The Negotiator

Homicide

The ring of the holo-watch wakes Draven and Hope from their sleep. Draven sits up and wipes his hand along his face as he grabs the watch.

"Draven." He answers.

"We have a homicide." Jameson says to him.

"Okay?"

"It's android related."

"Ah fuck." Draven sighs out. "How many dead?"

"Just one. There's white blood everywhere. It's on the corner of 42nd and 3rd, east side. At the CVS."

"I'm on my way." Draven groans sliding out of bed.

"What is it?" Hope asks dead tired.

"I'm going to help Arthur with a homicide involving an android." Draven answers her as he stands sliding pants on the ground over his legs.

"Have fun." She says rolling over.

Hope isn't particular ok doing anything that interrupts her sleep.

"Yeah." Draven says throwing a long hoodie over his body. He slaps his digital badge on his chest, slides on some Nike Air Mags, and slumps his way down the stairs.

"Good morning Draven. It's currently 2:34 AM, 47 degrees outside, with slight drizzle." His apartment says to him.

"Ssshhhh." Draven replies holding his temple. He grabs his car keys off the counter and leaves.

Draven's car flies passed the Chrysler building, floats down to ground level to the CVS. Reporters back away as the air propulsion blowing from the car in hover mode flings their papers and equipment. The car lands and Draven steps out and walks under the crime scene tape.

"What's the FBI doing here?" A reporter asks as Draven walks over to the door of the liquor store.

"Glad you can join us." Jameson says greeting him at the sliding doors.

"Yeah." Draven replies nodding at an officer handing him a digital file. "Already have paperwork done?"

"A rough description." The officer replies walking away.

Draven holds the file as he walks around the aisle toward the yellow numbers on the ground. The body is covered in pink blood, the mix of red and white blood together. The victim has multiple stab wounds in his gut and throat. The pocket knife used is still inside the side of his throat and the knife covered in white blood is on the ground a few feet away. Draven observes the body and crouches down analyzing his face. His analysis tells him the body is Daeryan Marco, a lawyer, death by fourteen stab wounds, approximate time of death was an hour ago. Draven then analyzes the knife on the ground, revealing the androids model number, C1788, Butler droid.

"Any deductions?" Arthur asks Draven.

"Fourteen stab wounds."

"Well, yeah." Jameson says.

"That means this was an act of emotion or defense or both, actually." Draven tells him standing.

He pretends to scroll through the file as if it gives him any information he doesn't already know. Draven notices a small drop of white blood at the end of the aisle leading toward the back. He walks over as Jameson, confused, follows behind. He sees a white bloodied hand print on the side of the door leading out back.

"Think our perp is still here?" Jameson asks.

"Well, that alley doesn't have a way out. So perhaps." Draven replies looking to Jameson.

Draven opens the door. The sounds of the city that never sleep echo around them. Cars driving, flying, holograms speaking, people moving, and rain falling. A smacking sound at the left end of the wide, bricked off dark alley bounces off the walls. Draven walks out, throwing his hood over his head as Jameson stands at the door. A dumpster blocks the main way to the end of the alley and trash bags are scattered along the ground.