Chapter 11 The Victim

An excerpt from The Titanium Mysteries Book 1: What Is She Doing Here?

Zeta finished reading Phillipe’s notes. She set the papers down. She knew she would have to hand the notes over to Detectives Julian and Zelda soon. She sighed. She reviewed what she had learned from Phillipe himself.

He used to flirt with her when they had first met. It didn’t take him long before he had learned she didn’t care for it. Eventually, he stopped. But he had always treated her with respect. She knew about his dating life. Just about everyone knew. She didn’t care about that part of his life and he never tried to get her to be in that part of his life either.

He had given her the impression that he wasn’t upset with her. Perhaps a little disappointed that she wasn’t interested in him. But nothing more. She was grateful for that. She just wanted to write as she was hired to do. She wasn’t interested in him in that way.

But as a person, he was interesting. He certainly had had a life. When he was in high school and met his business partner Toni, he was quite the prankster. She smiled to read about Phillipe’s antics. He did have fun, even when he had been caught. Toni had participated in a few of the pranks.

Zeta could tell the two had become close when they were that young. She wasn’t surprised that they had went into business ventures togethers. Some sounded just plain crazy, like the pranks they had pulled off as kids. But later ones had become much more serious. The last one was the most successful. It was also the one that was still running strong.

They had toyed with robots. Neither was very good with building them, but they could hire and pay those who could. The two of them could demonstrate how robots could be practical and helpful in the universe, not just on Titanium and Platinum. Their presentations were phenomenal and famous. There were hints in the presentations of the antics and pranks they used to pull off when they were kids. That was how the company I, Robot was created.

Zeta had seen a few of the presentations before she had met Phillipe. Now she knew she would watch them all to help her write the book he wanted.

But something was bothering her about the last notes. Phillipe did write about why he was so paranoid the last time she saw him alive. He had learned that androids— more advance robots, those with artificial intelligence— existed alongside regular people. They appeared human or elvish. That was the whole problem with identifying them.

Scanning didn’t always reveal any differences. Many androids could have ordinary biological processes just below their skin. They could even eat regular food as well as charge from a robot alcove. Those things had made them hard to detect out in the universe.

Zeta blinked. If androids were real, then all the current robots out in the universe were technically obsolete. But they were necessary to do all the dangerous jobs that would be too hard on people to do on a regular basis. The robots didn’t suffer as much as humanoids could. And they could be repaired much easier.

But androids? Especially those who could blend in with everyone else. They are were in a class by themselves. Zeta blinked. If others knew they existed, they could be attacked for being different. So, the androids would have to hide themselves and pretend they weren’t what they really were.

Phillipe’s notes said the only real way to tell without harming the person would be to use a powerful medical scanner. Not the less expensive ones that anyone could get and use for minor health concerns or those they could monitor on their own.

Zeta sighed. She checked the notes again. Someone had figured out what Phillipe had known. That’s why he was paranoid and worried about something happening to Zeta. She looked up from the notes and rubbed her eyes. She lowered her hands and looked out the window.

She blinked. She looked back down to her desk and grabbed her tablet computer. She had to tell the detectives now. She contacted them on their office line.

“This is Detective Zelda. How may I help you?”

“Zelda, it’s me, Zeta. I have handwritten notes from Phillipe. I think you and Julian should read them. I think it will help your case.”

“Handwritten notes?”

“Yeah, he wrote them down on actual paper. I know it sounds unusual, but he did have a good reason.”

“You think it has something to do with him being murdered?”

“Yes.”

“Can you get down here or do we need to get to you?”

“I can come over now. I should be able to get on a public shuttle to get to your office.”

“Alright. I’ll be here. Just be careful.”

“I will.”

They disconnected. Zeta stood up from her chair carefully. She had her braces on underneath her long pants. She sat down on her bed and reached for her shoes. She put them on. She stood up and walked back to her desk. She opened her bag and put her tablet and Phillipe’s notes in the bag.

She put the bag strap over her head to criss cross her with the bag resting in front of her. She walked out of her tiny house and closed the door. She walked across the property and out the gate. She made sure the gate was closed behind her. Then she walked around the block to a shuttle stop.

A shuttle arrived a few minutes later. Zeta boarded and paid her fare. She watched where they were headed. A few minutes later the shuttle landed on the roof of the police building. She got out and walked down the stairs to the office. She walked in to find Zelda alone.

Zelda looked up as soon as Zeta walked in. “Hi, Zeta.”

“Hi, Zelda.” She pulled the notes out of her bag. “Here’s what you need for your case.”

“Do you want them back after we solve the case?”

Zeta nodded. “I’m still under contract to write the book based on his notes.”

“Alright.” Zelda looked over the notes. She set them down on her desk and pulled out her small computer. She scanned each individual page of notes.

Zeta could see the pages appear on the wall screen. “I don’t think he wanted that done.”

“We have to. We can’t afford to lose these notes. The more copies that exist, the harder it will be for the murderer to destroy them. There are clues at the end, Zeta. Thanks for bringing them.”

“You’re welcome. I do want to know who killed him.”

“We all do. Now we have a motive.”

“He possibly knew an android or how to gain access to building one.”

“Yes.”

“He knew how to identify them from the rest of us.”

“That too.”

“Could have an android kill him?”

“Possibly, but I doubt it. I don’t think an android would go that far.” Zelda looked at the writer.

“What makes you say that?”

“Robots are programmed with ethics. I would image androids would have them as well. Do you see that data on the screen?”

“Oh, Dr. Asimov’s notes on androids!”

“Yes, he knew about androids because he had created one. His android went on to create another one. Neither android has ever killed anyone.”

“Good point. Are they still in existence?”

“Silver Moon Unicorn did interview one of them. She’s still alive and well in our solar system.”

“Oh, she’s a good writer…”

Zelda smiled. “She may not be able tell us if the android she interviewed is still functioning.”

Zeta nodded.

“Here.” The detective handed the writer the paper notes. “Please keep these safe. I know you need them for the book. I have a copy now, so I think it’s best if you keep the originals.”

Zeta took the notes and put them back into her bag. “Thank you.” She paused. “Where’s Julian?”

“He’s out. I don’t know exactly what he’s doing. He might be riding his hoverboard. Sometimes he just acts like a big kid trying to do stunts on it.”

Zeta smiled. “What’s wrong with playing sometimes?”

Zelda smiled. “Nothing at all. But he should be coming into work soon.”

“Oh. I should be going. I have a book to draft.”

“Okay, see you. We’ll call you if we need anything.”

Zeta nodded. “I’ll be at home working.”

Zelda watched Zeta leave the office.