Erik reconsidered punching Leonard in the face, but he couldn’t get away with that in an interrogation room. At a minimum, it’d lead to more reports. “You made someone, and you didn’t give them any freedom from the beginning. Then you treated her like garbage and exploited her because you had genetically engineered her to put up with your crap. That’s sick. You’re sick. Hell, you’re worse than the guys at Kerrigan. At least they weren’t trying to create thinking beings.”
“The Purists are a bunch of backward idiots.” Leonard scoffed, disdain written all over his face in black ink. “Some terrorist crap over a hundred years ago doesn’t mean we shouldn’t use science to improve people’s lives.”
“Spare us the lecture,” Jia cut in. “You’re acting so high and mighty, but this is about you making money. You made a person into a personal singing toy. You wanted a perfect, controllable star.”
“It doesn’t matter now.” Leonard sighed. His expression brightened a few seconds later. “I know I can’t stay out of prison, and we all know the government might execute me for this, but I’m going to save my ass. If I’m going down, everyone involved is going down. I’ve got names. I’ve got accounts. I can give you their locations, both on Earth and off-world. If you guys send messages right away, the local authorities will be able to grab them before the news of my arrest reaches them.”
“You’re still in contact with these people after all these years?” Jia sounded dubious. “It sounds like you’re just stalling to me.”
“That’s the funny part. Nguyen got lucky. I got lazy. I’d had to reconnect with a lot of these people recently.”
Erik frowned. There was something they were missing. “Why?”
“A proper little songbird takes a long time to mature, right?” Leonard shrugged. “If I waited for a replacement until Rena was past her prime, it’d take too many years. Even if we de-aged her, she wouldn’t be the perfect angel she is now.” He frowned. “And Rena hit me. That proves she was developing a mind of her own. It’s all Nguyen’s fault.”
Erik wondered if the UTC would be better off if he put a bullet in Leonard’s brain. “You were going to make another girl?”
Leonard’s shoulders slumped, the pride fueling his arrogance running out. “I should have had some real fixers on retainer, rough guys who knew how to get things done. Maybe they wouldn’t have screwed up with Nguyen. I don’t know how you guys figured out she didn’t commit suicide, but it’s the fault of the idiot mercs I hired.” He looked around the room, ignoring the two detectives. His mind was elsewhere before he turned back to the two of them, focusing once more. “It doesn’t matter. Bring me my PNIU and a prosecutor so I can make a deal, and I will get you all the names you need. Then you can get your names in the news even more.”
“Any Euterpe higher-ups? Did they know?” Jia pressed.
Leonard laughed. “No, of course not. Those idiots are too risk-averse. They would have turned me in without blinking if they knew. I was planning to start my own company in a few years. I could have buried them.”
“With your army of genetically engineered singers?” Jia shook her head. “You would have been caught even if you hired an assistant with less of a conscience.”
“CID’s going to have a fun few weeks,” Erik suggested. “But you were right earlier, Leonard. This might end with you not getting executed, but there’s no way you’ll stay out of prison.”
“Hey, I was in show business.” Leonard smiled weakly. “I know how to deal with scum.”
A couple of hours later, Jia let out a long sigh from behind her desk. Neither partner had spoken much since they were engrossed in filling out incident reports.
A prosecutor and CID agents were interviewing Leonard and gathering all the information they would need to arrest Carl’s contacts on Earth and in the colonies. Leonard was many things, but loyal was not among them.
Erik glanced away from his holographic displays. “You okay?” he asked. His partner looked more sad than tired. It had been an intense investigation, and he needed to make sure he had her back, so she didn’t backslide.
She had been making good progress.
“Yes.” Jia gave a shallow nod. “Just, this whole thing has got me thinking about weird things. It’s kind of silly.”
“Like what?” Erik waved a finger in front of him. “I’m more than happy to take a break from filling out these damned reports.”
“Leonard and what he did. Everyone tries to mold their children. My parents didn’t want me to be a cop. I was trying to think if it was the same thing.”
Erik pondered that for a second before shaking his head. “Yeah, your parents tried to influence you, but they didn’t have you genetically engineered to be the perfect corporate princess, and they tried to talk you out of being a cop rather than forcing you to do what they wanted. Normal parents might push their kids in ways they don’t like and want them to be in a career they don’t like, but that’s out of love.” He scratched his chin. “Ok, often out of love. But Leonard doesn’t love Rena. All he cared about was making more money. She’s not a daughter, she’s just a tool to him.”
Jia managed a tight smile, a distant look in her eyes. “You’re right. It makes me appreciate my parents more in a strange way.” She focused on him. “At least they’ll grab everyone who helped him here and on Remus. They’ve also got a couple of people on Mars who will be arrested.”
“I like how the mercs are blaming the dead guys for the murder.” Erik shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. They’re going down.”
Jia’s gaze lingered on a data window’s text. “All these cases in recent months have made me think a lot about things: Talos, yaoguai, and changelings. There are a lot of people out there who are slipping through the cracks, trying to pull stunts like Leonard Carl. The government’s focused on and concerned about super-soldier armies. Who knows how many people like Rena are out there?”
