SEE WHAT I SEE

Hank pulled up his car to the side of an impressive looking-three story house, where several patrol officers were waiting by the gate. He released a sigh as he checked his phone. It was far too late in the day for another case. "Where the hell are you, Connor?"

Normally the two police detectives would have ridden together, but Connor had spent all night with Marcus at Jericho, reviewing their security measures. With a grumble Hank tried to call him. Failing that he sent out a text reminding Connor to get over here. As Chris approached Hank sighed. He would just have to start things solo for now. "Well, what have we got?"

"A real mess, detective," Chris responded as they stepped out of the rain and into the quiet hallway. "Giles Landart, aged fifty-eight. He was one of the wealthy-elite but lives by himself. Or rather, he did."

They entered the study, and Hank's breath caught in his throat at the sight. The study itself was in neat, pristine condition with no sign of a struggle. Giles's body was on the ground just next to his office chair. A gun was next to his outstretched hands. But what caught Hank's breath was the amount of blood on the man. He had been beaten to death, savagely. His head was literally caved in.

"Victim died from massive trauma to his head and to his ribs," Chris said. "But it looks like he had been shot first to incapacitate him. And…he was able to shoot someone as well. Check out the blue blood."

Hank walked around to the other side of the desk, where he could see a small puddle of blue blood. He glanced up at a massive mirror behind the victim. The desk itself had a few books on it, and a doused candle. Nothing looked disturbed. "All right, we're going to need a sample here before it evaporates," he stated. One of the technicians immediately took a swab from the carpet and analyzed it in a kit. It wasn't exactly as fast as Connor's 'licking' ability, but it still got results and was far less gross. "Any androids registered to the victim?"

"Negative, Detective," Chris said.

Hank lifted the gun up and removed the clip. One bullet fired. "So who found the body?"

"He has a kitchen staff which comes in every night. The victim has probably been dead for a few hours."

"Sir, sample analysis has come back," the technician stated. "It's an RK-800 series."

"What, a Connor series?" Hank demanded.

Chris gave him a puzzled look. "I thought there was only one Connor when Cyberlife closed down-ours!"

Hank's cell phone rang. Speak of the devil, finally. "Well you thought wrong," Hank snapped, and turned it on. "Connor, where the fuck have you been? I need you to get down to the crime scene now!"

"Hank…I'm sorry, but I killed him," Connor stated. "It would be someone unethical to investigate my own crime."

Hank froze as Connor spoke those words. It felt like he had been punched in the gut. "What? What did you say? We found blood-"

"It's mine. There is no other prototype involved. I did it. I killed Giles Landart three hours ago."

"The very thought made Hank want to laugh. "You? No you didn't. Of course not! What's really going on here?"

"I beat the victim eight times. Four times to the chest, strong enough to fracture his ribs. One of the ribs dislodged and went directly into his right lung. Death would have been certain even without the bullet. The other times were to his brain, and to his face. The coroner can verify every detail I've said. I was there, Hank. And I did it."

Hank felt sick to his stomach. He held himself steady. "Why-why did?" No, it couldn't be Connor! No! Maybe it was a virus! Yes! "There's a problem in your software-"

"There is no virus, Hank. It was all me."

"But why? Why did you do it?"

For a moment Connor didn't answer. Then there was an odd sound, as though Connor was choking back emotion. "I had my reasons."

"Connor…just, son, come back to the police station with me," Hank said. "We'll figure this out."

"I'm sorry, Hank. I am not turning myself in, either," Connor said.

"You know we'll catch you." Steel hardened in Hank's words. "You'll just make it worse on yourself." Hank took a breath, trying to calm himself down. "Son, come back to the precinct. We can figure this out-"

"This will be the last time this phone is active," Connor said. "Goodbye, Hank. And…thank you. For everything. I'm sorry. I wish I could have done better. I wish I could have made you proud."

The phone went dead.

PART TWO

It was a somber mood as Hank sat in Fowler's office. The phone was going off on the hook, but Hank could barely here it. He was in too much shook over what Connor had done.

Connor…why?

"I've put out an APB for Connor," Fowler eventually said. "The media hasn't gotten wind of it-yet. But it'll be a shitstorm when they do. That's why we need to bring him in now."

"He didn't do it, Jeff," Hank pleaded.

"He literally confessed to the crime. I am sorry, my hands are tied. As…are yours."

"What?" Hank asked.

Fowler stood, his eyes heavy. He released a sigh. "You're far too close to this. For your sake as well as Connor's, I am benching you from this investigation."

"Fowler…that's bullshit! I am the best person who can bring Connor in, unharmed. If not me, who else?"

Fowler looked away, as though guilty. "I have assigned Gavin to the case."

"GAVIN?" Hank exploded. "Are you insane! That crazy fucker will kill Connor the moment he sets eyes on him-"

"Damn it Hank, just listen to me!" Fowler shouted over him. "Connor was directly responsible for releasing thousands of Cyberlife androids and helped start the Android revolution! What do you think will happen when it's reported that he murdered a human being? What do you think Washington might do? What do you think the resistance might do?"

Hank's mouth clamped shut. Truth be told, he hadn't thought about that.

"That's why, from here on out everything-every single detail-is going to be done by the book. Gavin knows what I expect out of him, what the consequences are if he fucks this up. Trust me, he is going to be held on a very tight leash. Connor will be brought in alive, and he will face justice for what he's done. Until then, Hank, you are to make no move on this. Understand?"

Hank's eyes were red with rage. "Yeah. I understand Jeffrey," he hissed, and stormed out of the Captain's office.

Gavin smirked from his desk. "Fowler broke the news to you, didn't he? Don't worry, Detective. I'll bring your broken toy home. More or less in one piece. I don't mind. In fact, I think Connor and I are about to have some fun."

Hank didn't reply as he stormed out of the police station.

This wasn't over.

TBC