Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Are you sure you’re going to be okay on your own Connor?” Hank asks worriedly, he’s sitting at his desk in the DPD, Connor stands in front of him. The Lieutenant opens his mouth, most likely to say that he can talk to Fowler about getting off his current case and onto Connor’s, but the android cuts him off with a vigorous nod.

“Yes Hank, I’ll be fine. Also, Captain Fowler said that there is another detective already on the case as well.”

“Who?” Hank raises a brow.

“He didn’t say,” Connor frowns softly. “I should’ve asked.” Why didn’t he? It is very unlike him. He decides it was probably the fault of his emotions. He still isn’t used to them, he only really just gained the full brunt of them with his deviancy a few months ago. When Captain Fowler assigned the case to him, Connor took it excitedly, barely pausing to ask much of anything other than where and what. The android feels a smidge embarrassed for letting his own excitement get the better of him like that.

His hands absentmindedly reach up to straighten his tie. It’s the same tie he wore with his old suit, though, for today he just has on a blue button-up and dress pants. Mostly because Hank told him that a suit jacket every day is a bit too much, even if it isn’t his CyberLife one.

“I have to go to the crime scene Hank,” Connor begins once his tie is straightened. He smiles at his partner and, what is unspoken between them, but true for both, father. “I’ll see you later, either when I return, or at home after work.” Connor begins to turn, still looking at Hank.

“Connor.” The Lieutenant says, sharp and quick. Connor pauses and blinks, LED flashing yellow for a second before reverting back to blue.

“Yes?”

“Be careful son, if you find the culprit, call for backup, you don’t have anymore… redos.”

“When have I ever not been careful?” The android detective gives a soft, reassuring smile.

“A lot. But I’m always there to cover your ass, I won’t be this time.”

“Really Hank,” Connor leans down and clasps a gentle hand on Hank’s shoulder. “I’ll be careful, I will call for backup if the need arises.” He sighs softly when he feels Hank relax somewhat. “I really do have to go now, goodbye Hank.”

“Bye Connor.”

The android detective smiles at his partner, then, finally turns on his heels. He walks out of the precinct, looking back once more at Hank. He notes that the Lieutenant still looks worried but he can’t dwell on it for long, he has a crime scene to get to. He walks to the sidewalk, stopping to hail a taxi, LED flashing yellow for a second as he connects with the nearest empty one. It pulls to a stop in front of him and he climbs in without a moment of hesitation. His LED flashes yellow once more as he assigns the destination. New Jericho.

The taxi pulls away from the precinct and Connor sits back with a soft sigh. It is unneeded, but he has found himself doing a lot of unneeded actions after becoming deviant. Small ticks here and there that make him seem, feel, more alive. For instance, rubbing his forehead with his hand, which he is doing at the moment. He had not taken much time to sort through the tangle of emotions he felt when introduced to the case, letting excitement rule over everything else. He guesses that now is a better time than any.

Worry is one of the emotions. An android death is one thing. Despite the new laws being put in place due to Markus’ efforts, the relationship between androids and humans is still… rocky to say the least. But, an android death within the walls of New Jericho? That… it makes Connor’s biocomponents tingle with unease. He frowns, his brow furrowing somewhat. The uneasy worry that is rolling inside him just makes him more determined to find the killer, by himself or not.

This next thought brings him to how awkward he feels. He’s always been partnered with Hank no matter the case. A part of him doesn’t want to work either alone, or with the other detective, even if he did it before his deviancy. He feels a little childish, but he wants the Lieutenant back by his side. He will never really admit it though. He was programmed to integrate flawlessly into society, and that means being able to work with more than one partner. Despite this, the feeling still nags at him. Connor blames his deviancy for that.  

He sighs once again and looks outside the window. He watches the many buildings that make up Detroit pass by quickly. Another dead android? He had hoped that after the revolution, things would get better, but he soon realized that that was just him being naive. Things are getting better. Androids are getting closer and closer to having a full set of equal rights to humans. They can own homes, get paid for jobs, and humans get punished for any damage they inflict on them. That still does not change how much they get hurt. In the past month since he returned to the DPD he’s worked five cases that involved dead androids, two cases of abuse, and one case of… Connor shivers despite himself, not wishing to think about it.

He bites his lower lip, then blinks, releasing the plastic-flesh from his teeth. He probably picked that certain tick up from watching some of the humans work at the precinct. It isn’t particularly good for humans or him. So he codes a quick, small program that should keep him from doing it even when his mind is preoccupied with processing something else. He then brings up the case file, LED cycling to yellow and pulsating softly as he, yet again, looks through it.

At around twelve o’clock the body of an ST300 model was found in the kitchen area on the first floor of New Jericho. 911 was called by the shocked android who found her. The police arrived and blocked off the area for the investigators to look over the evidence. Not much else is known, but the android who found the ST300 has been held for questioning. Connor rescans it a few more times, feeling a little more antsy with each scan. He looks out the window again, hoping to arrive at New Jericho soon.

__

He finally arrives about ten minutes later. He pays the fee, opens the door, and steps out, ignoring the automated “Thank you for using our taxi service. Do come again!” He looks up at New Jericho. It is a large, old hotel that has been repurposed into Markus’ base of operations, and the home for androids who don’t yet have one. It is a safe haven of sorts. It was definitely one for him in the months that he stayed with Markus after the revolution. It feels… wrong to be working a case here, for there even to be a single death here. Connor shakes his head, clearing his processor of that thought and walking inside.

The reception area is filled with a small crowd of androids. He can see the ‘DO NOT CROSS’ holographic police tape on an open door on the right of the room. Most of the androids are trying to peer inside, some are asking questions and muttering worriedly. One cop, a PM700 named Samantha(she chose to stay in the police force after the revolution), is trying her best to tame the crowd.

“Please, go back to your rooms, or one of the common areas. I cannot allow you to disrupt the investigation.” She has her arms up in a placating gesture her face calm but stern. Though, Connor has gotten to know her well enough to notice the small twitch in her eyebrow and downturn of her lips that means she is struggling to keep her cool.

He approaches to help and the androids that notice him gasp, looking at him with wide eyes. One of them says “It’s Connor!” and that causes the remaining androids to look, including Samantha. Her shoulders relax slightly and she smiles in a soft cry for help. Connor smiles back, then looks to the small crowd.

“Please, do as she says,” He begins. “I’m sure you are all worried, but I assure you I, and the rest of the Detroit Police Department will work very hard to get to the bottom of this and apprehend the one who did this.” A few androids look at each other and others nod. They slowly disperse, continually glancing back at Connor, then the crime scene. Connor is somewhat surprised that that worked.

Samantha sighs in utter relief.

“Thank you, Connor.” She smiles at him. “You came at the right time. Everyone here listens way better to one of the main revolutionaries than a little old cop model. I uh, had half a mind to get Markus… but I… don’t want to bother him, he’s giving info on the poor girl in there.” She points to the crime scene. Connor nods, though, at the mention of him being a “revolutionary” he holds back a frown. He only helped in the end, he doesn’t exactly deserve the title, seeing as he hunted the deviants during most of the actual revolution. He still smiles at Samantha despite this.

