Hunter waited in the autocab until Diane came out of her building and he opened the door letting her settle into the opposite passenger seat.

"You are looking very tooty, Dr. Sommers."

"And you shaved again, Mr. Lewis."

They shared teasing smiles and Hunter ordered the cab to go. "I hope you're hungry, I found a place just outside Bathtown that serves all the old decadent foods freshly cooked."

"Bathtown! I wouldn't have imagined."

"Me either but it's there and it comes recommended."

"By the owner no doubt."

"Actually a friend of the owner, another decommissioned pilot at DOQ."

They relaxed and watched the lights coming on across the city and the sky begin to streak red.

"You must have found a solution to Alice, I haven't heard you mention her lately."

"I doubt there is a solution to Alice, at least not a nice one but we did find a way to better use her powers." Diane went on to explain all the technical attributes of Alice's character and how Dr. Frost and she had developed a mirror device that could make Alice portable.

"Portable?"

"Yes! We can set the mirror up anywhere and have Alice perform - as long as we have a good connection to the original source."

"You mean if you set it up in your unit and I visited, she would know if I wanted a beer?"

"We could set it up anywhere and believe we were wherever we wanted. She is a cognitive combination AI/AR/VR. Of course we would still need access to the actual place but we could control certain features remotely."

The cab pulled to a stop in front of the restaurant and they climbed out, leaving a reservation time as they paid. Glitzy neon flashed on the front of the building and those around. A dunning base thudded sending reverberations through their chests as they hurried inside.

Inside the noise was muted along with the colours and Diane relaxed as they were led to a quiet table by a voluptuous droid.

"Easy to see why you'd like coming here." She grinned as she watched him watching the droid.

"Beats an autovend that's for sure." They sat and accepted the menu pads. "Seriously, Diane I brought you here for the food and listen a second to the music."

She cocked her head and a surprised smile spread across her face. "That's really retro! And how much nicer than that cacophony outside."

"Isn't it. I think our progress gave up a lot more than we gained in spite of all the conveniences."

The droid returned with a large pitcher of pink liquid and poured some in each of their glasses, departing without a word.

"What's this?"

"Dunno, you want to try first?" He laughed and picked up his glass.

She wrinkled her nose at him and sipped. "It's cold and faintly medicinal."

"It says right here on the pad. The house offers the palate freshener so the true flavours of their offerings can be savoured unsullied."

"That's a new approach," Diane murmured.

They each studied the menu pads, punched in their choices and sat back relaxing and enjoying the music. The droid appeared and collected the pads and left just as quickly. The meals arrived almost immediately and were better than advertised. After a couple of drinks, Hunter paid and they left, picking up the reservation for their autocab.

"Look, Diane . . . I'm not going to beat around the bush . . . will you come back to my place?"
The bluntness of the question stunned her into silence and she was thankful the cab interior was dark. "Hunter I don't know if it's a good idea--"

"It isn't but I don't care. I just want you with me, Diane."

********

A faint green light glowed in the DOQ unit, just enough for Hunter to see the satiny shine on Diane's shoulder and back. Carefully he slipped onto his side and rested his head on his hand, marvelling at the image, his thoughts swimming with the memory of the previous hours.

The sudden jarring alarm made him curse and Diane jerked awake with a startled gasp.

"It's okay," he said, brushing down her arm as he slipped from the covers. "I forgot I programmed the damn thing to flag any news with some names I entered."

"Is it something important?" She said, rolling over and tucking the sheet up.

He read the report and blew out a breath. "You could say, yes. Chesterton was found naked on the rocks below his house in the hills."

"Oh, my God! What happened"?

"Arlen Downs would be my guess." He leaned back on the bed and she had to shift to make room. "Chesterton killed Hargreave because he was a loose end and Arlen must have figured he could be next and struck first."

Diane sat up and looked at him. "You told Arlen didn't you?"

"I couldn't keep him here forever . . . I warned him . . ."

"But you knew what he'd do."

He chewed his lip, looking at her then nodded. "I knew what he'd probably try, yes."

"I think I would like to go home. I have some serious thinking to do."

"Diane . . ." He touched her shoulder and she shrugged away.

"This was a mistake, Hunter and I need time to think."

"These events were going to happen anyway, Diane. They want your discovery. Look what Chesterton did for God's sake and what Arlen tried on me! You are in danger too, you and Frost."

She stood from the bed and began dressing. "Would you order me a cab please."

"Diane . . ."

"Please." Her tone was firm.

Hunter went to his console and punched in a request for an autocab and prepaid.

"Can I call you?"

She gathered her things and went to the door, pausing while he unlocked it and let her out.

"Give me a day."

This time the tone had softened just a bit and Hunter nodded as she stepped into the cab. He suddenly realized he wasn't dressed and quickly shut the door.

********

Arlen was admitted to the grounds but met by two Vatten security droids who scanned him and removed his weapon. Without a word, or acknowledgement from the receptionist, they whisked him into the elevator and instead of the executive floor, they descended to the basement.

He had never seen the research lab before and was surprised at the size and the number of people busy at work. The guards ushered him to the clear cubicle and sat him next to the table, facing the lab floor.

A moment later Horace entered, picked up a remote and the cubicle walls became opaque. He sat opposite Arlen and studied him with a frown.

"Tell me that wasn't you that killed Chesterton."

"I can't."

"What in God's name were you thinking?"

"Survival, Horace . . . same as you are now and he was then. Chesterton killed that young reporter Hargreave because he knew how to find him and I would have been next because I flubbed getting Lewis."

"That's nonsense."

"Is it? Which part? That he killed Hargreave or I was next?" Arlen waved a hand. "Never mind. I know it wasn't your idea, Horace but your objection remained unspoken. I knew the two of you were angling to get Sommer's work. Would he have killed her as well?"

"Don't be ridiculous, we're working together."

"Uh, huh." Arlen chuckled. "So how's it going?"

"Very well actually. We are meeting this afternoon to discuss the final addition to our equipment." Horace pushed the remote and the walls cleared. "That is the first three stages of the process you're looking at."

Arlen leaned forward and studied the large chambers, shining in the lab's indirect lighting.

"Impressive, does it work?"

Horace smiled grimly. "Oh yes, it works very well."