This is Duel: A Tech-Noir Detective Story
Previously: After discussing the case, and discovering that Gerard has already alerted police, Detective James McElroy and DB431 conspire to bring Bridgett to the Safehouse…
Sol II System, Eden, New Chalcedon. 11:22 Local time
Detective James McElroy once again found himself in his car with DB431, this time idling nervously on the shoulder of a main road, by an alley.
“Do you think she’s going to show up?” he asked his associate.
“She went to the diner without any protest—she seems to trust you.”
“Yeah but this is a little more than your average trust. Just last night she steps into my office, and it hasn’t even been a full day and we’re relocating her to our safehouse.”
“You take her concern seriously.”
“What do you think of it?”
“I think it is serious.”
Just then—Bridgett appeared in the alleyway, carrying a heavily laden backpack and another heavy seeming shoulder bag. “Dang it, I told her to pack light.” James said, getting out of the car.
“Did anyone follow you?”
“No. Lights are on, house is locked, I left through the back just like you said.”
“Good. Was there anyone out? Anyone that might have seen a crazy lady carrying two heavy bags?”
“Just some kids. It’s a work day, it’s a neighborhood. Doubt anyone would notice.”
James took the shoulder bag from Bridgett as she arrived. “Put your backpack in the trunk and then get in. We’re going to drive around just to see if anyone is already tailing us.” Bridgett followed suit and both bags were secured in the back of the car.
“Why are we doing all this?”
“If there’s someone watching your house, the last thing they’ll see is you going in and turning on lights.” James ducked into the car. “Thanks for your help DB. Glad you left me to carry those heavy bags with my meaty arms.”
“You are welcome.” DB431 replied, nonplussed.
“Alright,” James said, turning the ignition, “Let’s roll.”
= = =
They drove haphazardly around New Chalcedon, taking twists and turns, getting on and then off the highway. The mood in the car was tense, every car that passed felt suspicious, every car behind them felt like a hired tail.
After an hour of this evasion, James spoke up: “It’s looking clear, for now—but it won’t stay that way. Bridgett, do you have contact with your Uncle? Has he reached out?”
“He sent a message, reminding me he wanted to have a word.”
“Do you normally message him or can you call him?”
“I can call.”
“Probably better that way—your voice will convince him you’re sincere. I need you to call him, and set up the meeting. It needs to be in a public place. Maybe apologize for the antics with the investigator, tell him you’d like to meet him for dinner?”
“I can do that. Do you think tonight?”
“We’ll see what he says, plan depends on how he reacts to your being proactive. If my read is correct—he won’t like it. He’ll try to take control of the situation. Whatever you do or say, you can’t agree to meet him privately. Public conversation only.”
“OK.” She took a deep breath. “When are we going to be at the safe house?”
“No, I need you to call him while we’re driving. I don’t want to risk them tracing the call to the safe house, or it will become slightly less safe.”
Another deep breath. “Why do I feel like this is going to be a difficult call?”
“It may or may not be difficult, but it is important. We’ll talk strategy after you call.”
“Alright, here goes.” She dialed.
= = =
“Bridgett, so nice of you to call.”
“Sorry about this morning, Uncle Gerard. You’re right—I should have asked for clearance.”
“That’s right. You should have. I mentioned that I wanted to speak with you privately…”
“Yes, that’s what I called about. How about we get dinner? We can talk about dad and anything else you wanted to discuss.”
“…I’m afraid I’m rather busy—I might be able to squeeze you in if you came by the office?”
“No, I think you were right. Putting me on a leave of absence will help me grieve—I tried to go right back to work and it was hard. Can we just meet for dinner, please? Whenever you’re free again.”
“Very well. There are some very important projects that need my attention in the evenings tonight and tomorrow—how about two days from now, call it 6pm? Say…the Motherstar Restaurant, downtown? Your dad and I used to enjoy eating there.”
“He used to take us there too. That sounds great!”
“Oh, and Bridgett?”
“Yes, Uncle?”
“I never want to see that investigator or his droid again.”
“I understand, Uncle Gerard. See you soon!”
= = =
James reached his hand back as soon as Bridgett hung up the phone. “That was perfect. Give it to me, please.”
“What! I’m not giving you my phone.”
“If you use it at all there’s a risk of them tracing you. You’re going dark in the safehouse. I’ll give it back to you when we leave for your meeting. I’ll keep it in my pocket and see if anyone starts following me.”
Bridgett relented, surrendering her phone to James’ hands. He tucked it away quickly, and resumed his focus on traffic. “I have one more spot of bad news.”
“What’s that?”
“DB will stay with you.”
DB431 turned to look at James. “I feel like that is bad news for me, more than for her.”
“I hope you left the place suitable for guests.”
“She will need food.”
“Yeah, that’s right. I’ll do a food run—I’ll need your cash-chip though.”
“You are the only one who has ever used it.” DB431 surrendered his chip.
= = =
Sol II System, Eden, New Chalcedon. 2 days later, 17:57 Local time
The weather was clear and cool, and the dark silhouettes of the skyscrapers of downtown New Chalcedon glittered with lights as the sun set in the west—leaving the streets in darkness, punctuated by street lamps. James and DB431 sat in a car in the darkness, and Bridgett sat behind them. None dared to breathe, lest the darkness be disturbed and a ripple on the wind warn anyone that they were present.
