Eleven Graves

by Aman Gupta

“Would you mind calling your daughter downstairs?” asked Kate.

  “She isn’t coming here,” said Mr. Marrow.

  “I don’t think you’re appreciating the gravity of the situation, Mr. Marrow. A girl is missing. Your daughter was her best friend. One way or another, we’re talking to her,” said Kate in a stern tone.

  “Fine. Dizzy, would you come downstairs?” said Mr. Marrow.

  Dizzy came down the stairs, limping. Eric looked at Kate, who looked at Joey.

  “What daddy?” asked Dizzy.

  “These people want to talk to you,” said Mr. Marrow.

  Dizzy looked at them and smiled.

  “Hi Dizzy, my name is Kate. I’m looking for Ally. Do you know where we can find her?” asked Kate.

  “No, how would I know!” said Dizzy.

  “Dizzy, did Ally ever borrow your bike?” asked Eric.

  “No,” said Dizzy.

  “Maybe she borrowed without you knowing?” asked Kate.

  “No, she didn’t like to ride,” said Dizzy.

  “Why?” asked Eric.

  “She was scared of falling off it,” said Dizzy.

  “Okay. Where’s your bike now?” asked Eric.

  “We threw it away,” said Dizzy. “Daddy, can I go now?”

  “Yes, sure, go on baby,” said Mr. Marrow.

  “One last question. See, we found a bike in the forest, and it had this locket hidden inside it,” said Eric, while showing the locket to Mr. Marrow, who was shocked.

  “Where did you find it? It’s one of a kind,” asked Mr. Marrow.

  “Dizzy, where’s yours?” asked Kate.

  “Here,” Dizzy showed her necklace. It was identical to the one in Eric’s hand.

  “If it’s one of a kind, why do we have two of it in this room?” asked Eric.

  “I’ll tell you. It’s some sick joke you all are playing,” said Mr. Marrow.

  “Now, get out or shoot me,” warned Mr. Marrow.

  Eric, Joey and Kate left the house, as Troy slammed the door behind them.

  “What just happened?” asked Joey.

  “I have no idea,” said Eric.

  “Now we have more questions than we had an hour ago,” said Kate.

  “What’s going on here?” said Eric as he watched the town and its empty streets.

  Dejected, they returned to the New Bay Police Station.

  Vik had been reading other case files at the station while Emma had been going through Ally’s case files. They were facing in almost completely opposite directions with each other despite being in the same room.

  “Everything alright here?” asked Joey.

  “Yeah, did you have a fight or something?” asked Kate.

  “Yes,” said Vik, as Emma said, “No.”

  “Okay.. About what?” asked Eric.

  “About Kate,” said Emma as Vik said, “About what to eat.”

  Joey, Eric and Kate looked at each other while Emma looked at Vik who was still flipping through the pages of case files.

  “What about me?” asked Kate.

  “We..We..” said Emma.

  “We think that you should decide what we’re supposed to eat for lunch,” completed Vik.

  “Yes, I could eat something,” said Joey.

  “Great. I think we should have a cheese burger,” said Kate.

  “Sounds great,” said Eric. “Isn’t that right, Vik?”

  “Yes,” said Emma.

  “Yes, good choice, Jen..Kate. I noticed a place down the road. Maybe you should get burgers while we wait,” said Vik.

  “Why me?” asked Kate.

  “You pick it, you get it,” said Vik. Eric and Joey smiled.

  “Okay,” said Kate.

  “You know what! I’ll go with you,” said Vik.

  They stopped smiling.

  “I don’t even have to look to know your reaction,” said Vik, turning the pages.

  “No, I mean,” said Eric.

  “Shhh,” said Vik. “I’m trying to read here. If you’re going to talk, I suggest you get a room.”

  “We all are talking. So maybe we should all get a room,” retorted Emma.

  Eric rolled his eyes. He knew what was coming.

  “Sure, if you’re into that,” said Vik.

  Eric couldn’t stop laughing inside. Joey understood the context a few seconds later and started laughing too.

