Page 53 of CHOICE Lover
Lextr is saying, “According to Bexly’s statement, they were after DNA samples, but it appears the data has been tampered with.” Lextr turns as he and Electra step up beside him.
They were after DNA? His pulse skyrockets. Jerme’s DNA would have been in that BioBank. “So we don’t know what DNA they took?”
Lextr’s eyes flash in a way that suggests he understands the underlying question:Did they get Jerme’s DNA?“We won’t know until Bexly and his team can do a physical inventory.”
He nods outwardly, but thinks with his m-volt, Message Lextr.Have them check for Jerme’s DNA first. I want to know if it’s missing STAT.
Lextr’s eyes go distant as he listens to the message. They clear, and he glances up, nodding.
Good. It’s probably nothing to worry about—just a random hate group trying to disrupt his operations. Whoever those men were, they would have no reason to target his brother’s DNA. Not to mention, the odds of them selecting Jerme’s DNA out of the millions in his stores is highly improbable—yet there’s enough of a chance to make his palms sweat.
Now that he’s set his mind to bringing his brother back, it feels like everything hinges on it. If these criminals inadvertently ruin his chances . . . He doesn’t know what he’ll do. Probably have another seven-year downward spiral like he did when Jerme first died.
Electra, who’s still tucked into his side, must sense his inner turmoil because she snakes her arm around his waist, squeezing, which draws his attention to the present. He steels himself. This isn’t the time to have a meltdown.
The petite blonde inspector sitting across the table turns to the other officers. “When the rest of our team gets here, I want a full sweep of the premises.” She nods to Lextr. “Work alongside him as his staff reviews the DNA stores. Find out what’s missing so we’ll know what is in those silver cases. I’ll join you once I’m finished with this interview.”
Lextr and the two inspectors rush out of the room. Tommy hovers behind him. “Tommy, you may go.”
Tommy nods. “Of course, sir.”
“Take Chryl to my office and wait there.” Both Tommy and the manupartner frown but head down the hall together.
He and Electra settle into the seats opposite the inspector. She’s all business as she turns her piercing blue eyes to them. “I’m Inspector Wanda. I’ll be your NHOS liaison during this investigation.”
Beside him, Electra’s knee vibrates. He grabs it, squeezing. When she stills, he lends authority to his voice and says, “I’m Res6, CHOICElover’s owner, founder, and the inventor of manupartners. This is Electra, our latest, most LifeLike prototype.”
The inspector nods. “Excellent. I’d like to take a statement from you both”—she eyes Electra warily—“and try to develop a profile of the perpetrators.”
“We’ll help in any way we can. I want to find out who is behind this as much as you do,” he says.
Inspector Wanda takes out her tablet and a stylus. “I’m going to record our conversation if you don’t mind.”
“Of course not,” he says.
“Excellent. Thank you for your cooperation. Being the victim of a robbery can be an unsettling experience, so I appreciate your cooperation.” When Inspector Wanda directs her assurance only to him, he momentarily bristles on Electra’s behalf. But she isn’t being callous. She thinks Electra’s a manupartner.
He rubs Electra’s thigh, trying to transfer the reassurance to her. A second later, her fingers brush his. At first he thinks he’s overstepped, but when they close around his hand, that buoyant sensation in his chest from a few minutes earlier explodes. He has to fight to keep from grinning like a lunatic. Really, who would be so joyful after being robbed? Only a man whose world is actively being uprooted by a woman from four hundred years ago and likes it. Oh, Zorg, he really likes it. Especially the way their hands fit together and—
Shit. Inspector Wandais saying something.
“. . . to recount the sequence of events for my official records.” She taps the tablet’s screen. “Go ahead.”
15 – The Corrections Department
Electra
Electra’s voice is impressively steady as they carefully recount the last two hours. Res6, of course, is wearing the persona ofCHOICElover’s owner, founder, and the inventor of manupartners. When he said all that, she had to stifle an eye roll.
“Excellent,” the inspector continues. “Forensic sketches aren’t sufficient evidence to get a warrant, but they might lead to more concrete evidence. Now, while the incident is fresh in your minds, I’d like us to try a forensic sketch artist generative AI tool.” She raises the tablet for emphasis. “Please describe the men to the best of your ability, then I’m going to show you the images and we can tweak them from there.”
Electra sits forward. She’s excellent at describing the details of a character’s appearance, so perhaps she can do this. Especially considering she has the images of the robbers burned into her mind.
“Let’s start with the leader. What can you remember about him?” Inspector Wanda shifts her attention from the tablet to Res6.
He squeezes her hand. “Electra, would you like to start?”
His trust in her to help with the investigation gives her a flutter of pride.Nothing else is fluttering, Electra. Just because he’s reassuringly holding your hand doesn’t mean anything.The gist is that she feels relatively confident about this task. So, determined not to use any of her usual flowery language and accidentally seem human, she says, “The man who we’re calling the leader was around seventy-three inches tall. Large, muddy-brown hooded eyes. They were wide-set and slightly down-turned. His skin was pale and looked like it would easily burn, but eventually tan. His black hair was short and curled slightly at the ends.”