“That’s understandable, I’m always happy to help. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He gestures towards the door, Samantha quickly nods, then frowns.

“It’s uh, it’s pretty bad in there. Whoever killed her knew the location of all the vital biocomponents… all of them.” Her brow furrows and she looks rather nauseous. Connor nods slowly, LED whirring to yellow as he processes her information. The biocomponents in his stomach region clench uncomfortably and he heads through the holographic tape into the kitchen slowly.

Samantha wasn’t wrong. Many essential biocomponents are littered around the ST300 most broken beyond repair. A pool of thirium covers the floor beneath her. Connor notices that she shut down reaching for something. She is frozen, left arm outstretched across the ground in an attempt to grab an item that is possibly under the fridge. He kneels down and sees a thirium pump laying just out of her grasp.

The victim was able to function enough to reach for her thirium pump. The other essential biocomponents were possibly removed later?

He sticks a finger in the thirium, bringing it to his mouth to analyze it.

Model ST300, Serial Number #812 346 743

Searching Serial Number...

Registered Name: Katie Oswald

A last name? Not many androids have taken on last names. Most of the androids that have taken them on are in some sort of relationship with a human that holds that name. Much like Connor himself taking on the last name “Anderson”. Perhaps it is the same for Katie. He is about to examine her further and run “Oswald” through the database when he hears footsteps. He looks up and sees Markus walk in from a room just outside the kitchen. The android leader pauses, seeming to register Connor’s presence, then offers a weak smile.

“Hello Connor. It is great to see you again… though I wish it was under… better circumstances.”

Connor stands and moves, with great care, around Katie to Markus. He holds out his hand, the one without thirium on it.

“Hello Markus… I understand what yo-oof!” He begins to say but is cut off by Markus using his hand to drag him into a hug. Connor, having not expected a hug at all, stiffly hugs back, feeling awkward. He still feels awkward when Markus pulls away and puts his hands on the android detective’s shoulders.

“Connor, I have to go talk with the others. Please, join us when you can. If you need anything, we’ll be on the roof.” Connor nods and Markus pulls away, his eyes falling on Katie. They fill with both sadness and anger. “Everyone here will be more than willing to help you in your investigations in whatever way possible. Katie was a wonderful volunteer and a good friend.”

Connor raises a brow.

“She didn’t live here?”

Markus shakes his head.

“No, she came in often to help out with whatever she could. She lived with her boyfriend Adam, I believe.”

“Is he a human?”

“Yes.”

Connor scans the database for an “Adam Oswald”

Adam Oswald

21

No criminal record

“Has he been contacted?”

Markus nods.

“Yes, he came right away. The detective who arrived before you is questioning him.”

Connor almost forgot about the second detective on the case. Though he’ll get to that later. He needs to get back to examining the body.

“Thank you, Markus. I’ll join you and the others once I am finished gathering all the information I can.” The android detective turns back to the victim. He can hear Markus walk around him silently and exit into the reception room. With a sigh, he kneels back down, examining Katie closer. She has cuts in her back right through her shirt, it is ripped jaggedly.

A serrated knife possibly?

Each cut is in the perfect place to remove her vital biocomponents with ease. The murderer really did know what they are doing. It would be impossible to get her up and running for even a few seconds.

Possible past affiliation with CyberLife?

Or even…

Possible signs of android involvement?

Connor feels a little sick at the thought, but he won’t rule it out. He scans each biocomponent for fingerprints. There are none. That furthers the horrid thought. He then stands, looking around the room for more evidence. On a countertop to his left, there is nearly evaporated thirium. A quick scan tells him that it is Katie’s thirium. He also notes that no knives are missing from the knife holder. He walks over and begins checking each one for fingerprints or signs of thirium. Nothing. Though there are more thirium traces in the sink by the knife holder. They are fully evaporated.

An initial fight took place an hour or more before the murder?

“Oh hell fucking no.” A familiar, off-putting voice rises up behind Connor, making the android tense.

No.

It can’t be.

“Fowler fucking- Of course he assigned you to this, a stupid ass plastic for a stupid ass plastic case.”

It is.

Gavin Reed.

Connor doesn’t want to turn around. He doesn’t want to look. In fact, a part of him has half a mind to just ignore the detective and continue his investigation. He can’t though, he has to address the detective, be professional. Connor holds back a groan as he slowly turns and faces the angry human. Reed has his arms crossed, an upturned snarl that could hardly be called a smile on his lips.

“Yes detective, I was assigned to this case as well. I believe it’s because I am well equipped for analyzing androids.” Connor says simply.

Reed’s mouth twitches, his eyes becoming merely slits as he glares at Connor. The android just returns his glare with a calm gaze, though his LED is whirring and flashing an amber yellow, showing his discomfort. After a few beats, the detective breaks the eye-contact first, looking away with a sharp intake of breath through his nose.

“Well, don’t get in my way, this is still my case got that?!”

“I do believe that this is a case for the both of us t-”

“Shut it tin can and do whatever you machines do, analyze stuff. It won’t matter I already got a good idea of what happened.” Reed sneers at Connor and begins to walk towards Katie’s body.

“Oh really? So do I.” Connor retorts, finally showing a bit of frustration. He honestly does not understand why the detective won’t just listen to him! They may dislike each other, but the case is far more important.

Reed pauses mid-step gaze snapping to Connor. He snorts and rolls his eyes.

“It was a crime of passion, definitely it’s boyfriend.” He wrinkles his nose in disgust. “I don’t even understand why he’d want to date something like it in the first place.” Connor stays silent as Reed continues, trying to not let the detective’s words rile him up. “He has a shit alibi, and they had just gotten into a fight.”

“What was his alibi?” The android asks, tilting his head. “Because from the information I’ve gathered, I’m beginning to believe that this was the work of another android. Not a human. Though I may be wrong.”

Detective Reed’s eyes widen almost comically. He balks, his arms falling from their crossed position. He shakes his head, blinking rapidly.

“You think... another android did it?”

“Yes.”

“HOLY SHIT!” Reed laughs suddenly, sharp and loud, all Connor can do is blink in confusion. “Never thought I’d hear that ever, aren’t you plastics supposed to be all peaceful with each other and others? Aren’t humans supposed to be the bad guys?!” He raises his hands in the air, shaking them for emphasis.

“I can’t rule out android involvement. Whoever killed her knew all the perfect areas to extract her essential biocomponents and I have found no fingerprints yet. Of course, the killer could’ve been wearing gloves, I just think it is strange that a normal human would know so much about how androids are put together. I don’t understand why an android would kill one of their own people, but there could be a reason. There’s a reason for humans killing humans.”

The detective has become eerily quiet, his brow furrowed as he chews on his bottom lip. Had Connor for some reason picked that mannerism up from him? No, that can’t be possible.

