Chapter 4 Investment
1052 Words
Alice had thought James might be in trouble, but she never expected he would be dead.
"No! It can’t be true. James is a good soldier!"
Alice was shaking all over.
She let go of Morales and sprang to her feet.
Two FCPD officers stepped forward and pointed their guns at her.
"Calm down, Miss." Freeman signaled the officers to back off, and he took a step forward. "James Rolston was murdered a month ago, and his body is still in the morgue."
"Who did it?" Alice asked with a broken voice.
"We are looking into it. We've been monitoring his office, guessing there should be a clue there. Then you guys showed up."
"Hey, officer, there must be. misunderstanding! James is my buddy!" Morales explained anxiously, "Look, I lent him a pile of money. We're tight!"
"Perhaps." Freeman glanced over his shoulder at the frantic streets. "But now, you're gonna have to come with us."
Freeman waved his hand, and two FCPD officers stepped up and placed electronic handcuffs on Morales and Alice.
They were put in separate police cars and taken to an interrogation room at the FCPD police station.
"Alice Kelly, 21 years old, from the Mars Colony, once served in the Pacific Air Force... consistent with the reserved information."
Freeman pulled up Alice's file.
"Reserved information?"
"James Rolston registered you as a partner before he was murdered."
"What happened to James?" Alice suppressed her anger.
"He was killed a month ago during a robbery. We are extending every resource looking for clues."
"He’s... I mean, I want to see him." Alice tried to keep her cool.
"I'm sorry, but until the case is closed, only judicial personnel can see him."
James got up and poured Alice a cup of coffee.
"After the case is solved, you can leave."
"What case?" Alice questioned.
"The case you and that loan shark are involved in, well, I mean, the compensation." James stood up. "The statistics will come out soon, so you can have a rest here."
James left the room.
"Damn it. Someone has to pay for this."
Alice leaned back in her chair and took some deep breaths. She finally calmed down in the quiet room.
She glanced down at her electronic handcuffs.
It was electronic handcuffs that even cybermen could not easily break, but Alice found nothing easier than cracking them.
Her rage gave her the urge to destroy everything, but she knew she couldn’t lose it.
"My body is changing, with increased strength and enhanced responsiveness, just like a meta."
Alice was aware of the changes in her body.
"Why is it? Is it because of biological prosthesis? But, my previous physical examination showed no such abnormalities."
The biological body of the Marker had a slightly higher index than normal ones. Beyond that, nothing special.
She raised her head and checked out the interrogation room.
Two cameras, and one locked iron door.
"If I wanted to, I could break free and get out of here. I could even force open this iron door."
Although she didn't exactly know what was happening, Alice realized that her body was changing.
"Is… someone talking?"
The interrogation room was soundproof.
But just then Alice thought she heard a voice coming from the door.
"... They are not suspects..."
The sound was intermittent.
But as Alice gathered her thoughts, the voice began to come clear.
"... After the compensation is paid, we’ll let them go... Yes, they have nothing to do with the case."
It was Freeman's voice.
Then she heard footsteps approaching.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting."
Freeman went back to the room.
"You don’t seem to have a biochip?" Freeman asked.
"Yes."
Alice had not had any surgery since her consciousness was transferred to this biological prosthesis.
"I'll send the file to your personal terminal." Freeman said, "Sign it and you can leave."
"What about the compensation?" Alice spoke about her concern; She couldn't afford much.
After the transfer, Alice's boss forged her file and she received compensation.
But before coming to Future City, Alice donated most of the money to the orphanage where she and James grew up and to the rebuilding fund committee in her hometown.
"Never mind. The man who came with you, Morales, has paid all the damages." Freeman uncuffed Alice.
"That guy?" Alice thought it sounded unlikely.
"Yes." Freeman said, "Okay, you can leave now. You'd better find somewhere to have a good rest. We will catch whoever did this."
"Let's hope so"
Alice wasn't counting on them. She decided she’d act on her own.
However, when Alice left the FCPD, she noticed a familiar sports car parked outside the gate.
Morales was grinning at himself like an elegant gentleman.
"What else do you want?"
Alice walked up, frowning.
"Hey, easy! I helped you out! This is FCPD turf!" Morales lost his train of thought and took a flustered step back.
"What else do you want?" Inquired Alice.
"I just wanna make amends, and make an investment," Morales said as he backed away. "You are strong, and beautiful. I know for sure that you can make it here in Future City. Let me help you."
"Thanks, but no." Alice didn't appreciate it at all. She had no time for this. She needed to figure out what happened to James.
She didn’t want to give a damn about this hypocritical gentleman.
"Hold on a sec!" Morales said hurriedly, "You wanna investigate James’ case?"
Alice stopped and looked at Morales.
"I think it's a bit weird." Morales lowered his voice. "I’m afraid that won't be the whole story, will it?"
"What are you trying to say? "
Alice frowned.
"Can we go talk elsewhere?" Morales glanced at the FCPD police station next to him.
"All right."
Alice got into the car.
Morales started the car and drove some distance before he said, "Murder is common in around here. FCPD never takes it seriously. If they had spent even an hour trying to figure out what happened, they would have been considered conscientious! But this time, they've been working on this case for a month!"
"Just get to the point! "
"I get the feeling there's more to it. Someone must be behind all this." Morales pointed his thumb at himself, "And I happen to know some clues."
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