“You all bugged up?” James asked.
“It doesn’t feel comfortable, meeting my uncle like this. He will suspect something.”
“No—he is already going to be careful. But we’ve armed you with some pointed questions. We’ll see how he reacts.”
“I feel like bait.”
“You’re not bait. Now go out there and see if you can get your uncle to bite.”
Bridgett sighed, and stepped out of the car. James pulled up his binoculars, and watched her as she went towards Motherstar Restaurant. When she was a good distance away, he spoke into her earpiece:
“Check check, can you hear me? Don’t say anything—cough once if yes.”
Bridgett coughed.
“Gerard is already in the restaurant, I can see him through the window. His back is to us. Coast looks clear.”
Bridgett coughed again, even though she didn’t have to.
James listened to the beginning of her conversation with Gerard.
“Bridgett, my dear, so good to see you.”
“Hey uncle Gerard.”
“I haven’t come into this restaurant since…well, you know. Lots of memories here.”
“Yeah…”
“Please, have a seat.”
James scanned with the binoculars while they spoke. He looked up and down the streets, and started scanning windows. He got to a rooftop—and, lo and behold, there was a person.
“Psst, DB, we’ve got someone on a roof. You recording her conversation?”
“Yes I am recording.”
“What have you been working on these days? You’ve been busy.” Bridgett said in his ear.
“Great, I’m going to keep an eye on this guy.”
“What does he look like?”
“Oh, this and that. You know how it is—trying to secure a government contract can be painstaking.” Gerard replied.
“Well, it’s hard to say, it’s dark. He’s wearing black. Looks like…some kind of helmet? He’s fiddling with something up there. I don’t recognize the uniform, if he’s just a maintenance man I don’t care.”
“Have you ever heard of a maintenance man to wear all black and a black helmet?”
“No…”
James watched the figure in rapt silence.
He clicked his radio— “Bridgett, do me a favor and make an excuse to go to the bathroom.”
He turned the binoculars over to the restaurant, and saw Bridgett stand up from the table and go out of sight.
“Don’t say anything still. There’s someone on a roof. Could be nothing, but I’m worried if your uncle has set this up. Stay on alert, keep cool. Could be nothing. But if I say to duck or run or anything else, I need you to be ready to do it without hesitation. You’re completely safe as long as you listen to me. Turn on a faucet if you understand.”
He heard the sound of running water.
“Great. I’ll keep you updated, get back to Gerard.”
James turned his binoculars back to the strange man in black. He had his own binoculars out, and looked like he was looking at the restaurant too.
“DB I don’t know why he’s making me nervous. Does that description ring any bells to you? He’s got binoculars and everything.”
“Describe him again to me. I will do a search.”
“Black suit, black helmet. Looks really reflective. I wouldn’t be able to see him if the ambient light wasn’t catching his helmet. Is that a…yeah, there’s a black cape too.”
DB431’s eyes flickered while he processed something. The black suited man on the roof scanned with the binoculars. He seemed to be checking around the far corner of the building, and then scanning across…
“Uh, DB…”
The figure on the roof had his binoculars pointed right at them. The figure started—looked up, looked back into the binoculars.
DB reported: “That matches the description of the bounty hunter, Black Zaelland.”
The man reached down under the ledge, and pulled up a long rifle.
James turned the ignition in the car and pushed it into reverse. “Bridgett, code red we gotta get out of here! Don’t come out the front door, it’s a Bounty Hunter!”
He punched the car into reverse and fishtailed out of the parking spot, and just then the windshield shattered—a bullet punctured DB431’s chassis and he slumped over. The sound of a gunshot followed a split second after.
“DB431!” James shouted. He spun the car around backward and went down an alley towards the rear of the restaurant.
Bridgett, in his ear, said, “Uncle Gerard!”
“Bridgett, the bounty hunter wasn’t for you, it’s for us! Get out of there!”
James heard Uncle Gerard’s voice saying “She’s staying with me.” And then the feed cut out.
He gunned the car behind the building—and no one emerged. He drove back out to the street, he had to drive by the front again to see if he could see Bridgett. Gerard was grappling with her but four other men had showed up. Another shot rang out, knocking the right mirror off of his car as he drove away.
He looked over at DB431, whose chassis had a small, sparking hole in it. “DB, are you with me buddy? DB431!” He held back tears as he drove deeper into the heart of the city.
Thank You For Reading!
This has been DUEL, a tech-noir serial featuring Detective James McElroy and his Detective Droid DB431. This will be a serial publishing every week because I seem to have gotten my act together! There are nine episodes planned, and I reserve the right to add more if I can’t tell the story succinctly (it is looking like there will be a few more).
If you enjoyed this episode, please let me know with a like, or a comment! If you REALLY like it, tell your friends with a restack? If you’d like to not miss an episode, be sure to subscribe!
Oh, man. How did Gerard know? I wonder if he tapped the phone before Bridgett even left in the first place. I hope the robot's okay. Aw, jeez. This was good. Way to kick it into high gear, as it were.
Ermahgerd, this took a turn.