“You have an interesting theory...” Reed begins. Connor perks up in surprise, not expecting those words from the irritable detective at all. “Maybe you’re onto something, but I still think, with the current evidence, we need to further interrogate the boyfriend.”

“Yes, and we should, he could’ve been an accomplice. Though first, I’d like to reconstruct the crime. I need to investigate the scene further than I already have.”

“Recon-what?”

“Reconstruct the crime. It is one of my features. Taking the evidence provided, I can almost always accurately recreate what happened.”

“...Right.” Reed makes a noise then turns away. “ Fucking androids .” Connor can hear him mutter under his breath. “Do that, I’m gonna make sure Chris doesn’t let that Adam kid go.” He waves dismissively then shoves his hands in his pockets, beginning to stalk out of the room.

“Detective.” Connor calls after him sharply. The detective freezes but doesn’t turn to look at him.

“What now, dipshit?”

“Thank you for taking my theory into consideration. We were both assigned to this case to help each other solve it. Also, thank you for taking the death of an android seriously.”

Reed huffs and shakes his head.

“Whatever. You're a detective too, even if you’re a stupid plastic.” He shoves his hands in his pockets and exits the room. Connor's mind is reeling. The detective is more confusing than he first thought. Under all the insults were small compliments here and there. Perhaps a hint on a slight change in Reed's feelings towards androids? Maybe something Connor can use to improve their working relationship? Sure he is vulgar, rude, and off-putting, but so was Hank in the beginning.

Connor smiles softly. Yes, perhaps he can change Reed's mind about androids too. They may never be the best of friends due to their history, but at least they'll be able to work together.

He then refocuses his mind on the crime scene.

__

Connor pockets his coin as the elevator reaches the rooftop. Flipping his coin has become a bit of a nervous habit. After his deviance, it had stopped serving as just a way to calibrate his mind and reflexes. He finds it calming to let it fly from finger to finger, hand to hand, sometimes he even utilizes his elbows and shoulders. Though that is only for high-stress situations or when he is processing a lot of information.

He may have done a few tricks with his elbows on the way up.

He sighs as the doors open, stepping out and scanning the area. It is a large, flat concrete roof with metal railings spanning all the way around the edges. The larger buildings that surround New Jericho do a fair job at blocking any current oncoming winds. A circle of chairs rests in the middle of the roof, four are filled with very familiar androids.

Connor suddenly feels himself reminiscing on the times that he’s been here. Most were talks about politics that Markus had persuaded him to join. Some had just been get-togethers where they all talked and laughed happily, staring at the city, watching the people below. Something twinges inside him as he realizes that he’s missed all of this. He wouldn’t trade living with Hank or his job at the DPD for anything, but he still… He has made friends here and he hasn’t spoken to any of them for the whole month that he’s been gone.

He suddenly feels guilty, like he is invading on something private, despite Markus’ invitation. He begins to back away towards the elevator before the others notice, but suddenly North stands. He freezes, thinking she has spotted him, but she only gestures at Markus, anger visible on her features.

“No Markus! How can you try and keep it peaceful when that scum of a human managed to infiltrate New Jericho and kill one of our own?! Why did you even let those human cops in!?! We can’t trust a single one of them!” She practically booms. North is one of the reasons that the meeting place is on the roof and not in the building itself. It used to be in the building, but when she gets riled up, most of the androids in New Jericho can hear her due to their heightened hearing. That was not ideal for their talks on private matters.

“North,” Markus says gently, rubbing his face. “The police are here to help, Samantha and Connor trust them. That is enough for me.” He is as patient as ever, but there is a tightness to his voice that suggests frustration. “Als-”

“Katie trusted Adam! Look where that got her!” The female android growls. There is a collective sigh from the others in the circle.

“As I said before North, it wasn’t Adam. He was…. it took a lot to keep him from trying to turn her back on, even more, to not let him touch her or disturb anything.” Markus looks to Simon, then to Josh, and back to North as he speaks. Both male androids nod.

“He was sobbing for a long time after that.” Simon sighs softly, looking downcast.

“He could’ve been acting.”

“ North. ” Josh groans. Markus turns slightly, then notices Connor, eyes lighting up.

“Connor! Thank you for coming.” He stands from his chair and begins making his way to Connor. Everyone is staring at the android in question now. He feels the need to straighten his tie. He puts a hand in his pocket and lets the coin slide through his fingers instead.

“Of course Markus. You did ask.” He smiles. Markus takes him by the arm and leads him to the circle of chairs. Connor looks at the other androids, his smile becoming almost sheepish. “Hello everyone, It’s been a while…”

“ A while .” North repeats with a huff, crossing her arms and sitting back in her chair.

Simon smiles warmly at him.

“I hope you have settled back into your job well Connor. Where are you staying? If I may ask of course.”

Connor sits in one of the empty chairs that are in between Simon and Josh. He blinks at the blond android gratefully, feeling less awkward.

“I am settling in well. I am staying with my partner Lieutenant Hank Anderson. I also took his last name.”

“Partner…” Simon raises a brow. “As in business or…?” He glances at Markus, then North.

“Business.” Connor answers quickly. He feels extra thirium pump to his cheeks at the miscommunication, yet another mannerism that came with his deviancy. “We worked cases together before my deviance and still do now! Hank is my friend, he’s…” Family. He feels a genuine smile pull onto his lips.

“He’s still a human.” North pipes up. “I wouldn’t trust him so much Connor. He may turn on you. Humans shouldn-”

“I trust him with my life. He has more than earned it.” Connor feels himself tense up. He won’t let North say anything horrible about the Lieutenant, ever.

“That’s no-”

“Alright, that is enough.” Markus frowns softly. “I asked Connor here so he could help us know more about what happened, and see what we can do to help. Not for you to insult his friend North. Remember the one who helped me secure the funds to buy this place and keep it running is a human as well North. He is also very close to me.” North closes her mouth abruptly, though she still looks irritated. The android leader looks back to Connor with gentle eyes. “Please, tell us what you can about what you found.”

Connor shifts in his chair uncomfortably.

“None of you will like this, but I have a theory.” He begins slowly. Everyone is silent, looking at him expectantly. “I believe that an android killed Katie.”

No one speaks. No one even blinks or breathes for a good minute. Even Markus, despite his normal, calm composure looks taken aback. As soon as the minute is up, however, North stands.

“What?” Her voice is shaky and low. “No, that can’t… that isn’t…”

“It makes the most sense.” Connor begins again. “Only androids are permitted into New Jericho without getting approved by Markus first, there were no fingerprints, and the murderer knew, very intimately might I add, about how we are put together. The reconstruction I made also points to an android.”

“That is…..” Markus makes a face. “It makes sense, but why would one of our own do something like this?”

“I don’t know.” Connor shakes his head. “I could still be wrong, but, it is very unlikely, seeing my success rate with the same amount of evidence in previous cases.” He looks around the little group. Markus looks rather sick, North is clenching her fists, Simon has a hand on both Markus and North’s thigh, and Josh has a hand over his mouth. The android detective sighs softly, frowning sadly. “I wish I could provide more, but it is much harder to find an android killer than it is a human. Humans leave things such as fingerprints, hair, skin and sometimes blood behind. Androids leave thirium if damaged and this one was not damaged by my knowledge.”

