Chapter 7: SUMO'S WALK
While taking Sumo for a walk, Connor and Hank take the first step towards becoming investigative partners again.
EXCERPT
"Everyone seems surprised that both humans and androids independently thought to work together.” “Of course they are,” said Hank. “We haven’t exactly done a great job of that so far.” “True,” said Connor, “but this case concerns both groups.” “I guess Jericho doesn’t trust us to do the murdered android justice,” said Hank. “That’s part of it,” admitted Connor. “North in particular has no faith in the human justice system.” “North,” said Hank, trying to remember the android names Connor had mentioned in past conversations and put them to faces he’d seen on the news. “She’s Markus’s second-in-command, right?” “The command structure isn’t that formal,” said Connor. “But functionally, yes, she’s his second.” “A strong voice for you folks, then.” “Yes, but she listens to Markus, and he tends to be more optimistic,” said Connor. “That’s not to say he trusts humans either, but he sees other benefits to collaboration. He understands that if we can work together to not only solve the case, but to bring those responsible to justice in a way that satisfies both sides, then we guide the debate on android personhood in a favorable direction.” “That’s a tall fuckin’ order,” said Hank. “It is,” said Connor, “but if you didn’t want to be in the middle of another case involving complex android-human relations, you shouldn’t have asked for it.” Sumo found another snow bank to roll in, giving Hank plenty of time to stop and give Connor a look. “Now, there is no way for you to know if I did that, Connor.” “I had another feeling.” A little more accurate this time. Nothing in the DPD files explicitly stated that Hank had asked for the android case, but the fact that it originally belonged to another detective at another precinct was enough information for Connor to guess what had happened. Of course, he wasn’t supposed to know that it had originally belonged to another precinct either.
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