Author's Note: (3/19/20) Hello all! I hope you are well and safe during this terrifying time. I know it's so uncertain and frightening all over the world right now. My state in the U.S. was one of the last to get the virus, but the first person in my county was tested positive just today, so the panic is only going to get worse... The library I work at is shut down though we're still expected to come into work. It's chaos, and I feel for everyone, especially those who are having trouble finding the bare necessities at stores right now or are expected to come into work or don't have sick time. I send you all the positive vibes!
Here are two more chapters. I'm playing Detroit for the first time in ages tonight and it's helping soothe my anxiety a little.
36 Detroit 11.6.2038
1:30 am
Connor
The interrogation was more difficult than I'd expected. It required a balance of scare tactics and understanding that left me feeling exhausted. It was clear Carlos Ortiz had abused his android. It'd had cigarette burn marks along one arm, and it had taken a beating with a baseball bat when its owner had attacked it. I'd followed the evidence to the conclusion that the android had grabbed a knife to defend itself. But the multiple stab wounds went far beyond simple self-defense. It had been a shock to find the deviant hiding in the attic, but it had told me during the interrogation that it hadn't known where else to go. It had nearly self-destructed in the interrogation room as one of the officers had tried to take it back to its cell, but I had intervened. Much to the annoyance of one of the less friendly detectives.
My reception hadn't been a friendly one. I'd very nearly gotten off on the wrong foot with the Lieutenant who had been assigned the case tonight. Hank Anderson had made his dislike for androids apparent the second I had walked into the bar he'd been drinking at. Amanda had informed me of the case and had asked me to locate the detective in charge. Lieutenant Anderson had not been what I was expecting, but I think we parted on good terms tonight. Or at least better terms. He seemed to approve of my conclusions at the crime scene, and I had located the deviant when the police would have missed it altogether. I'd been surprised that the Lieutenant had allowed me to interrogate the deviant, but I could read its stress levels in a way no human could.
My thoughts kept going back to the figurine I'd found in the shower stall and the writing on the walls. RA9. The android had seemed absolutely sure RA9 would set them free. As it had left the interrogation room, it had whispered something to me. The truth is inside. I had no idea what it meant or why it had told me that.
It had been different working without Clara. I'd grown used to her enthusiasm and compassion. I doubt she would have gotten anything out of the android tonight because she would never have raised her voice to it, but maybe she would have won its trust. I promised to keep her updated on the case as much as I can before we parted ways tonight, but I'm not sure what's next. I'll report my findings to Amanda in the morning, and I can see if she knows anything about RA9.
My thoughts stray back to the android. I'd been truthful with it when it had asked what was going to happen to it. There was no use lying, but I couldn't help but feel guilty for not staying quiet in the attic where I'd found it. It had pleaded with me, but I had turned it over to the police with only a second of hesitation. The abuse it had suffered at the hands of its owner had been shocking, and I find I have no sympathy for Carlos Ortiz.