Markus opens his mouth to say something but is cut off by a loud voice behind him.

“Hey toaster! You never asked the suspects any questions of your own!”

Connor looks up to see Reed stepping from the elevator. North snaps her gaze to the detective.

“Who the hell let you up here?!”

“Wow is this a plastic intervention, pow-wow, or something?” Reed sneers, looking around the circle. He shrugs at North. “Sam told me Connor would be here so I came up.”

“This Anderson? He sounds real trustworthy. Friendly too.” North shoots a look at Connor. The android detective opens his mouth to very thoroughly answer that no, this is not Hank, this is an asshole, but the ass in question beats him to it.

“Hell no, I’m not Anderson, the fuck?! I’m not like, what, seventy?” Connor reminds himself that he wants to try and befriend Reed. Why did he want that again? “Anyway, I’m gonna have to take your friend Connor here from this little playdate. We have work to do.”

Markus nods and stands.

“Of course Detective.” He walks over to Reed and holds out a hand. “On the behalf of everyone here at New Jericho, thank you for taking up this case. I will help you with whatever I can, just ask.”

Reed looks at Markus’ hand with an uncomfortable expression, but still takes it and shakes it.

“Just uh… doing my job… Thanks for the offer...” He clears his throat awkwardly, looking at Connor and jerking his head in a beckoning gesture. “C’mon dipshit.”

Connor feels like sighing, heavily. He stands, but feels a hand on his shoulder.

“Don’t take his shit Connor.” North hisses in his ear.

“Don’t worry. I won’t.” Connor smiles at her, then walks over to Markus and Reed. He nods to Markus. “I will keep you updated on what I find. We should meet again at a later date… I’m sorry for not contacting you or the others for a while.”

“It’s alright. Text or call when you can Connor.” Markus smiles, then walks back to the group. Connor watches him go, wondering how he can be so patient and forgiving, especially with current events.

“C’mon.” The detective says gruffly, yanking Connor by the shirt into the elevator. When the doors close fully, he fixes a glare on the android. “Why the hell were you telling them shit?!”

“They deserve to know, they run New Jericho and head the peace efforts for androids. It’s not right for them to be in the dark about an android killing another android.” Connor explains.

Reed stalks closer to him, making him back up against the wall of the elevator.

“That still does not give you the right to divulge information from our case!” He growls poking a finger at Connor’s chest.

“ Our case?” Connor tilts his head to the side. “I thought this was your case detective?” He smiles innocently, not sure why he really wants to get the detective angry, but rolling with it anyway.

“Oh, they programmed you with sass at CyberLife, how fucking brilliant! Fuck you prick!” Reed grabs Connors shirt in his fists and slams the android into the wall. He inches his face up to Connor’s getting so close that the android can feel the heat of his breath on his cheek. “Did you even think that one of them might be the killer? Since, according to you, it could be an android, right? I thought you plastics were supposed to be smart!”

“Detective,” Connor begins, feeling quite unpleasant from the lack of space between him and Reed. He also does not like how much Reed is wrinkling his shirt. “I highly doubt that any of them are the killer. In fact, the percentage that they are is extremely low.”

“But there is still a percentage right? However small, there’s still a chance. So, don’t be a fucking idiot and divulge information to anyone else, got it?” How he manages to lean in closer without brushing noses with him, Connor will never know. All he does know is Reed is pressing him hard enough into the wall that errors are flashing across his vision. His LED cycles to red, flashing in warning.

“Okay Detective. Besides, I was not going to tell them everything, you have no need to worry. But I must warn you that you mustn’t damage me, that is punishable by law now. I would hate to see you get taken off of the case because of something like this. I could file a report just for how you’ve harassed me currently, but I won’t as long as you don’t actually damage me.” Connor blinks at the detective calmly, trying his best to keep his cool.

Reed loosens his grip, but keeps Connor pinned, glaring at him. He opens his mouth to say something just as the doors to the elevator open. Samantha is standing outside with Chris. Both of the cop’s eyes widen somewhat.

“Should we uh...Is this a bad time?” Samantha asks worriedly.

Gavin quickly detaches from Connor, reeling away as if the android is on fire.

“No, we were just… talking.”

Connor takes a moment to smooth his shirt and straighten his tie, tossing a quick, almost undetectable, glare at the detective.

“Yes, remember what I said Gavin. ” He uses Reed’s first name for emphasis then looks at the two cops. “What is it?”

“Well.” Chris begins. “Given that there is no incriminating evidence, we had to let Oswald go. The android who found the body is still here since she lives here so you can ask her a few more questions.”

Connor nods but Gavin hisses.

“Oh for fuck's sake! I was gone for what, ten minutes?! I told you to keep him here Chris!”

“Sorry Gav,” Chris sighs. “You can still schedule a time to ask him more questions. He needs to grieve... and plan a funeral.”

“We will do that. For now, I would like to question the android. Where is she?” Connor steps forward.

Chris nods towards the police tape.

“She’s still in the dining area, the room off from the kitchen.”

“Thank you, Chris.” Connor smiles.

“No problem Connor.”

Connor begins to walk towards the kitchen. Reed makes a disgruntled noise.

“Hey! Wait dipshit! I’m coming with you.” Connor keeps walking, even speeding up a little to make the Detective jog to keep up with him. “Listen to me when I speak to you prick!”

He looks at Reed.

“Only when you start showing me a little respect. I’m not just a machine that you can boss around anymore Gavin . I’m your coworker and your partner on this case!”

That shuts Reed up.

For about ten seconds.

Connor sighs once again as the detective spits insults and slurs from behind him. He had made the decision earlier to try and improve his working relationship with Reed. He knows that irritating him isn’t helping that in the slightest, but he doesn’t frankly give a damn at the moment. Perhaps Hank is rubbing off on him a bit too much.

Chapter Text

It's one am when Connor finally arrives home. It had taken forever to finish up at New Jericho because of the detective. He blatantly disagreed with everything Connor suggested that they do after interrogating the AP700 model named Sophie. It did not help that she had given them no other leads. She had answered every question Connor had for her, even letting him probe her memory to thoroughly check. Still nothing.

Reed was relatively calm throughout his interrogation, throwing in a few insults here and there. It was surprising to say the least, that the detective was acting even that docile. Afterward though he was back to insulting Connor's every idea. 

It's not even that, that got to Connor. Reed would shoot every suggestion down first, then he would do a mental one-eighty and actually consider them. Though in the end he'd pass over them, adding a few more slurs to his argument and continuing on. Connor just about left. He was very close to doing it, he had to keep reminding himself that he is programmed to adapt to human unpredictability…. But this detective is ludicrous! 

