi blurted.
Ford shot her a glance. “Hey, we were both younger and prettier than we are today. Anyway, like I said it was brief. Solme actually taught me how to navigate some of that politics. And he took the hit that night for the driving incident, as I was up for promotion and that would have seriously harmed my career. I can’t deny what he did for me, but I also know why he did it. The thing you need to know about Solme is that he’s smart. I mean really fucking smart. While most people focus on what’s going on around them, Solme is always looking ahead down the road. He plants seeds that he knows will come to fruition down the line. He d
id me a favor, but it wasn’t necessarily a favor for me but for himself. If I climbed the ranks, he knew I would owe him one.”
“Shit.”
“But I worked that out pretty quickly, and I’ve managed to keep him at bay ever since.” She threw Salvi another glance. “Do I strike you as a pushover?”
Salvi shook her head. “No.”
“Damn straight. I started as a cop on the streets, so I have built toughness into my DNA. And I’ve been dealing with the politics for long enough now, that I know how to navigate it. Solme tries to squeeze me for favors all the time. If it’s harmless, I’ll pass on some information. If it’s not, then I won’t. He tried during the Bountiful case to get information out of me, but I told him to back off. I’m not stupid, Brentt. I appreciate what he did for me in the past, but I am not his bitch. I have made it abundantly clear that if he tries to make me his bitch, I will fuck him over so hard he will regret the day he even thought to push those buttons of mine.” She glanced at Salvi again, holding her eyes. “Sometimes in this job you gotta bend to keep the wheels turning and to get shit done. So on occasion I’m happy to bend maybe 45 degrees, but no further than that. And I sure as hell won’t let anyone break me, least of all Solme.”
Salvi nodded, staring out at the road again as the silence sat. Eventually a smile curled at the corner of her mouth.
“I can’t believe you slept with Attis Solme.”
A grin spread over Ford’s face too. “We’re all young and dumb once, Brentt.”
And the two broke into laughter.
Salvi studied Lance Chaney as he sat in the deserted interview room, his reflection in the mirrored wall his only company. He looked calm, maybe even a little smug. He knew his lawyer was on the way, and, knowing Chaney, his lawyer would be expensive and very good.
“He knows what this is about,” Ford said, staring through the one-way window at him, “he’s confident.”
Hernandez nodded. “He gave us no problem when we asked him to come for a drive.”
“We kept it subtle,” Mitch said. “We caught him driving between bars, did him the honor of not making a scene. I think he appreciated it.”
The Sensation Page 20
