The Diego Diaries: Forensics (dd6 518)
-0-Interviews
"When were you aware that Dobbs was missing and hadn't returned?" Springer asked in his pretender format. Drift sat beside him watching the human.
"I was informed by Sosa that he was off the grid. At first, I had no idea that he meant he wasn't registering anywhere on world. I was under the impression that such tech as we have is pretty infallible so it took a moment to sink in. That was mid afternoon, about 1600 or there abouts. I called the Emergency Response Command Center at Fort Max and was told that search and rescue as well as the Civil Air Patrol were out looking. It was a shock to me and it makes me very worried about all of this."
"Because?" Springer asked.
"Because we want to have good relations. I know that Prime doesn't necessarily believe that. We want our sojourn here to be productive and friendly. This is a shocking thing not just because Dobbs died a horrible death under suspicious circumstances but because it might cause trouble in the relationship here. I'm director. I have to think about all of the possibilities," Harris said.
Standing outside his apartment door, Ratchet read his energy with his specialized and personally developed tech. :He's telling the truth, Springer:
:Now you tell me: Springer leaned slightly forward. "Why did you hire them? You know their background with us, the abuse we took but you hired and brought them here anyway. Why?" Springer asked.
"We wanted someone with experience with your people, someone who knew you more than just through the PR both sides wages," Harris said. "We knew it wasn't a good relationship between you and them but we felt it wouldn't be a problem because they would mostly work here. I wanted insight. I needed it to make a plan for us to become partners in this enterprise and move forward. It helped that they have diverse and extensive backgrounds in security work and military operations as well so I hired them."
"They also spew crap about us on the media," Drift said.
"They have no access to media here. They work here to keep the security and don't venture out much," Harris said.
"Dobbs did. Why did he go, who was he seeing and all that. You get the picture," Springer said as he sat back in the chair. "Who would want him dead?"
"I don't know why he went but he was developing friendships in different habitats and he liked some of the on site security who live in the different facilities. I believe this was personal because he was off duty. He had friends here and there outside of here. You will have to talk to the others with him for the intimate details otherwise. I don't know who would want him dead short of some of you and I don't say that to accuse or be difficult. You have your dueling points with him. I don't know of anyone else who might have had them among the human population." Harris sat back. "We're going to be down a while aren't we."
"You will be down until we figure out what happened so we can put the news to Earth ourselves," Springer said. "We want to have all the facts and tell it like it happened. After that, the slaggers on some of the outlets can lie out their asses all they want. This is a big deal for us. He was part of our charge and now he's murdered. If he can die, so can you and anyone else. Pray that we get this sorted out."
Harris stared at him, then nodded. "I do."
:He's telling the truth, sonny mine: Ratchet grinned as he monitored three other conversations as well in the area around where he stood in the open deck corridor of level 9 of the housing block for the facility.
:Alright. Anything you want asked?: Springer stared at the datapad in his hands.
:Ask about tech. You know you wanna: -Ratchet with a smirk
Springer smirked, then sat back. "There's a lot of tech of ours ranging around Earth that's stolen and in violation of our laws and treaties. It would appear that some of it might be used here. What do you know about that, Mr. Harris. You can tell me."
Harris stared at Springer, then shrugged. "I don't know."
:He's lying: -Ratchet
"Is that so? Well, then you don't have a slagging thing to worry about," Springer said. "I would like you to go to another berth room so I can speak to Kyle Davis." He stood, then watched Harris go down the corridor, rap on a berth room, lean in to call to Davis, then open the door across and walk in closing it behind him.
Davis came out nervously, then took a chair. "What do you want to know? I was in the office all day working on stock prices for some clients."
"What do you know about Dobbs?" Springer asked.
"He was a mercenary for Nast, he was a guy who kept to himself but for the other mercs who worked here … I didn't know him. I didn't cross paths with him very much, if at all," Davis said.
"Who would want to murder him? I ask that question so I can grab them before they kill someone else … someone like you, for instance," Springer said.
Davis stared at him levelly. "I don't know. Ask the other mercs. Ask Nast. They knew him. I just saw him around."
:Truth: -Ratchet
Springer stared at him, then nodded. "Alright, for now. Tell your wife to come out and go into the other room with Harris."