  “Why are you laughing?” asked Emma.

  “Nothing,” said Joey.

  “Let’s go,” said Emma.

  Joey, Kate and Emma left the room, while Eric stayed behind.

  “Don’t forget to press record,” Vik said with a controlled smile.

  “I got it. Now, stop talking,” shouted Emma, as Vik smiled.

  Emma, Joey and Kate left the station. Eric and Vik talked about the last few days. Eric told him about the meetings with the families. They laughed when Eric told him about Emma’s weird encounter in the forest near Old River.

  “She likes you,” said Eric.

  “And?” asked Vik.

  “I know what you’re doing,” said Eric.

  “What’s that?” asked Vik.

  “I have seen you do it to Sarah before,” said Eric.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” said Vik.

  “You don’t want her to get involved in whatever you think is coming, so you’re pushing her away,” said Eric.

  “Would that be so wrong?” asked Vik.

  “Didn’t work out so well last time,” said Eric.

  “You know what they say – third time’s the charm,” said Vik.

  “Third time?” asked Eric.

  “I meant second time,” said Vik.

  “I don’t want her to get hurt,” said Eric.

  “Then why are you stopping me?” asked Vik.

  “Sometimes, love cuts deeper than a knife,” said Eric.

  “Depends on the knife,” said Vik, as he threw the file to Eric.

  Eric read the file for a few minutes and looked back at Vik with a stunned look.

  “Ally Drew isn’t the only one!” said Eric.

  “No, she’s just the one who still hasn’t returned, yet,” said Vik.

  Emma, Joey and Kate walked down to the restaurant to get burgers.

  “What happened between you two?” asked Kate. “And don’t try to lie me. You don’t have the eyes for it.”

  “I asked him about you, about what’s going to happen,” said Emma.

  “We already talked about what’s going to happen,” said Kate.

  “What’s that? Maybe you could tell us,” said Joey.

  “We will, in time,” said Kate.

  “And what if we don’t like the decision?” asked Emma.

  “It’s not about you or Joey. It’s about me and him,” said Kate.

  After picking up the burgers from a bored manager, they walked back to the station where Eric was waiting.

  “Can’t wait to get started, huh, sheriff?” said Joey as he put down the burgers in front of Eric.

  “We found something,” said Eric.

  “What?” asked Kate.

  “Ally Drew isn’t the first girl who’s disappeared from New Bay,” said Eric.

  “Then? How many?” asked Joey.

  “35 in the past year,” said Vik, as he put down a stack of old files.

  CHAPTER 8: TEMPORAL

  “35?” yelled Emma.

  “How come we don’t know about these girls?” asked Kate.

  “Because they aren’t missing anymore. They’re back,” said Eric.

  “I don’t understand,” said Joey.

  “Over the past one year, 35 girls have gone missing at different times but somehow been found over the side of the road or returned after weeks,” said Eric. “Including Dizzy Marrow.”

  “How come no one put it together?” asked Emma.

  “Because no one stayed long enough. Cops changed frequently. They only looked at current missing cases and not the closed ones
,” said Eric.

  “But people of this town? They knew,” said Joey.

  “I think I know why Troy Marrow was distant. He wasn’t angry. He was scared. Just like all parents in this town are,” said Eric.

  “But why return the girls without any demand for ransom after kidnapping them?” asked Kate.

  “Good point. And why wouldn’t someone without a kid would come forward even if the parents are scared,” said Joey.

  “There’s only one guy who can tell you all,” said Vik.

  “Who?” asked Eric.

  “The one who brought you here,” said Vik.

  “You think the Mayor is behind this?” asked Eric.

  “No, I know him. He doesn’t really have a brain to do this for so long. I think he’s covering up for someone,” said Vik.

  “Covering up for who?” asked Emma.

  “That, Detective, is the right question,” said Vik, as he grabbed a burger and went to the other room.

  “How did you figure this out?” asked Emma.

  “I didn’t. He did,” Eric said.

  “How did he know where to look?” asked Joey.

