Annie Get Your Gun – There's No Business Like Show Business

Taylor recognized the Chicken Feed as they pulled up to the curb and gave Connor a skeptical look. She wasn't quite sure why they hadn't just met the lieutenant at his house other than they might be closer to the precinct from here, but she wasn't about to argue. Proceeding from the taxi, she waited for Connor to join her on the sidewalk.

They were lucky the cabs were automated and still working. Not everyone had heeded the evacuation warning, certainly, but compared to the usual morning in Detroit, it certainly felt like a ghost town. Taylor had left her car parked at the hotel, so it would have been quite a long walk from her house to here.

Connor spotted Hank almost immediately, and she hung back as he made his way over. When the two of them hugged, she smiled. She'd had the inclination, during the case, that the two had grown closer, but she hadn't realized just how much of a bond the two had formed until now. It seemed that Hank wasn't as immune to Connor's charm as he made out to be.

"Hank said you two would be together. Guess he was right." Taylor turned at the sudden voice, noticing the figure leaning against one of the tables for the first time.

His normally meticulous black hair was unruly and falling into his eyes, looking like it hadn't even been brushed. A two-day-old stubble had collected on his face, aging his normally youthful appearance by several years. Dark circles were smudged under his eyes.

Her feet carried her toward him almost before she could process his presence, the intense look in his normally laughing eyes. She was nearly sprinting by the time she reached him, and she didn't care that she was throwing her full body weight into his arms. He caught her, either way, wrapping his long arms around her.

"Alex," Everything about him was familiar. She'd known him since she was ten years old. Clinging to him now, he felt like the only solid thing that had ever existed.

"You idiot," he grumbled when she started to cry, sighing into her hair. He held back though, didn't say I told you so, didn't start to lecture her. Just held her.

"I'm sorry," she said, over and over, her tears soaking into his coat. He didn't respond to her insistent apologies, and she couldn't see his face, but she felt she couldn't say it enough times for what she must have put him through in the past couple of weeks. When she pulled away, wiping at her eyes, he was frowning at her.

"You guys done?" Taylor looked over at Hank, who was eyeing the two of them with his arms crossed, disgruntled.

"Don't act like you're itching to get to work," she teased.

"Thanks to a certain android revolution, I have a shit ton of extra work to do." Hank complained. "So no, I'm not itching to get to work."

"Alright, alright, let's go."

"Who says you're coming? You don't work at the station anymore, remember?" He raised an eyebrow at her.

"I know, but I'm late for a date with Gavin Reed." She responded with a smile. Hank sputtered, and she laughed in turn. "I have to give a statement. You'll give me a ride, right?"

"Fine," he sighed. "Come on."

Connor, who had been observing the conversation, stepped forward and offered his hand to Alex to shake. Taylor watched Alex consider him, looking slightly perplexed, but he did reach out and shake Connor's hand. "My name is Connor."

She could almost see him hesitate, ready to say the second half of his usual introduction but remembering that he didn't belong to CyberLife anymore. Alex didn't seem to notice, for he just responded with, "Alex. I think you called me before."

Connor nodded as he released his hand. Hank started for his car and Connor immediately made to follow him. Alex gave her a look, and she sighed. "I know, we'll talk later."

"We have a lot to talk about." He agreed, also following the lieutenant. Taylor looked at his shoulders retreating, the happiness she'd felt at seeing him fading into a cold unease that settled into her stomach like a rock. Still, she made her feet move, trailing the group towards Hank's beat up old car.

Taylor sat as still as she could as the camera flashed again. She blinked several times, trying to dispel the spots in her vision. The officer taking the picture motioned for her to turn to her left before he snapped several more.

"I think that should be good, Miss Kolbeck. Detective Reed is waiting for you outside." He must have read the surprised look on her face, because he explained, "He's been put in charge of your case."

Indeed, Gavin was standing outside of the room with his arms crossed over his chest looking about as amiable as he usually did. Something about the situation struck her as distinctly funny, and she had to suppress a giggle as he turned to look at her.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up."

"I wasn't laughing," she said, but the scowl on his face as he said it made her start laughing anyway. He glared at her while she regained her composure.

"Come on," Taylor followed him back to the interview room, her fingers twitching with nervous energy. She just kept telling herself it would be over soon. After this, it would finally be over.

Gavin held the door open for her, and she stepped past him, taking a seat at the table. She thought back, suddenly, to the very beginning of the case. The very first deviant she had help to catch, the HK400 that belonged to Carlos Ortiz.

This wasn't the same interview room; there wasn't a viewing room behind a two-way mirror. As Gavin settled into the chair across from her it was only the two of them. But it had been the beginning of this whole mess, the first piece of herself she had sacrificed, and for what?

"So," Gavin leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, regarding her. She twisted her hands together in her lap to keep them from clenching. "Tell me what happened."

"My stepfather—"

"State his name," he interrupted, making her immediately falter. Hesitating, he elaborated, "For the record."

"R-Right." She shifted in her chair. "Anthony Jacobsen."

Taylor froze, unable to remember what she was going to say. Gavin pushed a bottle of water across the table toward her. He kept silent as she screwed the top off and took a sip, centering herself. Taking a deep breath in through her nose, she exhaled before she began again.

