S Hunter - Longevity

“Go on,” Livvy said.

“The records matter, more because of what is missing. After 2052, when there was a spate of arsons, they all started being duplicated centrally on an automatic basis, so now Archives should have duplicate records of resets, with practitioners listed for all procedures. Simple lists, referenced back to birth dates to calculate and monitor compliance on allotments. All pretty straightforward, without medical details, right?”

“That was you, too, wasn’t it? Your idea, I mean, to get records preserved centrally?” Livvy asked.

Chris shrugged impatiently. “It’s an essential database. Before 2052, reset clinic records weren’t, so if there was a clinic fire, the only existing record of a doctor-client relationship might be destroyed. For the Greater Potomac Reset Institute, the records were preserved from the 2051 fire and placed in Central Archives. I have copies here. They show Bedford’s appointments with Josephson.”

“So we have the connection, clearly documented,” Livvy said.

“The originals are missing from both Central and the backup archives. I checked,” Chris said.

“Oh.”

“He’s thorough, or maybe someone is just sweeping for anything with his name. At any rate, the only reason I know the connection exists is that when I’m doing an investigation, I always check my own sources at some point, then crosscheck with Central Archives on the theory that missing records are meaningful. As far as I can tell, my 55 year old copies of the appointment records are currently the only evidence we have that there was ever a connection between the two men.”

“And he must know the records were saved from the fire, because they’ve been destroyed in Central Archives, but he doesn’t know you have copies, although I suppose he might suspect at some point?” Livvy mused. “He doesn’t know that you know, yet. He’s just blindly hoping to keep us from finding something. I’m getting dizzy.”

“We’re almost back to the gritty present. Last year the Potomac Falls Institute was bombed. CCS claimed credit and probably was responsible, but I checked today and found out that, coincidentally, all of John Bedford’s reset maps, which are the most difficult element to manipulate in cases of identity fraud, were part of the records that were destroyed. A security guard died in that one.”

“But aren’t these stored in Central Archives as well?” Livvy asked.

“Only the current one, so it’s convenient for use as the ultimate identification tool. It’s transferred automatically as it’s generated, and the previous copy is deleted,” Chris said. “We should head back. Louie!”

Louie came bounding out of the darkness, and they walked slowly back the way they’d come.

“So we either have to believe in a lot of coincidence, or some random arsonist, in league with a careless archivist, has it in for records that document the Longevity history of John Bedford,” Livvy said. “Or he’s done it to himself. You’re right. Hinky.”

They were back at Chris’ efficiency.

“You have everything from archives?” Livvy asked, looking around, focusing especially on the clutter on the table.

“Hardly. Retrieving anything from that mess would be hopeless. I don’t have that kind of brain. I only have records from cases I’ve worked in some way. I… dislike remembering fragments and finding I can’t get at the whole. Consider it my personal case archive. A very disorganized one.”

Livvy was studying the table with an enigmatic frown.

“Look, Hutchins,” Chris said, “This is one way I work. I doubt that anyone else does anything quite like this. But know this: however it was in Homicide in San Francisco, it’s fundamental here not to become too dependent on Central. They’re as corruptible as anyone else. Other than the radical bombers and arsonists, and hotlab illegals, we end up investigating a lot of wealthy people. And not everyone in Enforcement cares about LLE as much as… the people who work LLE.”

“So you’re putting me on the team?” Livvy asked, drawing another faint smile from Chris.

“The point is, someone thought it was worthwhile to destroy the records already. They’re preparing for something beyond a hotlab raid,” he continued.

Chris finished his beer and popped another one. A lot depended on whether Livvy gave credence to the notion that Bedford and Josephson had been plotting since before she was born.

“Or he’s a particularly paranoid trillionaire. They aren’t all that rare, in my experience. Or someone else, someone not John Bedford, wanted some other association kept secret, and Bedford’s records just happened to be in the way,” Livvy said, reaching for the fresh beer Chris offered her. “Or maybe the careless archivist is just that. Archives lost them. It happens.”

Chris took an especially long swallow of the cold beer.

“Noted. Anyway, Bedford’s family… That is, if you haven’t changed your mind about wanting it all.”

He appraised her frankly. “You really should eat some pizza.”

“Pizza can wait. This is riveting,” Livvy said.

“It’s LLE,” Chris said. “Bedford’s son, Joshua, was a recluse towards the end of his life as well, although he was only 48 chrono. Joshua had one son, Jesse, who was born in ’89 and who lives with his mother. John also has a daughter, Paula, born in ‘47, who’s apparently been estranged from her father for decades. Are you following me so far?”

“Yes, John Bedford, one son, deceased, one daughter, estranged, and one grandson, living with his mother. But I still have no idea where you are going with it.”

“Neither do I, but I want you to have the relationships straight.

“As I said, Joshua died in a fire in ‘04. In his secure, fireproofed mansion. There were no signs of violence; the fire protection appears to have malfunctioned. Arson investigators said it was an electrical fire, accidental, and it happened so quickly that he and the two employees that were there at the time didn’t have a chance to escape.”

“That’s like a full cement truck delivery of bad luck,” Livvy said. “But what motive would there be for his death? Who benefited?”

“As far as I can determine, Jesse. Also, Jesse is the sole heir for his grandfather’s trillions. If it was a professional job rather than an accident, it was very professional, and yet I couldn’t find any motive other than the money.”

“You can’t suspect an 18 year-old child…?” Livvy said.

“No, I don’t,” Chris said. “Do you want me to heat up some of that pizza now?”

“Thanks, but I’ll wait until you’re done. Another beer is fine. Are we getting close?”

“Not my fault,” Chris said. “The guy has had a long life.”

“And apparently blameless, despite everyone’s impression of him. Unless he’s had issues with LLE before?”

“Not that I can find. Just a deficit of pertinent records. But there’s a new element at play. John Bedford was born in 2004.”

“Ah,” Livvy said. “That’s a twist. And two children: Joshua, and Paula. You see, I remember. That means his 100 thbirthday was three years ago and he’s had to start aging naturally. He’d be…” She did some quick calculations. “If he started getting resets in ’34 when they first became available to the very rich, he’d be 33 biol by now, unless he’s been getting illegal resets. From Josephson, perhaps. But he’s famous. How can he get around it in the long run? He’s too well documented.”

“I don’t know, but that’s the point. I have to believe he’ll try. I think he would hesitate at nothing. In fact, I think he’s killed once already.”

“Karen?” Livvy asked after a short pause, confused.