  “Good question,” said Emma.

  “What should we do now?” asked Kate.

  “Let’s go talk to the mayor,” said Eric. “Pack your stuff. We leave in one hour.”

  ◆◆◆

  Jay was doing his masters in Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Technology, at Daulton University. He had made friends with Samantha Stone, after their mutual bonding for unethical hacking. She hacked security systems, he helped in covering her tracks. They ran into each other when she was being belittled by her classmates for being daughter of a convict. Jay was their senior in college and faked being influential in stone-walling their careers after telling stories of being family friends with Daultons.

  “You didn’t have to do that,” said Samantha. “I don’t care what anyone says about me.”

  “Looked like you did,” said Jay.

  “How can you tell?” asked Samantha.

  “Those Big Doe Brown Eyes aren’t difficult to read,” said Jay.

  “You really know the Daultons?” asked Samantha.

  “Yes. But I’m sure they don’t know me,” said Jay.

  Samantha smiled.

  “Name’s Sam,” said Samantha.

  “Name’s Jay.”

  “Well, see you around, Jay,” said Sam.

  “Let them down easy, okay?!” said Jay, as Sam walked back few yards.

  “What?” asked Sam.

  “You’re a hacker, aren’t you? Most girls don’t carry 2 laptops in their bag,” said Jay.

  “I’m good with computers. How about you?” asked Sam.

  “Not as good as you,” said Jay.

  “Any good stuff?” asked Sam.

  “Maybe. How about you?” asked Jay.

  Sam came closer and said, “Some. Look, I owe you. So do you need me to get you off the meat list for free?”

  “No, I’m nowhere near it. But I thought that blockchain was secure,” said Jay.

  “No system has a loophole. Until I find one,” said Sam.

  “You should get that on a T-shirt,” said Jay.

  “Why, you sell T-shirts?” said Sam, as she smiled and walked away.

  “Yeah, that joke’s couple of decades too late,” muttered Jay.

  She didn’t make friends so easily, even though she tried to be helpful and supportive. She would run into Jay in the corridor, classrooms and libraries.

  One day, Jay’s research paper on ‘Emotions & AI’ was accepted by the Global Research Council and that had made him popular among students and professors. He was asked to give a few lectures to interested undergraduate students. Sam had volunteered without knowing about this.

  Around 40 students signed up before they had to stop taking registrations as originally only 15-20 elite research enthusiasts were planned. Some signed up because they were interested, while others did because they had crossed paths with Jay and appreciated his demeanor.

  Jay walked in to find 40 students occupying every seat available in the small classroom.

  “Hi, my name is Jay Miller,” he introduced. “I’m here to talk about Emotions in AI. Is it possible? Can it be done and should it be done?!”

  “I’m hoping everyone knows what an AI is,” said Jay.

  “We do, but I’ll love it if you talked about it,” said Christina Simpson, a final year student.

  The entire university knew she had a crush on Jay, and the entire university had a crush on her. She was kind, sweet and beautiful in an obvious kind of a way. They were sad because she was leaving at the end of the semester.

  “Okay, well textbook definition of AI is intelligence shown by machines, similar to natural intelligence shown by humans, or solving cognitive problems commonly associated with human intelligence. But that was a long time ago. Now, when apparently machines have become far more intelligent than most humans, the appropriate definition would be finding solutions to problems that human intelligence isn’t even capable of thinking,” said Jay.

  “The problem or the solution?” asked a guy.

  “Both,” said Jay.

  “Do you think humans have gotten dumber because machines are doing their thinking for them?” asked Sam.

  Jay looked at Sam, who smiled and leaned forward and laid her chin on the bridge created by her hands.

  “I don’t think we have gotten dumber. We have just stopped using our minds,” said Jay.

  “Why is that?” asked Sam.

  “Lots of reasons. Could be genetics, could be evolution, maybe it hurts too much and we wanted the pain to stop,” said Jay.

  The students laughed. It was also a dig at a professor who everyone knew, which put a smile on everyone’s face.