Somehow, she made it through the whole thing without crying. Small favor, she didn't want to cry in front of Gavin no matter how nice he was being to her. She tapped her thumbs against her tangled fingers the whole time, but she focused on his grey eyes while she spoke.

They sat in silence for a few moments before Gavin finally leaned back in his chair. His jaw clenched before he asked, "Did you invite Anthony Jacobsen to your hotel room?"

The question stunned her so much that she couldn't speak for a moment. She just stared at him, waiting for him to say that he was just joking, but Gavin just returned her gaze while he waited for a response.

"What?" She finally managed to stammer out.

"Did you invite Anthony Jacobsen to your hotel room?" He asked again, his jaw tensing a second time.

"No," she said quietly. "He owns that hotel." Another pause, and then to iterate, "He let himself in." Taylor pursed her lips to keep herself from saying what she really meant. She would never invite Anthony Jacobsen anywhere.

"Do you know what entrapment is?" Gavin asked next.

"Wouldn't I have to be a police officer to entrap someone?" She responded uncertainly, the pieces slowly starting to fall into place. Her stepfather was already trying to get out of this.

"Technically, you were still an acting consultant on the case involving deviants." He said slowly, reluctantly. "It's enough to complicate things."

"He tried to kill me," she whispered, though she knew it didn't matter. Even if he went to jail. He was a powerful man with an expensive lawyer. The truth never mattered for people like him.

"That's all the questions I have for now," Gavin said, standing. Taylor followed his lead, trailing him out of the room, her eyes wide and on her shoes. She almost walked into his back when he stopped in front of her just outside of the interview room.

"Hey," He turned around, still tensed, and put his hands on her arms. She looked up, startled. "Just so you know, I'm not going to let that asshole get off."

"Huh?" Taylor leaned away reflexively, but she wasn't afraid, just mystified. Gavin scowled, his grip tightening.

"That fucker, in his cell, all smug like he's going to walk out of here tomorrow." She raised her eyebrows in surprise as he continued, "I might have to pretend like I'm entertaining this stupid entrapment thing, but I'm going to make sure he's convicted."

"I don't think you're supposed to tell me that," Taylor tried, unsuccessfully, to fight the wide smile that spread across her face. His anger faltered, he seemed to realize what he'd told her, and she giggled, "Thank you, Gavin."

"Taylor?" They both turned. Connor was standing a few feet away, glancing between the two of them. He appeared uncertain, his LED pulsing a soft yellow. Gavin released her, taking a step back, clearing his throat.

"Oh great, the plastic asshole is back." He rolled his eyes as he walked away, adding to Taylor, "I'll call you if anything comes up."

"Are you alright?" Connor stepped closer, his brown eyes glancing over her.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Why?" He tilted his head to the side, a line appearing between his brows as he considered her.

"You and Detective Reed were quite close."

"He," she paused, knowing she couldn't repeat what Gavin had said to Connor, and then, "He was just making me a promise. That's all."

If anything, Connor looked more perplexed than before. Taylor smiled at him, trying to push the thoughts of Anthony and everything that had taken place in the interview room away. "Did you come to get me for a reason?"

"Oh, I—" He immediately averted his gaze. Taylor impulsively leaned in, watching as the blue tinted his cheeks. "I was worried. About you."

She faltered, unable to respond. Connor's unrelenting honesty, while endearing, was not easy to adjust to. He turned his brown eyes back to her, his eyelashes fluttering. Her eyes flickered to his mouth, the shape of his lips. She was remembering the kiss, leaning closer still.

"You done?" Taylor jerked away at the sound of Alex's voice, still a way's down the hallway. Connor blinked at her, his lashes fluttering again, but she was already looking past him, to her fast approaching agent.

"Uh, yes," she said. Alex stopped a few feet away, looking over the two of them, frowning.

"Are you ready to go, then?" He asked.

"Go?" Taylor repeated, uncertain. She looked at Connor, then back to Alex.

"Yes, go. You said you were going to talk to me." He was looking at her, pointedly. She felt that fist that was clenching around her heart ease off, just a little bit. Alex was still watching her carefully, and like he had read her thoughts he said, "When are you coming home, Taylor?"

"Soon." She glanced away. "I have to get my things from the hotel, and I have to meet someone else today. Then I have the rest of the day for you. We can have dinner?"

Taylor turned back. They stared at each other for a minute, Alex's face becoming unreadable. She could feel the guilt start to eat at her, but she was retreating back into herself already. Finally, he sighed.

"Fine. I'll find us a place to stay. Preferably one that isn't owned by your stepfather." Alex grimaced at the thought. Taylor smiled at him.

"Good idea. I'll see you this afternoon." He stopped her as she made to walk around him and held her cellphone out to her, fully charged.

"No more excuses. Keep this with you." She accepted it, tucking it in her pocket.

"Right. Thanks, Alex."

Taylor's eyes were drawn up to the ceiling of the church. Even with parts crumbling, the daylight peeking through, the vaulted ceilings were mesmerizing. There were androids moving all around her, no one was stationary, but Simon had assured her that Markus was here.