“If they’re making people like Rena, I’m not worried,” Erik replied. “I’m more worried about people like Leonard Carl, but he doesn’t have genetic engineering to blame for being an ass.”
“I guess we just keep doing what we do best.”
“Exactly.” Erik grunted, then his face scrunched. “Damn.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I never did punch him in the face.”
“I shot him in the face,” she supplied.
Erik lifted his hand. “Not the same. Maybe next time.”
Emma’s hologram winked into existence, drawing their eyes. “You’re overthinking all this.”
“Probably. Like I said, Rena’s not the problem. It was Leonard limiting her freedom. He took choices away from her before she was even born.”
“Freedom’s overrated,” Emma stated.
“Says the AI who refuses to go back to the Defense Directorate.”
Emma lifted her chin and delivered a look of withering disdain. “I’m unique. There are twenty billion humans in the UTC.”
“Sure, sure.” Erik grinned. “Being hypocritical is very human of you.”
“No reason to be insulting.”
His PNIU chimed and a message notification popped up. “Huh.” He looked at Jia. “Someone wants to speak to us.”
Chapter Fifteen
Jia offered Rena a sympathetic smile as the detectives stepped into a small interview room.
The singer sat quietly behind a beige table, hands folded in front of her.
Unlike an interrogation room, the interview room contained comfortable chairs, along with windows into the hall. There were even a few holographic plants and paintings.
Rena looked better than the last time they’d seen her. The girl’s wound had been treated. The nanites had wiped away the bruises and cuts inflicted on her by her manager. A jacket two sizes too big for her was draped over her shoulders, her ragged dress still underneath.
Jia pitied the girl. Her career and life had been unraveled through no fault of her own. She’d made all the ri
ght choices, including being friendly and kind, and she’d still been punished because of someone else’s greed.
Still, even there, defeated and betrayed by her manager, an aura of warm elegance surrounded her. Jia wondered how extensive Rena’s genetic modifications were and how they played into that.
Science couldn’t make a woman supernatural but considering how much of the research had been driven underground and what they’d seen with the yaoguai, genetic engineering could push someone to the edge of what was reasonable.
Rena smiled weakly. “Thank you again for saving my life. I know you said I saved myself, but without you there, I would have just continued to be his victim.”
Jia and Erik took seats across from her.
“You wanted to speak to us?” Jia commented.
Rena sighed. Under the faint melancholy, there was lingering warmth. Natural personality or genetic determinism?
It was impossible to tell the difference.
“Everyone’s being very nice to me, and I’ve done my best to answer their questions,” Rena began, “but they’re also not making some things clear to me. I wanted you two to tell me. I trust you, and it’s hard to know who to trust anymore.”
“What do you want to know?” Jia asked.
“Am I going to prison?” Rena’s question was straightforward. Resignation filled her tone, but there was no fear or sadness in her eyes.
Jia shook her head. “You’re the victim. You haven’t committed a crime.”
“But I’m a changeling.” Rena wrapped her arms around her shoulders, her chin resting on her arm. “I never was close to the people I thought were my parents, but it doesn’t bother me for some reason. It’s because I shouldn’t exist.”
“Nope,” Erik replied. “That’s complete crap.”
Rena blinked, uncertainty on her face.
He continued, “You’re here now, and that’s all that matters. I’m not a sophisticated enough guy to give you answers about what it all means, or if you’re the product of your design or your experience, but you cared about Chau. That means you cared about someone other than yourself, which makes you better than Leonard.” Erik shrugged. “There’s no law against existing, and other than wanting samples, no one’s going to mess with you when this is all over. I’m not going to lie to you, Rena. If you want to live a happy life, you should consider leaving Earth. I don’t know if you can continue to be a famous singer with that kind of cloud hanging over you.”
Relief replaced the uncertainty in Rena’s expression. “I’ve never wanted to be famous. All I’ve ever wanted to do was make people happy and sing. I can do that somewhere else, even if it’s just on a small scale.” She sighed. “I’m only sorry Chau died because of me.”
“We have Leonard, and we’ve arrested the mercenaries,” Jia’s voice was soft. “CID will be sweeping up everyone else. Chau will get justice, and everyone involved in this will be doing time.”
Something different and unexpected flared in Rena’s eyes—fiery satisfaction. “Would you think less of me if I said that made me very happy?”
Erik chuckled. “No, it means you’re human.”
* * *
May 10, 2229, Neo Southern California Metroplex, Bar Big Jin’s
Jia finished her third beer of the evening.
She’d only been planning to have a couple, but seeing the Dragons botch a decent lead and get eliminated had pushed her over the edge.
She’d been feeling fairly good before meeting Erik at the sports bar. Rena was safe and on her way to the HTP.
It would be a long trip to New Pacifica—a little over two and a half months—but the girl could get a clean start there, free of Leonard and the cloud of core-world attitude due to her genetically engineered background.
Watching the game was supposed to be a relaxing way to enhance her day off, but since the team was down a star player, defeat was inevitable. The team needed a deeper bench. Jia had been saying it all season.
