I patched the chip into my OS. Maybe not the smartest move, but, mixed in with all that psychic garbage left over from Davis'es patch, didn't see how it would make much difference, as I had been working to edit and organize all the dross he dumped in my work space anyway. It's turn would come.

I was pulling data a little slower now, what with all the extra circuit loads, but I tore away from examining it to pay attention to Wander again. He was sitting next to Marcia, a hang-dog expression on his puss, while the two murmured back and forth. I won't recount the conversation.

A glow warmed me, watching them though. It seemed to me I could see a future shaping up for those two. What do people call that? A hunch? Hey! I just had a hunch!

"Hey, Becky!"

Miss Randal turned to look curiously at my case. "Who are you... are you...speaking to me from that box?"

"Oh, right, we've not been introduced. M.I.C.A.I.N here. Mobile, Independently Cognate, Artificially Intelligent Nano-factory. Call me Mic. I've been working on your case with Detective Wander. Partner, you might say. I could use a lift back to my steady job, and I think we're through here. Could you help a sentient out, and give me a ride to my office?"

Becky glanced at Wander and Marcia, with a little smile. "I think I might at that, Mic. Nice to meet you."

We exited with a minimum of fuss. She had a nice two seat job, maybe a rental, I didn't ask.

"You know", she said, "this isn't over yet. Davis is still on the loose, and bringing my father's killer to justice is still important to me..."

I sorted through what I had been able to organize of the Davis brain dump. Drew some spectacular guesses from somewhere. "I'll have to talk more with Ritchie about it, but, I'm pretty sure it was Davis. I downloaded, well, he back-washed on me, a good portion of his memories. That won't hold up in court as is, but there's probably stuff in there that will lead to hard evidence once I've got it all sorted out. He'll be in the hospital getting his head knitted together for a while, once Semperton's through with him, if ever. Neither one of those guys is going to tell anything to the other. Maybe have him off the streets permanently before the dust settles. This wasn't his first rodeo, and I do have evidence in my noggin on a bunch of other things, like misdirection of hospital equipment. Best of all, Davis doesn't know that we know. So you're safe, meantime. Hey! Got time to make a quick stop at the racetracks this afternoon? I feel real lucky for some reason."

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next section, M.I.C.A.I.N Unplugged