S Hunter - Longevity

“Some of the people I grew up with would say we forced him to it, that Bedford’s other crimes are a direct result of being forced into a corner by the Laws,” Livvy said. “They’d say the Law should be changed; that Bedford is entitled to all the benefits he can afford.”

“Your family?” the Chief said.

“But I never would,” Livvy said, ignoring the Chief’s query.

He leaned back in his chair, watching her.

“You know your commandments?” he finally asked.

“Yes,” she answered, dragging out the syllable.

“Thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not kill,” he continued. “Pretty clear, and most people have a moral compass that aligns closely with those. For Longevity and Enhancement Laws… there are a lot of people out there, as you know, that feel comfortable debating the Laws and discounting them, figuring they lack authority in terms of good and evil. Not so McGregor. One reason McGregor is such a good LLE detective is that he never compromises on them. He might compromise on every other thing having to do with Enforcement, but he never compromises on LLE.

“Sometimes… most of the time, I wish the damned process had never been discovered. Unfortunately, it’s not going away. If we can’t enforce the Laws, if LLE is ever revealed to be slack or corruptible, we’ll end up like most of the rest of the world – in anarchy or a brutal oligarchy,” the Chief said finally.

“For now, this case depends on the two of you. Less chance of the details getting out and less risk that your evidence will be ferreted out and ‘lost.’” That’s been my experience. It’s a bad position to be in,” he added, “but McGregor has been here more often than not.”

“Is there…” Livvy started, then stopped.

The Chief was watching her shrewdly. “A dilemna, isn’t it? A suspicious mind is a valuable asset in an LLE detective.”

Livvy stayed quiet.

The Chief gave a small smile that reminded her of her partner. “Of course, this is all exactly what I would say if I’m in Bedford’s pay and want to suppress any evidence you find.”

She had, in fact, been thinking something along those lines, although not exactly that. She had meant to ask the Chief if there was anyone she could rely on in Forensics. She was beginning to understand how completely alone she and Chris were, even after reporting to the Chief, and not just because of the need to keep it quiet to prevent a leak to the media. LLE itself was part of the razor’s edge. Having backup one couldn’t trust was worse than having no backup at all.

“Look, you trust your partner?” the Chief asked.

Livvy nodded.

“Then I guess you’re going to have to trust me. I’m going to guess he told you to give his notes to me.”

“He wanted me to leave them here with you until he can pick them up.”

“There’s nothing more you can do today. Tomorrow, I’ll talk to McGregor when he comes in and find out how it went with Mickey Bedford. You can question the gunman from the High Speed and Maas again, and find out if Forensics has discovered anything about the unlucky bastard that belongs to that finger. Looks like McGregor was right about the dog, too.”

“Go get your witness and the dog and then get back to WitSec and get some rest,” the Chief said. “And lock your door.”

Where the hell is he? Livvy fumed, rinsing the toothpaste out of her mouth and splashing water on her face.

Waking up once more in a strange place, in bed in a WitSec room even smaller and much less comfortable than Chris’ efficiency, she’d experienced a sense of isolation. Someone had really wanted them dead yesterday, and she had not heard from Chris last night. Apparently she’d fallen asleep, still fully dressed, with a half-completed note to herself on the case memopad clutched in one hand. She hadn’t checked, as she promised herself she would before falling asleep, to make sure her partner had come in to WitSec. It was a lapse, she told herself, that Chris himself never would have made. There’d been no response when she tried Chris’ comu.

She gave Louie his breakfast and prescribed medications, then checked his eye, which had improved significantly. Worry mounting, she tried Chris’ comu again, then had a quick laver and dressed in some of the clothes she’d purchased, along with a sandwich and dog food for Louie, at the Central Petite Mall the evening before.

It was early, but Brian Clifford was waiting for her in the hall with a charming smile and an offer to accompany her to breakfast. Thanks, McGregor , she thought, and tardily reminded herself she couldn’t have it both ways. Past a certain age, most people understood and respected the impediment created by a couple of decades difference in chrono age, at least when one of the individuals was under, say, 40. With a decade or two more experience, it wouldn’t matter, but she’d never be able to convince Brian that it mattered now, while he was still so young .

“I can’t this morning, I really can’t,” Livvy said, offering her most noncommittal smile. She thought quickly. “But if you can wait for me while I make one quick stop I’ll show you where you can go.”

She checked in at the WitSec Office while Brian waited in the hall and confirmed that Chris had neither come in last night nor called in.

It took her five minutes to lead Brian to the Atrium. If she directed him to the tearoom in the courtyard, getting lost in the place might keep him occupied for a good part of the day. On the way, she explained firmly but kindly that ethics did not allow her to communicate with a potential witness outside of work.

“Then Josephson’s research on fooling the biol age tests is illegal?” he asked. “Is this what you mean?”

“Yes, researching how to fool biol age testing is illegal. More than that, I really can’t say at this time,” Livvy said noncommittally. She found herself trying very hard for non-flirtatious friendliness, something that she normally managed quite naturally. Damn McGregor .

“Well then, I guess I hope this is all over very quickly,” he said.

“We’ll check-in with you periodically and join you when we can,” Livvy said, opting for being even more indefinite. “You can come and go as you please, of course, but we would really appreciate it, and I cannot stress this enough, if you would stay inside Central for the time being, and don’t contact anyone on the outside. And I hate to ask, but please don’t approach us in the LLE office,” she added, thinking quickly. “It’s complicated. Can you do all that?” And not ask any awkward questions . This last was apparently too much to ask.

“Detective Hutchins. Olivia. What’s going on, anyway? This is about more than Josephson’s research and disappearance, isn’t it?” he asked. He was so young and so serious, and he deserved an answer, even if it followed the pattern she had already set in their relationship. She stopped and faced him.

“Yes, but I can’t tell you now. I promise you, when it’s all over, I will tell you as much as I can without violating my ethics.”

She had growing respect for the fine line LLE officers walked, trying to maintain their low profile while protecting the unsuspecting public.

Ten more meters and they had reached the Atrium, and she pointed the way to the tea room. “Wow! Wow. Wait,” he said as she started to leave. “How can I contact you in case I remember something more?” He smiled again and gestured at the expanse before him.

“Don’t worry. Feel free to wander. Call us at LLE, and Louie and I can always find you,” she said, and turned away.

She tried Chris’ comu again on her way to LLE. Still no response. Surely by now, if he could, he would have at least checked in to see how Louie had done at the veterinarian.