In the Government settlement of Eureka, a town made up of the smartest people in the world, collected by the United States government to advance science, Jack Carter lay sleeping soundly on his prototype body contouring silicon bed. He woke to the voice that his smart house was programmed to use, "Sheriff," SARAH's synthesized voice came disconcertingly waking him.
"Huh? What?" He muttered, waking up from a dream about his niece, Saralie. "What is it?" he asked, becoming more aware of his surroundings.
"Someone hacked into your computer last night," SARAH said. "They didn't look through it, but left a message for you," Jack regretted having asked, but he sighed as he sat up.
"What does it say?" he asked, half paying attention.
"'Dear Uncle Jack'," SARAH recited, "'I haven't heard from you in a while, and I was wondering if I could come visit you, where ever you went with Zoe. I miss both of you dearly and Mom's drinking again. I don't feel safe at home. I was wondering if I could come to live with you. Yesterday I found Pot in one of her drawers and I found signs that she's going to start up on other drugs. I'm really worried about her and myself. Ever since Dad died she's been getting worse. Please help me Uncle Jack!' signed, 'Saralie Carter,'" Jack groaned. Of course it would be Saralie. She was a good kid, better than Marelle deserved. After Tom's death, Marelle had begun to drink, trying to drown her pain. Jack had taken Saralie for months on end, but Marelle had gotten worse it seemed.
SARAH's voice sounded again. "The same message was sent to your email," Jack groaned.
"I'll have to talk with the people at Global," he muttered to himself as he got dressed. He smiled weakly thinking about Saralie, she was like a second daughter to him, a sister to Zoe.