In the end, they went back to the precinct and submitted the evidence they had.(Connor felt rather uncomfortable when he realized they'd be sharing the same evidence locker.) Connor filed his report, which only took a few seconds since, though he likes to do it physically sometimes, he really wanted to go home. Reed stopped him on the way out, called him an asshole and made him stay till he was done with his own report. Connor really doesn't understand what this man's deal is. Reed had stated multiple times that day that he wanted to be rid of Connor, but the first chance he got, he made him stay.

Connor steps up to the front door of his house. He tries the doorknob, locked. Good, Hank must be asleep. It's not that the android doesn't want to talk to his friend, it's more of he feels so mentally exhausted that he needs to go in low power mode, now. He wants to sort out all the confusing emotions that Reed caused today.  He also doesn't want to tell Hank about Reed just yet, he knows how that will go. His LED cycles to red for a few seconds just thinking about it.

He pulls his key from his pocket and unlocks the door, opening it and quietly stepping inside. He shuts the door with a gentle click and relocks it. The house is dark, though it was expected and he is equipped to see well in the dark. He begins to walk to his room, effortlessly quiet.

The lights turn on.

Connor freezes. His processor quickly flips through the multiple scenarios that could be taking place. The one with the highest probability is that Hank isn't asleep, he goes with that one.

“Hank?” He turns and sees that he is correct. Hank is leaning in his bedroom doorway, arms crossed. 

“Connor.” He says. For a second Connor gets the nagging feeling that he is in trouble but then, the Lieutenant smiles. “How was your first day without me? Who'd Jeffrey put you with kid?” He uncrosses his arms and steps forward, then pauses, smile faltering. 

Connor realizes that he must be making a face. He thought he made a protocol to stop himself from doing that? He quickly smiles, it is a weak one, but he hopes it will pass.

It doesn't.

“What's wrong Connor?” Hank asks, putting a hand on the android's shoulder.

Connor sighs, LED flashing yellow, he keeps his smile up.

“Nothing notable Hank. My scanners say I am in perfect condition.”

“You know that's not what I mean son. What happened today?”

“The initial investigation went well…” Connor can't help but avert his gaze. He does not understand why guilt is pulsing through him at the moment. “My partner is uh… detective Reed…” He bites his lip(Wait, he made a protocol for that too?!) and glances at Hank.

“What the hell?!” Hank scoffs, brow furrowing, in what may be a mixture of disgust and disbelief.

“Detec-”

“I heard you the first time Connor, what I'm wondering is why the fuck Jeffrey would make you work with that racist bastard!?” The Lieutenant growls. His eyes narrow and his hands ball into fists.

Connor raises his hands in a placating gesture.

“There aren't many detectives left at the precinct, quite a few left with the other police officers after I and the other androids were allowed back. It's probably because we are short-staffed.”

“Short-staffed my ass, don't worry Connor, I'll have a chat with Jeffrey tomorrow and get Reed-”

“That is not necessary Hank.” Connor cuts the lieutenant off with a voice that is a little too sharp. “I am not a human child, I do not need to be protected.”

“Connor I'm not-”

“You are, and I understand. I thank you for your concern about me but Reed and I are coworkers and we will need to learn how to work with each other at some point. Even with him being as insufferable and confusing as he is.” 

Hank relaxes slightly and huffs a sigh through his nose.

“Alright, but if he lays a hand on you…” The old man trails off nose scrunching as his eyebrows draw together in worried frustration. 

"He won't." Connor reassures Hank, the events in the elevator replaying in his head. He decides not to share that bit of information. Instead, he smiles tiredly and looks in the direction of his room. "Now, I'm not sure about you, but today was exhausting and I have a feeling tomorrow will be the same. I'd like to go collect my thoughts and sort through them in my room."

Hank nods softly, relaxing even more.

"I get it. I need sleep too I guess. If what you do can be called sleeping." He smiles softly. "Night Con." He gently rests a hand on Connor's shoulder, then turns to retreat to his room, Connor does the same.

"Good night Hank." The Android begins making his way to his room, but is stopped when Hank stops in the doorway of his own room.

"And Con."

"Yes?" Connor pauses and turns his head to the lieutenant. He blinks, taken aback by how earnest the human's facial expression suddenly is.

"Don't take any of his shit just because you feel like you have to be professional…  If he threatens you, promise me you'll tell me."

"I… I-I promise Hank." 

With that Hank nods and enters his room. Connor does too, making sure to let Sumo in to cuddle next to him as he lays down on his bed. He feels a soft wriggle of guilt twist inside him at not telling Hank about the happenings in the elevator. But he doesn't want Hank to intervene, despite everything, he still feels he can work with Gavin. All he has to do is find a way to earn the volatile detective's respect. Easier said than done. 

He gently runs his fingers through Sumo's thick coat, earning a big lick in return, right across his face. Connor pushes at the big dog in a futile attempt to stop him, scrunching his face up.

"Augh Sumo no!" He chuckles, feeling a little bit of the day's tension leave his body as he struggles to not laugh out loud and disturb Hank. Sumo calms down after a little while and lays his head on his paws with a loud haruff of a sigh. He looks at Connor with big brown eyes that seem to be alight with concern. Connor smiles softly. "I'm alright Sumo, don't worry." He pats the big dog again and despite the threat of more slobbery, love-licks he cuddles closer and sighs, allowing himself to enter low power mode.

__

Connor moves to straighten his tie, then remembers he had chosen not to wear one today. He has on a striped white and blue dress shirt paired up with some of his favorite blue jeans. He wonders, very suddenly, why he had chosen not to wear his tie because he really, really wants something to fiddle with right now.

He is currently sitting in the passenger seat of detective Reed's car as he drives. The radio is on, but other than that, they sit in complete silence. They are on their way to Adam Oswald's house to question him further. He had offered to take a taxi there by himself but Reed declined. Told him to 'Just get in the damn car.' Yet another odd behavior to add to the ever growing list Connor is keeping when it comes to the detective. He had thought that Reed would want him as far from his person as possible when working on the case, but here they are. Sitting in a very unconformable silence on a car ride that feels like it's taking far longer than it should.

Connor adjusts his sitting position, trying to find some way to ease his rising discomfort. His LED shifts from a pulsing yellow to red, then back again.

Reed takes notice to his unease.

"You got something to say?" He asks gruffly, hands gripping the wheel slightly tighter.

"No…" Connor replies, and for a beat he doesn't say anything else, but then he continues. "Well actually, yes. Why did you want to drive me here instead of letting me take a taxi?"

Gavin shrugs with a rough snort, eyes doing everything but looking Connor's direction. 

"D'know, guess I just wanted to make sure you get there to actually question the suspect this time." It's terse, but it isn't what Connor is expecting, though he isn't sure what he expects in truth.

Connor opens his mouth, then closes it again, looking at his lap, unsure of how to continue the conversation. 

He really wants to fix his tie.

__

Adam's house is nestled in one of the rundown neighborhoods just outside of the deep-city. It is a small house with only one floor and while it looks old and rundown, it also looks decently cared for. The lawn is clean, grass is clipped and the outside looks less dingy then most of the houses on the street. It's almost a cute little house, and it definitely must have been ten to twenty years ago, before the rise of poverty levels.