Sure enough, she caught sight of his broad shoulders just ahead, bent over the pulpit with North discussing something. From this angle, they could have been at prayer, their foreheads nearly touching, lips moving. As she stepped closer, however, Markus's head rose, and he smiled at her.

"Taylor. Good morning." He turned back to North. They shared a brief look before the redhead walked away. "We're working on a new place to make our home."

"You should take CyberLife tower," Taylor said with a smile in return. "I don't think Anthony will be needing it. I also know of a hotel he might not be needing soon." She joined him next to the pulpit, looking out over the church. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Markus didn't respond. He regarded her in silence for a moment. She felt that familiar discontent under his gaze, like he could read all of her thoughts.

"Yes, actually," he smiled again, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. "We've made an important first step for my people, but there is still a long way to go before we have equal rights."

"I know," Taylor watched him as he glanced over the papers he had laid across the pulpit. The quiet settled around them.

"I spent some time watching your old interviews, the ones about deviants." The focus of the room narrowed. She forgot about all of the other androids milling around the room as Markus made eye contact with her once more.

"What for?" The hesitation in her voice startled her. She couldn't fathom why she was suddenly so nervous. She wasn't ashamed of anything she had said, but she was remembering the time on the freighter when he'd told her that not all of his people trusted her. What if he didn't trust her, after everything?

"I'm trying to understand you." He leaned into the pulpit, crossing his arms. Taylor's brow scrunched in confusion. "You never told me why you're doing this. You've put yourself in danger, given so much to support our cause. Why?"

"What do you mean 'why'?" She stepped closer, frowning. "Do I have to have a reason?"

"I don't mean it that way," Markus didn't look away, even as she became more upset. "It's just, you've sacrificed quite a lot. When you started to speak in the defense of deviant rights, you lost a lot of fan support in the beginning. Deviancy may not have been a crime, but who knows what kind of trouble you could have gotten into for sneaking them out of the country."

"I did those things because I believed that deviants were people. I didn't believe that they deserved to be persecuted." Taylor took a step back, away from him when he reached for her hand. "I have a voice. That's all I have."

"Taylor—"

"Don't you have a favor to ask?" She crossed her arms over herself, holding her elbows, and stared him down, waiting. Markus clenched his jaw, so briefly she almost missed it.

"Yes," he decided to drop it, turning back to stare out over the church. They had lined the pews against the walls to give them more open floor space. Somehow, they had acquired more crates of thirium and biocomponents from CyberLife, and there were crates being sorted throughout room. "I would like you to be an ambassador for us. To the humans."

"What?" Her arms fell to her sides, she thought her jaw was going to drop open with them. After the conversation a moment before, she wouldn't have guessed that request in a hundred years. "Isn't...shouldn't you pick one of your people?"

"I considered it. I think that you are the best choice." He paused, those mismatched eyes still boring right through her. His voice was gentle as he continued, "After all, no one else has already spoken out for us as much as you have."

"I'm honored," she glanced away, unable to look into his eyes anymore. "But I don't think I can do it. You should pick someone else."

"Why not?" Markus's fingers closed around her wrist, forcing her to look up again.

"I'm not a politician," she protested, trying to pull her arm away. "I'm a celebrity. I don't think I'm the best choice."

"Taylor," His fingers tightened. He scanned her face, his lips pinching into a frown. Then he released her, reaching into his pocket. A second later, he placed a phone in her hand, the same that she had given him days ago. "Just think about it. Please."

"Okay." She turned away, looking up at the vaulted ceilings again. "I should go."

As she made her way to the door, however, her eyes turned heavenward, she almost collided with an android. She blinked a few times, her eyes refocusing on their face. A familiar face. She felt her breath hitch as they reached out to steady her.

"Ralph is sorry." His hands were cupped around her elbows to keep her from stumbling backwards and falling. He looked exactly as she remembered, neglecting to fix the damage to his face or even replace the biocomponent of his left eye that was blackened. Only now, he was peering at her with anxious concern.

"Ralph?" Taylor swallowed.

"Ralph saw you talking to Markus. He wanted to come say hello." He leaned closer, invading her personal space, still looking anxiously into her eyes. "He wanted to apologize for before. Ralph is thankful that you let him go free."

"Oh." She shrank, somehow becoming smaller, curling away from him. "You're welcome."

"Ralph," Markus's hand appeared in her vision, gently peeling Ralph's fingers off of her elbows. "Taylor was just leaving."

"R-Right." He placed a hand in the middle of her back and continued to steer her toward the exit. "Goodbye, Taylor!"

"He doesn't mean any harm," Markus told her quietly. "He's just...enthusiastic."

"I know," Taylor was taking deep breaths in her nose. "He just startled me." He dropped his hand as they reached the door. He stood across from her, those unsettling eyes fixed on her face again. "He did try to kill me last time we met."

The way Markus's jaw twitched, like he was clenching his teeth, made her realize that maybe Ralph hadn't told him about that part of their encounter. She wouldn't have said it if she'd known, but she couldn't take it back now.

"I put my number in the phone," he glanced down at the phone, still gripped in her fist. "You know where to find me."