Rick's nightmare awoke him with a start. He sat in bed thinking about it. It wasn't much of a dream, but it was bad. Images that had haunted him most of his life, of an old fashioned slaughterhouse in operation, flashed though his mind. He had no idea why he should have that nightmare, he hadn't had it since he was a kid and had seen the images in his high school American History class when he was 16 years old. Maybe it was because he had felt as bad back then as he did now; Now that Rachel was out of his life forever.
Rick shook the images out of his head and got up to go to the kitchen and get some coffee. Just then the vid-phone rang and Rick answered it. It was Bryant. "Yeah?" he said.
"Listen Rick, " Bryant said, "I want you to come down to the station this morning. I know it's your day off, but I need you."
"But sir…," Rick started.
"Be here in half an hour Deckard!" Bryant said, then signed off.
Rick stood for a moment contemplating going down town. After the four Replicants he had last 'retired' he was supposed to get a vacation, and then he had plans to retire himself and get a desk job. But he knew Bryant would probably suspend, if not fire, him if he didn't show up.
At the station Rick knocked on the door and then entered Bryant's office. In front of him was Bryant behind his desk, and to Rick's left he noticed a woman, very good looking at that, sitting in a chair facing Bryant's desk. He couldn't' help but notice she had long dark hair and a pleasing appearance; it reminded him of Rachel.
"Come in Deck, have a seat," Bryant said, "This is Hanalane Kellerman."
Rick approached and extended a hand in greeting, "Rick Deckard Ma'am. Glad to meet you."
"How do you do." She replied, ignoring his outstretched hand. Rick glanced at Bryant, who shrugged, then he turned and sat in the other chair facing Bryant's desk.
"Mrs. Kellerman," Bryant began, "came to me looking for help Rick. She has reason to believe her husband is a Replicant." Bryant got out some papers. "She wants you to find out, yes or no."
"But I'm supposed to retire as a Blade Runner, and get a desk job." Rick protested. "Why can't you get someone else?"
"Because no one else is available… and besides, you're the best."
"But what about my desk job?" Rick persisted.
"Forget the desk job Deckard!" Bryant said, becoming annoyed of Rick's persistent refusal. "Right now there are no desk jobs available. And, I know you could use the pay of a Blade Runner and so do you!"
Rick gave up. "Okay, what are the details?"
Bryant handed Rick some photographs. "This is Mr. Kellerman, Norman. Mrs. Kellerman wants you to follow him and find out if he's a Replicant. She'll give you the details as you drive her back to her apartment. Now go Deckard, and keep me posted!"
Rick got up and went to the door. He opened it then stepped aside to allow Mrs. Kellerman to exit. She walked past him and he could almost feel the cold breeze. No wonder she suspects Norman is a Replicant, no human would marry her. Rick thought to himself as he followed her out.
Mrs. Kellerman had been walking several paces ahead of him and entered the elevator. As he approached the doors began to slide closed and he had to grab them quickly to get through. Mrs. Kellerman had made no move to hold the doors and it was all he could do not to say something. Doubtless she would have let them close and leave me to wait for the elevator to return while she made herself comfortable in my Spinner. He thought angrily. Neither of them spoke as the elevator rose and they stepped out onto the roof. Rick opened the passenger door for her, then went around to the driver's side to settle himself into the driver's seat.
"Where do you live?" He asked Mrs. Kellerman,
"Seaview Apartments." She said, "It's west of…"
"I know where it is." He said returning her frigid attitude. As the Spinner raised from it's rooftop perch Rick decided to ask some questions. "Can I keep one of those photographs?"
"Yes." She said and handed him one.
"What makes you think your husband is a Replicant?"
"Mainly because our dog Farlow passed away last week and Norman is acting very perculiar about it."
"How?" Deckard asked.
"Well, he won't tell me what he did with Farlow's…" She took a deep breath, this was apparently hard for her, "body. And he doesn't seem to be mourning at all."
"Is that all?"
"No. I've been asking him when we will get another animal, and he acts as if he doesn't care. So I asked him about it and he said that he was sick of me asking him about…" She paused again, "about that stupid dog! And then he said he didn't care if we ever got another one like it! I always thought he liked…Farlow… but he never did seem to show any real love for him. So I decided today that I ought to go to the police."
Rick thought for a moment. "What other reasons?" He asked.
She looked at him surprised, "Isn't that enough?" She asked.
"Sometimes. Not always." Rick replied.
Mrs. Kellerman looked at Rick's profile. "Well, the other reasons are personal."
Rick glances at her and she looked away. "Oh." He said. Then concentrated on landing his Spinner on the roof of Seaview Apartments. "Where can I find your husband Mrs. Kellerman?"
"Every morning at 8am he leaves for work from this roof, in his hover car. He goes to the Kensington building and picks up his delivery stock." She handed Rick a piece of paper. "This is his route of delivery. He follows the same route every week." Rick looked over the paper. "Start right away, and let me know tomorrow, after 9am, what you have come up with." She said it like an order.
"Sure." Said Rick. He watched her get out and head for the elevator. If only she were as nice as she is pretty. He thought to himself.