Connor exits Reed's car as soon as he parks, feeling a rush of relief when he does. After their failure of a conversation the silence had continued and Connor was halfway sure that the windshield in front of the detective would melt under his heavy glare. The android sighs softly then tenses a little as Gavin slams his door shut behind him. The detective makes his way around his car and clips Connor in the shoulder with his shoulder as he tromps up to the front door. He then turns to look at Connor with a deadpanned expression.

"You coming dumbass?"

Connor feels anger flair up in him and his lips twitch.

"Yes." He steps up next to Reed on the front porch. "And please refrain from knocking your shoulder into mine next time. It's unpleasant and it does more harm to you than it does to me." Connor states simply, looking at the detective with a rather unimpressed raise of his eyebrows.

Reed bristles slightly and sneers a very unapologetic smile. 

"Don't know what you're talking about tin can."

Connor just sighs and rings the doorbell.

It takes a few moments for Adam to open the door, but when he does, his eyes fall on Reed first. He blinks and frowns softly.

"Oh, hello again detective. I was told you'd be coming around to ask more questions but I didn't think it'd..." He trails off as he glances over at Connor. Then his eyes widen. "You… you're… are you one of the revolutionaries?" 

"I… yes… please just- I'm detective Anderson, I'm with the DPD. I was assigned to solve Katie's case with detective Reed." Connor answers rather awkwardly. He had not been expecting to be recognized.

"Please, come in." Adam moves away from the door. "Katie and I… we were so happy to be able to come out of hiding after you all liberated your people." He smiles softly. "She is…" His eyes glaze over with a sudden deep despair and his smile wilts into a frown. " Was a big fan of you guys. She wanted to help in the fight to continue to change the law and make things better for all androids." 

Again, that feeling of uncomfortable displacement rises in Connor. He liberated quite a few androids but he wasn't there till the very end of it all, in fact he was fighting against Markus til the end. Why is he getting so much respect when he doesn't deserve it?

He steps inside, laying a hand on Adam's shoulder, expression gentle. 

"I'm sorry about what happened to her. From what I've heard at New Jericho, she sounds like she was a lovely person."

Adam smiles softly, though anguish still shines in his eyes.

"She was…. She was amazing." He stares at something distant, then looks between Connor and Gavin. "Please, find the one who…. They need to get what they deserve." 

Connor's gaze softens and he nods.

"Of course. We will find them, I promise . Now, we need your help, we need you to answer some questions, then we'll be on our way." 

Adam nods then pulls away from Connor. 

"Here, we can talk in the living room. Would either of you like anything to drink?"

"I'm quite alright, but I'm not sure about my partner." Connor looks back at Reed. He looks distant, thoughtful, almost perturbed. It's a look the android has never really seen on the detective. Reed shakes his head no slowly and Adam nods, proceeding into the living room. When Reed doesn't move other than that, Connor pauses, then gives him a small confused smile. "You coming detective?" 

That snaps Reed out of whatever stupor he's in. He shakes his head and glares at Connor.

"Yeah, whatever." He growls and shuffles past Connor, shoulders raised, reminiscent to the hackles of an angry feral dog. 

That's more like it.

When they are all seated in the living room, Adam sighs softly, sitting up a little in the armchair he's sitting in.

"Alright, what else would you like to know detectives?"

Connor leans forward a little resting his arms on his lap. He's sitting next to Reed on a couch that is adjacent to Adam's armchair.

"You told detective Reed that you had a fight with Katie a day prior to her murder but you were too emotional to go into detail. Could you please tell me what you were fighting about now?"

Adam nods, eyes closing in a wince. He shutters a breath and opens them again looking at Connor.

"Yes. She wanted to get a job to help me pay rent. I didn't think it was a good idea."

"Why?" Connor asks with a tilt of his head.

"I was afraid she'd get hurt. I thought she would be safer just volunteering at New Jericho with the other androids but…." Adam laughs, it's more like a broken puff of air, bitter and soft. He wipes his face as a few tears escape his eyes. "Y'know…"

"Was she looking at any jobs in particular?" Reed asks voice even and unreadable. Connor looks at Reed suddenly, surprised to hear the detective refer to Katie as 'she' rather than 'it'. He returns his gaze to Adam when the young man begins to speak.

"Y-yeah. She actually… she came and told me she had an interview for a part time job at a little burger joint down the way. It's called Patty's Patties. That's…. That's what started the argument." His voice breaks and he trails off into a soft sob. "Sorry I- it's… the last thing I did was yell at her as she left to stay the night at New Jericho I…." He screws up his face and more tears fall as he covers it with his hands.

Connor nods softly, eyes sympathetic. He reaches out and gently touches Adam's arm. Adam lifts his head a little, broken expression meeting Connor.

"It's alright to cry Adam… I'm sorry, but can you please tell me what you were doing the morning of her murder?"

"I called her a few times, and when she wouldn't answer, I just went about my day. I thought she was still angry… I was still a little angry. I thought she'd call later when she had calmed down. I… played some CoD for a few hours and ate breakfast…. Then I got the call…" 

Connor sits up a little and scans the room. There's a TV in the right corner with a gaming console hooked up to it. His LED flashes yellow and his eyes twitch slightly as he syncs with it, sure enough, there is gameplay history from 8:30 to 10:30 in the morning on the day of the murder. 

Adam was still here at the time of the murder.

"That checks out with your gaming history." Connor logs that away and his eyes catch Reed's as he looks back to Adam. The detective is looking at him like he's grown a second head. Connor just raises an eyebrow then nods to Adam.

"Thank you, do you know of anyone who'd want to hurt Katie?"

Adam shakes his head.

"No, we didn't talk to many people, except for some at New Jericho. But everyone there loved her just as much as I did. And everyone there is an android like her. So.." 

Connor shifts a little opening his mouth to share his theory and see Adam's reaction  but Reed beats him to it.

"Well, we have reason to believe it was an android, not a human."

Adam's reaction is very similar to Markus, North, Simon, and Josh's reactions. With the exception that he is human and he actually has to blink and breath after a short period of time. He still stares, slack jawed, confused, and surprised for quite a few moments. Then he stutters and blinks shaking himself.

"Wha- What no, that can't, no… why would an android have any reason to… to attack one of their own?" He shakes his head again in disbelief.

"We aren't sure, but the current evidence points to an android. Are you sure everyone at New Jericho liked her?" Connor asks, leaning forward more to look into Adam's eyes.

"I… yes, if someone didn't she never told me and I never saw any signs of it… I … I'm sorry." The young man's eyes are sincere as he looks back into Connor's.

The android nods softly.

"There's no need to apologise. Thank you for answering my questions Adam. Again, I'm so sorry for your loss." Connor then sits up a little, glancing at Reed. "I think it's time detective Reed and I take our leave."

Adam sits up.

"Of course. Please come back of you need to ask anything else." He wipes his face again sniffling softly. "I can show you to the door if you'd like."