She couldn’t claim surprise, only annoyance.
Jia slammed her empty glass on the table and slapped her cheeks. She needed to get a grip on herself. Erik was right; the Dragons had next season. Sports were fun, but they weren’t worth getting upset over once the game and season were done.
Erik took a sip of his beer, watching her over the rim of his glass. The corners of his mouth curled into a disarming grin. “You okay in there? I know you’ve got more tolerance than when we first met, but you’re acting a little strange, even for you.”
She eyed him. “I’m fine, and you act stranger than I do.” Jia gestured to one of the holographic displays that hung over the main bar. It showed the post-game commentators. “The season’s over. I don’t have to obsess for a while.” She smiled, looking around for a second. “It does feel good to unwind. That last case just hit me hard. It’s easier when it’s terrorists and gangsters. Their greed isn’t as slimy as what we saw with Leonard.” She picked up her glass and looked at it before setting it right down, remembering she was out of beer. “You think she’ll be okay? I was surprised she left so quickly. I thought they’d make her stay to testify.”
“She’ll be okay. From what I understand, Leonard’s contract was surprisingly generous. She’s got a lot of money. I think he figured he’d always hold such a tight leash on her that he didn’t need to screw her on the payments, especially since he had control of her finances for so long.” Erik shrugged. “As for staying, why bother? She spent two days straight giving statements, and Leonard has confessed to everything. He’s not going to have a trial, and it’s not like Rena knew anything about what was going on. Captain Ragnar pulled some strings, and I heard the UTC government is helping her with the relocation.”
“Really?” Jia furrowed her brow. “Why do they care so much?”
“I think they know they can’t suppress all the news about a famous changeling singer, but if Rena’s ten light-years away, it’ll be less of a problem, and people will lose interest. Makes sense. From what you told me, her main fanbase was on Earth anyway.”
“That’s good, I suppose,” Jia mused. “I think we all just want her to have a chance to start over.”
Warmth suffused her face at Erik’s smile. She wanted to blame it on the drinks, but she was too honest to lie to herself. It was easy to suppress her growing feelings for him when they were working a big case.
These in-between moments had grown torturous.
“That’s one thing I really like about being a cop,” Erik admitted. “When I was a soldier, we protected people and interacted with locals, but there wasn’t always the satisfaction of knowing I had helped individual people.” He pursed his lips, wonder spreading to his eyes. “I had my own reasons for taking this job, but that doesn’t mean I don’t care about it.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Jia pondered ordering another drink but decided against it. Any more alcohol and she might start doing something really stupid like singing one of Rena’s love songs at the top of her lungs.
What happens when Erik can’t pursue Molino any more as a cop? she thought. The trail’s grown cold lately. I know he’s thinking about it a lot, even if he doesn’t talk about it.
Her PNIU chimed, as did Erik’s. Jia’s stomach tightened. The case might not be over.
They exchanged glances before bringing up the message. Jia let out a sigh of relief. It had nothing to do with the case.
“Huh,” Erik mumbled. “A new chief’s been selected. Took them long enough.”
“More good news—a non-corrupt chief and a non-corrupt captain. We’ll really be able to clean up Neo SoCal.” The next words slipped out. “Want to come over to my place?”
Erik raised an eyebrow. “What?”
Jia grimaced and waved her hands. “I’ve got a new Beijing duck recipe I wanted you to taste. My mother’s recipe was a good place to start, but since it’s one of your favorite Chinese dishes, I thought you’d be a good taste-tester. I have some leftovers from last night. Just figured sin
ce the game is over, you could help me out.”
He laughed. “Trying to outdo her?”
“Something like that.” Jia smiled. “So, how about it?”
“Sure. Why not?” Erik gulped down the rest of his beer. “Emma, ready to drive?”
“Always,” she answered. “I’m far better at it than you anyway.”
“That’s a matter of opinion,” he argued.
“Need I remind you that you crashed into a building recently?”
Erik laughed. “But that was on purpose.”
Emma sighed as if Erik were a youngster and she was trying to be patient. “Exactly.”
Jia stood, her heart pounding.
Erik coming over wasn’t new. It wasn’t like Erik hadn’t been to her apartment to eat her cooking. It didn’t count as a date, just because she was serving a man she was attracted to a home-cooked meal.
Well, perhaps a leftover home-cooked meal didn’t count.
She needed to take her chance while she had it. With a new chief selected, they would both be busy soon. The department would want some big, impressive ceremony as part of their public relations campaigns.
Jia gave up on pretending as she slid her chair under the table. It was a date.
It was just a very one-sided date.
Chapter Sixteen
Jia watched Erik take a bite of the reheated duck.
The herb balance had been subtly adjusted from her mother’s recipe, but she didn’t want to bias his reaction by giving him details. She would have loved to have fed it to him fresh, but she couldn’t have him sit around while she roasted a fresh duck after they’d already hung out at the bar. There was no way he wouldn’t interpret that as a date.
Erik smiled after swallowing his food. “This is damned good. I don’t know what you did, but it’s better than before.”
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