"My wife?" Davis said as he stood.
"Yes."
Davis stared at them, then walked to the door and called his wife out. He watched as she left the room and walked hesitantly to sit on the couch across from the others. Davis stared at the scene, then walked into the berth room where Harris waited. The door closed behind him.
She stared at them, then Springer began. "Did you know Dobbs?"
"No."
"Did you ever speak to him?"
"No."
"Did you ever see him talking to others, perhaps arguing with anyone? Did you ever hear gossip about grudges and the like?"
"No. I didn't move in his circles and he had friends with the other guards. They hung out and were friends but that's about all I saw. I haven't heard any gossip about him or anyone else for that matter," she said.
:Truth but for the last part. She's either heard or she's hiding she likes gossip. What kind of person doesn't like gossip?: -Ratchet with a grin
:Not you, nosy: Springer considered her tense posture and concern, then nodded. "Please send out your daughter, Mrs. Davis."
"My daughter? Why?" she asked as she stood in alarm.
"Because kids get around and see things that adults miss." Springer glanced down the hallway, then stood. "I would like to talk to her."
"Then I'm staying here," Mariah said as she stiffened.
"No. I don't want her to hold anything back because you're here," Springer said as Drift stood.
Mariah stared at them, then walked down the corridor. Opening the door to the room where Harris and Davis waited, there was a brisk conversation, then Harris stepped out. He stared at the two, then walked into the room where Rain Harris waited. He was in there a moment, then stepped out. He watched her walk to the couch to sit, stared at the bots, then walked into the berth room where the conversation got heated as the door closed.
Drift and Springer sat. "We want to know if you knew Dobbs."
"Just around," Rain said as she looked from one to the other. "Not to speak to but just around. He works for my dad."
Springer didn't know whether or not to be offended for Dobbs by the off hand tone of her remark. "Did you ever hear any gossip about him or anyone else in the habitat that might have led to this? Did you ever see him arguing with anyone or hear that he had beef with anyone?"
She stared at him, then sat back. "He really got murdered? I thought you guys had it all covered."
"That's not the question," Springer replied.
"No. He never really seemed to be on my radar. School lasts all day and then homework. I have a lot to do and I don't really get around too much," she said.
:Lie: -Ratchet
"Why don't I believe you? Should I talk to your girlfriends?" Springer asked.
"You can. It won't change the answer," she said.
:True. This is my story and I'm sticking to it: -Ratchet
"If you withhold information regarding a murder investigation you're guilty of inhibiting an investigation and could be charged as an accessory after the fact. How about telling us what you know and stop being a smart ass? Or would you rather I let you think about it in the youth lock up?" Springer asked.
She stared at him, then glanced down the hallway. "I saw him around. He didn't have a problem with anyone here but there was a problem. He was mad at someone somewhere but he never said where. I used to get a snack at the cafe and eat it by the windows. They liked to sit there and play cards. I don't think they saw me in the alcove sometimes. I just know that. Nothing more. It doesn't seem to be that important."
:True:
"A man is murdered. You say he was mad at someone, maybe in another habitat and you don't think that's important?" Springer asked.
She shrugged. "This is my first murder investigation."
Springer leaned into her space. "It isn't mine. You withhold anything again you will end up in jail. Okay?"
She stared at him, then nodded without a word. She stared at them as they both stood, calling out to Harris to come out. He did and they gathered in the living room.
"I'm going onto do more interviews. You are confined here. Where is Rick?" Springer asked.
"At the Resort for dinner with clients. I suppose he's locked down there?" Harris asked.
"We'll bring him in. All of the humans are accounted for and on the grid. We want it to stay that way," Springer said. He nodded and walked to the door with Drift. They exited and the door closed.
Everyone turned to Rain. "What happened? What did they ask?"
"They wanted to know about the dead guy. I didn't have anything to tell him. Why would I?" Rain asked the three adults.
They stared at her silently, then her mom nodded. "Why would she, Owen? She's 15 years old."
It would be a long quiet evening in their apartment that night.