"Thank you." Connor stands and so does Adam and Reed. The android and detective follow the human to the door. When they are both outside, Adam stops Connor with a hand.

"Thank you for taking this case detective Anderson, Katie would be over the moon if she knew you had… please find her murderer."

"I .. I will." Connor smiles softly then retreats to the car, joining Reed.

Once they're both in the weighty silence from before does not come back, instead Reed raises an eyebrow at Connor.

"You're one of the five revolutionaries?" The question isn't filled with contempt of malice, just curiosity. It makes Connor look up at Gavin.

"I… yes?" The android detective isn't sure how to process the look on Reed's face. 

"Huh…." There is a bit of silence as Reed pulls out of his parking space and into the road. Reed looks like he wants to ask another question about that fact but he simply asks. "Anyway tin can, up for some lunch?"

"I… I don't really eat?"

"For fucks sake that isn't what I- whatever."

__

"We should ask the staff some questions." Connor says as he and Gavin sit at a table at Patty's Patties.

"Yeah, that's what I plan to do dipshit, just let me finish my lunch. I actually can eat and need to eat, unlike your plastic ass." Reed growls through a mouthful of burger. Whatever thing that caused him to go so quiet during their questioning of Adam has long since passed because the detective is back to slandering Connor's every breath.

"I can actually eat. I just don't want to." The android shoots back.

Reed stops.

"Wait. You can?! I thought you said you couldn't in the car?"

"No I said that I don't eat, not that I can't. I couldn't originally since my model had no need to but Hank convinced me to invest in an upgrade to try it out, I… have not liked the food he's had me try so I just… normally don't eat."

"Pfft, it's because he's only taken you to Chicken Feed isn't it?" Reed cocks his head to the side, putting his burger down and wiping his hands with a napkin.

Connor blinks.

"I… how did you know?"

Reed snorts rather loudly.

"Detective's instinct. But really, Anderson eats at that place almost every damn day even though it's the actual worst shit ever!" Reed laughs, taking a sip of his soda. He then stops and smirks. "Here," He pushes his glass towards Connor. "Try this for a start."

Connor stares at the offering in confusion, then looks up at Reed, raising a brow.

"Just drink it dipshit it's not poisoned or anything!" 

Connor doesn't really know what to make of this situation. Reed is as aggressive as ever but he's also offering him to taste his drink? Perhaps this is a first step to reconciliation, a peace offering of sorts?

 Connor decides to take it. He makes sure his taste sensors are up and running, then picks up the glass and takes a tentative sip. The first thing that hits him is the bubbly fizz, it almost feels like it's burning his tongue, it's… unpleasant. He coughs and he must be making a face because Reed has begun laughing even harder. Then he notices the sweet after taste, his eyes widen and he blinks, he isn't sure if it's good enough for him to deal with the fiz again, but he likes the sweetness. It's nice. 

Connor looks down at the soda with intrigue. Hank drinks different types of soda all the time. Most of that time they are spiked with something and very, very unhealthy, but Connor wonders why the lieutenant never had him try some. He probably just gave up after Connor refused to try anymore of his food.

The android then looks up at Reed and catches his eyes. The detective isn't laughing anymore, instead he's just watching Connor with another, rather unreadable expression. He blinks and it's gone just as quick as it was there, replaced with a smirk-like sneer. Connor just pushes the glass back towards him.

"Wow you're a wimp. Guess you plastics can't take your soda." He snorts, sitting back a little in his chair. His lips twitch a little and he glances at his plate, then at Connor. He reaches down and plucks a fry from his plate, dips it in some ketchup and holds it out for the android. "Try this, I'm sure he made you try Chicken Feed fries, these are way better."

Connor eyes it, then scans it.

"That… has a high amount of sodium for one fry…"

"Yeah, that's what makes it good. Now stop analyzing my shit and just try it."

The android carefully takes the fry from Reed watching him with a rather confused gaze. Then, he pops it in his mouth. It is most definitely salty, but not unpleasant. He begins to chew slowly, experimentally. The texture is enjoyable compared to the soggy fries at Chicken Feed. He swallows and shivers a little, unaccustomed to the feeling of anything entering his new synthetic stomach tract. He looks up at Reed rather sheepishly.

"That was not bad...thank you detective." 

Reed just grumbles something, picking up his burger and sliding his plate towards Connor. The android stares at it for a few seconds before tentatively picking up another fry.

There is silence for a little while, less uncomfortable than in the car. It's almost nice, Connor looking down at the plate of fries and Reed, out the window. Then Reed sighs out of his nose and shifts his grey eyes back onto the android. Connor looks up, meeting his gaze. He looks like something is on his mind, Connor is about to ask when the detective finally speaks.

"So, about the case… I think you're right about it being an android."

"You do?"

"Yeah." Reed goes silent again, mouth tightened as he ponders something. Then, just as Connor thinks the conversation is over, Reed shifts back in his chair and begins speaking. "I was looking over your reconstruction earlier this morning, it's weird that any human would just be allowed to waltz in and kill her like that other than Adam. But the kid… shit, he was devastated. He could've been acting, but he'd have to be a damn good actor to fake that."

Connor's eyebrows raise ever so slightly when Reed refers to Katie by 'her' rather than 'it' yet again but he keeps quiet. He nods instead.

"Thank you for-"

"Shut up tin can. Let's go ask some questions."

Connor feels his eye twitch in annoyance.

__

They question most of the staff but barely any know of Katie, they've seen her come in a few times with her boyfriend, but that's all. The manager, a human named Bill had talked to her to set up an interview, but he had no clue that anything even happened to her. Near the end of their talk with Bill, an android woman with red hair named Delilah arrives for her shift. She's a waitress, and one of the only androids that currently works at Patty's. Connor recognizes her as a WR400 model. Their talk with her is just about as uneventful as the rest. She'd only seen and talked to Katie a few times. Then they bring up her murder and New Jericho. The android's eyes widen a little.

"Oh, oh my, she came in the evening before asking to speak with Bill. He wasn't here so she left to go to New Jericho…" She frowns. "How could she have…. New Jericho is a place for androids… how could a human without a pass even get in?" She hugs herself a little, eyes wide and scared.

Connor places a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. She gently places her hand over his, looking up at him with worried blue eyes.

"We do not believe it was a human who did it." Connor says softly.

Delilah's eyes widen a little in surprise and she tenses.

"Are you saying that… that an android could have killed her?!"

"Yes, and you're an android and you are the last one who saw her before she was murdered. Now talk." Reed speaks up in a growl.

" Reed ." Connor warns, but Delilah shakes her head.

"No no, I understand, I was at work for most of the morning my coworkers should back me up on that. But you can probe me if you'd like detective." She holds out her hand to Connor. 

He blinks and takes it gingerly.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course." 

Connor nods and lets his synthetic skin pull back, LED pulsating yellow as he connects with Delilah. He sees the evening before, her small chat with Katie, the other android is tense, angry, an indication that her fight with Adam had happened very recently. She leaves and Delilah goes back to work. She goes home at around eight and returns in the morning at seven. As she said, she remains at work for the rest of the morning. 