  “Why now?” asked a student. “Why didn’t we do it few years ago?”

  “Because now AI is a part of our life. We use it to know what to wear, how to look, where to go and what to do, every moment of every day. It has taken over the decision making process because we let it. We thought we should use our minds for more constructive things, but now there aren’t any for the masses,” said Jay.

  “So, the questions comes – What’s next in AI? We have already created machines that are capable of solving complex problems. What’s separating them from humans now? ” asked Jay.

  “Their intelligence is purely cognitive. There’s no emotional and social intelligence,” said a student.

  “So the next big thing is a machine that can think rationally, emotionally as well as socially, before coming to a problem. What would that be?” asked Jay.

  “A perfect machine,” said Sam.

  “Before I ask if there’s a need for a perfect machine or could it be possible, let’s look at some instances to identify how human mind works. If we can figure that out, it’s easy to simulate that on a machine,” said Jay.

  He continued, “We say humans use emotions before making decisions. Is that the right way to go?”

  “Yes,” said a student.

  “No,” said another.

  Jay asked everyone to raise their hand if they said yes and did the same for no.

  “About evenly split,” said Jay.

  “Let’s put it into context – A kid X learning to drive a car, ran over another kid Y. A few days later, the mom of Y ran over mom of X in a separate accident. Now, your job is to decide fate of mom of Y. What do you do?” asked Jay.

  “Clearly, mom of Y is at fault. She did it to take revenge. She should be punished,” said a student.

  “What about Kid X?” asked Jay.

  “They both should be punished,” said another student.

  “What if I add a new information? The only reason Kid X ran over the kid because Kid Y crossed the street while the pedestrian light showed the red stop signal,” said Jay.

  “Then Kid Y was at fault and he paid for it with his life,” said the first student.

  “Now, where does
that leave Mom Y?” asked Jay.

  “No, she’s just a murderer. She made an emotional decision without learning the facts or thinking about the consequences,” said a student.

  “Ok, so in this case, emotional thinking led to the wrong decision regardless of the stimuli. Does everyone agree?” asked Jay.

  Everyone nodded.

  “What if we changed the situation – Mom Y killed Mom X in an accident. Few days later, Kid X ran over Kid Y while learning to drive. Now?” asked Jay.

  “Nothing’s changed. Similarly here, Kid X is at fault,” said a student.

  “But we don’t know if he took revenge or was it just a coincidence,” said Jay.

  “Mom Y should be punished and Kid X shouldn’t,” said another student.

  “Maybe Mom Y made a mistake, while Kid X did it intentionally?” said Jay.

  “Then there’s no way to know,” said Christina.

  “How did we come to a decision that the first case was revenge, while this wasn’t?” asked Jay.

  “Because it’s obvious,” said a student.

  “It’s not,” said another student. “Both may be guilty. Both may be innocent.”

  “In the first case, Mom Y’s emotions clearly clouded her rational thinking. She’s an adult, and she should know better. In the second case, Kid X could be given benefit of the doubt,” said a student.

  “So in both cases, Mom Y killed Mom X. In the first case, we say she’s guilty of first degree murder. In the second case, she’s not. Similarly in both cases, Kid X killed Kid Y. In the first case, he’s innocent. In the second case, he may or may not be innocent. Did I get that right?” asked Jay.

  The class was confused. They discussed amongst themselves while Jay stepped backwards to enjoy the view.

  “It’s a complex problem with no right or wrong answer. It cannot be solved,” said a student.

  “How do you tell that to a jury?” asked Jay. “If the jury in both cases convicts Mom Y and Kid X. Would they be wrong?”

  “No,” said most of the students.

  “Or, in both cases, they acquit them of all charges. Would that be wrong?” asked Jay.

  Some said yes, some said no.

  “What if the jury was an AI?” asked Jay. “How is it supposed to make a decision? And more importantly, how can an AI justify it as right or wrong when we can’t?”

  After a minute of silence, a student said, “So you think emotional intelligence is harmful to AI?”