-0-Three joors later
They gathered in the rec room to sit and coordinate interviews. The general consensus was that Lawrence Dobbs was making friends among the security at other habitats and enjoyed Merlie's cooking. He liked to hang out in the farm at Unidad and help with the cows. He had no beefs that anyone knew of and liked to drive all over the colony to look at things. No one knew what happened and no one knew who could have done such a thing. Everyone was scared that a murder or murderers were among them. Nast didn't have a damned thing to do with any of the mercs here and that signaled true on Ratchet's meters.
In short, he was growing a friend list and liked farming. Who he might have fragged off no one knew. They had nothing from the interviews at Earth2. Springer considered that, then glanced at Prime. "We lock this down and go to Earth 1 and the Consulate. He's been to all four of these and the Resort. He's not been to Sciences or N.E.S.T. for a long time. I had them check their log books and identi-cam files. He's gone to dinner at the Resort but only with the other mercs. He's not gone alone. This is beginning to frag me off," Springer concluded.
Prime nodded. "Me as well. Let us go then," he said as he stood. Turning to the security team and Sosa who were sitting and standing nearby listening with the bot crew who worked in the facility. "Keep them in. We are going to continue tracking this. If anything happens comm me, Sosa. You have priority call through."
"I will," Sosa said as the bots began to walk out of the strangely silent facility. With exceptions in the medical center and the farm, everyone was in their apartments and would stay there through noon the following orn when Prime would relax the rules about going out of their homes.
They walked out and derezzed as they returned to their format. With Prime in the lead, they began to drive out of the parking lot leaving the forensics teams behind. They were still going through the entire facility with a fine toothed comb. Prime brooded as he drove, thinking about the conversation he had with Paribolus, Thrasher and Invincible in Ops Center earlier …
They listened with grim expressions to Prime explain what had happened. Paribolus looked shocked, then angry. "Someone died who was my charge, Lord Optimus. That will not stand."
"No, it will not," Prime agreed. "Can you locate anything in your surveillance files that might apply or shed light on this situation?"
Paribolus assumed a far away expression as the database and other informational terminals in the room were overridden and defaulted to him. They hummed and lights flashed as he went through his memory. He was still, then turned to Prime. "I have an image of him leaving this morning to go out to the other habitats."
Everyone turned to a huge forward monitor. It showed Dobbs walking to the motor pool, placing his hand on the scanner, then talking out a vehicle, the one found by his body. He climbed in, then the facility opened to let him into the air lock. They could see him waiting to go out and he seemed in a great mood. The sound stream showed he was humming to a song on the radio. Then the airlock opened and he drove out. He crossed the busy parking lot, maneuvering among the trucks there, then took the highway toward town. He disappeared from view nearly immediately.
"When will security cameras be placed out here?" Prime asked Jetta who looked dismayed that they lost his image so fast.
"I ordered it immediately. Do you have him at Unidad, Thrasher? Invincible?" Jetta asked.
They did. It showed Dobbs walking in, eating at Merlie's, joking with Tennessee, then walking to the farm. He worked at the cow barn, chatted with a hand at the fence as the horses walked over to greet them. Petting them, he finally turned to go. Waving to the hand, he walked back through town looking at this and that, then got into his vehicle to leave. He left and was off the camera grid nearly immediately.
"He didn't meet anyone there. He came for the farm and Merlie's food. We need to see what Earth 1 and the Consulate can tell us," Jetta said.
The big mechs nodded. "We're going to hook up when the cameras are there. We can cover the entire area for miles and overlap our security reach," Paribolus said. "I will continue to read my files and see if there are any encounters that will help, Prime, but it looks thin. He was either very careful or this was as big a surprise for him as it is for us."
Prime nodded. "I think so, too. Thank you. Please forward any thing at all that might have bearing to Springer and to Starlet in my office, gentlemen. We are going to Earth 1 and the Consulate now." ...
They drove into the long sloping road that led into the crater that was the Consulate location. Cars and trucks filled up the parking lot as human males materialized next to them. For the humans standing inside, it was their first real glimpse of pretender tech. They were glad it existed or there would be a lot of other dead men lying around besides Dobbs.
They walked to the hatch door and entered. They slid shut, the enormous heavy doors and the air equalized. As they opened, the humans inside saw the human facsimiles and invited them in. They would sit and answer questions and when they were concluded here no one would know any more about what had happened than they knew now.
-0-TBC 11-10-18 edited 11-24-18