Connor goes back through her memories of Katie the evening before one last time, then pauses. As Katie is leaving and Delilah is turning away he can see a person in a navy blue hoodie leaving the bathrooms and presumably following her out. He disconnects and regains his senses looking to Reed.

"I think I found something." He turns back to Delilah and smiles at her clasping her hands in his. "Thank you so much. You've been a big help!"

"It was no problem, I hope you find her murderer." She smiles back. 

Connor stands and lets go of her hands, motioning for Reed to follow. As they leave the building Connor begins to look around the outside area. If he could just find a security camera…

"So uh, what did you find through your weird plastic mind sex connection thing?" Reed questions, standing by the door to the restaurant. "Also, what the hell are you doing?"

Connor pauses having to take a few seconds to process what Reed just said. He then turns to Reed, expression aghast.

"My what ?"

"That thing where you grab each other's hands and your minds link like in that one old movie.... uh...oh yeah, Avatar! But that was with their h-"

"It was not sexual at all! We were simply sharing information with each other!" The android feels extra thirium pumping to his cheeks at even the thought of what the detective is implying.

"Well it looked sexual. Thought it was. Wouldn't be surprised, you fuckers are weird. Can you even have sex?" Reed asks, tilting his head with what can be described as a curious sneer on his face.

Connor bristles a little and straightens his shirt regretting not wearing his tie yet again. He decides to ignore the detective's last question seeing as the man is probably trying to get a rise out of him, for whatever reason. He simply turns and continues his search.

"In regards to what I'm doing, I'm looking for a security camera." 

"Uh, why?"

"I believe I saw a possible suspect in Delilah's memories. If I can find a security camera that recorded her leaving then I can access the-" There, decently hidden in a corner between the burger joint and the building next to it sits a security camera overlooking the entrance. It looks relatively new so it should have it's recordings stored in a cloud. Connor links with it, bypassing a few locks before getting to the footage. He scrolls through it till he gets to the evening that Katie left for New Jericho. He fast forwards the tape until he spots her. At six o' three she leaves Patty's and sure enough, just behind her, a figure in a navy blue hoodie follows. They keep their face hidden enough that he is not able to identify them. He watches it till they are both out of screen, then disconnects.

An unidentified person in a navy blue hoodie followed Katie out of Patty's Patties. Perhaps a possible murder suspect?

 He opens his eyes to detective Reed snapping his fingers in his face.

"What are you doing?" Connor leans away from the man's hand in surprise.

"Wondering if I was going to have to call the precinct and say their plastic pet broke on me or something. What the fuck was that?!"

Connor narrows his eyes slightly when Reed calls him a pet but he just shrugs it off and turns, looking for another camera in the direction Katie and the suspect went. 

"I did not break, I was simply checking the footage on that security camera. Whoever the suspect is, my suspicions were correct, they were following her." Connor begins speed walking down the fastest route to New Jericho.

"Wait, you… you can hack into that shit just like that?!" The detective snaps again for emphasis, following after the android.

"Yes."

"Holy shit, can all androids do that?!"

"No, the only androids that are programmed to hack into anything more complex than a TV screen are me, Markus, and police models like Samantha. Though police models are limited in their abilities." Connor stops, spotting a street camera. He connects with it and scans through the footage. He finds Katie and then the suspect. They are still following at a decent distance. Their head is down as they walk by the camera. Connor disconnects and curses softly looking at Reed. "Whoever this is, they know to hide their face from the cameras." With that, Connor takes off into a run.

"Jesus fuckin- Slow down asshole!" Reed calls out, stumbling into a run after the android.

They run down a few more blocks, Connor checking any cameras he can find along the way. One by one each camera shows footage of both Katie and the suspect, but the suspect always finds a way to hide anything that could potentially identify them. Connor feels the biocomponents in his gut clench in frustration. He sprints to the next camera he can find and when he connects to it, he sees Katie pass by, but the hooded suspect is nowhere to be seen. He plays it back and forth, but there is no sign of them. 

When he disconnects, Reed is standing beside him panting. Connor looks at him, frustration and confusion twisting his features, LED a bright flashing red. The detective glances up at him and raises a brow. 

"The fuck is wrong with you?" 

"The suspect is gone."

"What?!"

"They aren't in this one at all. It's like they just vanished!" 

Reed groans and rubs his face with his hand.

"So you're telling me that we just ran like half-a-fucking mile only to lose this fucker?! Are you even sure they were following her?"

"Well I... yes- yes it definitely looked like they were following her! I'm sure they still were, they just bypassed this camera somehow, we should go check some mo-"

"I fucking knew it, she probably wasn't even being followed! It was just some stupid coincidence! And I followed your dumb ass all the way here. Let's go. I have paperwork to do." Reed begins to turn, but Connor stops him with a hand on his shoulder. 

"Detective, if you would just listen to me-"

Reed grabs Connor's hand and yanks it off of his shoulder with a snarl. 

" Don't touch me plastic."

Connor pulls away from Reed, LED flashing red. He tries to quell the rising frustration within him with an unneeded exhale. Tries to take a professional approach.

"I'm sorry Reed, I just think giving up on some of the only actual evidence we have-"

"The evidence that you think you have." Reed's glare is venomous as he cuts Connor off. "Every hunch you have isn't just magically true!" He closes in on Connor, making the android back up a little.

"Where is this coming from detective?" Connor asks staring at Reed in confusion LED whirring rapidly from yellow to red and back again. "I'm simply exploring every possible option I can in order to solve this case." He isn't quite sure what to do. The detective had been okay for most of the day if a little pushy here and there. Connor had begun to think he was making progress. But this? Reed stands inches from him, fists balled, hackles raised. Connor feels like he's somehow regressed their non-existent relationship and all he did was look for evidence. 

Reed prods Connor in the chest with his pointer finger.

"Fuck you! You're showing off and dragging me around everywhere! Acting all high and mighty just because you're a fucking machine that was programmed to do this job!" 

"I'm not showing off detective, I'm trying to work with you." Connor swipes Reed's hand away annoyance finally cracking into his voice. "And you are making it increasingly more difficult to do so."

Reed grabs Connor by the collar with his other hand and tugs him closer. He sneers at Connor, stormy grey eyes boring into soft brown.

"Don't fucking sass me android."

Connor narrows his eyes, standing his ground.

"Don't fucking touch me detective." 

Reed pulls back a hand and Connor is sure he's about to throw a punch. The android readies himself to catch it, processer preconstructing its path. Then Reed drops his arm and Connor's shirt collar from his other hand. He pushes Connor away instead and turns away.

"Go on your wild goose chase if you want, but don't think you're getting a ride back to the precinct from me prick." Is what he growls before he leaves Connor standing alone on the sidewalk.

The android detective blinks, head spinning. Well, that was not what he was expecting at all. He straightens himself out and looks in the direction Reed went, then sighs and continues his investigation.