Blue. [DETRIOT: BECOME HUMAN- CONNOR ]

Fifteen

I approached the woman slowly. She eyed me, not out of fear but a simple curiosity that hid behind her deep brown eyes.

"Detroit Police, ma'am, may I ask you some questions?" I said keeping anger from my voice, though I'm sure she could hear my frustration.

"If you like.." her voice was quiet and monotone. She looked just passed my head, starring into the alley behind me.

With a small sigh I continued brushing off my anger and taking a step closer to her, "Can u explain to me what u saw?"

"Not much." She sniffed face red from tears, "I was in the back, in the-the purple room. Had just finished with a man- android man. He payed well." She shifted pausing before she spoke again, "I heard the shots, I hid.. don't know how long. When I got to my phone I called." She looked down, "Sorry I don't know more.."

"Who was the man you were with?" I asked.

"His name was James. H-he's on the floor in there." She choked the end of her sentence and looked down, she sobbed.

It broke my heart a little to see. I stepped closer and sat with her on the edge of the ambulance floor. "Do you have someone we can get a hold of for you? Family? Friends?" I spoke as gently as I could.

Still she sobbed covering her face for a moment to recover. When she took her hands away she didn't lift her head but gave her answer to the black asphalt at her feet. "Don't have anyone. Not anymore." She took a staggered breath.

I didn't have much more to say, I felt I shouldn't press more about the scene, I'm sure she hadn't seen anything. If she had she wouldn't have been left, that's just how it worked. Instead of asking more I just looked at the ground, not wanting to leave her either.

She sat and we inspected the ground together. Minutes rolled by before she spoke again. "..t-that's why I love you people.. you're so quiet. And kind." She turned her head and for the first time she looked me in the eye. "Thank you."

I sighed, "I don't think I did anything that requires thanks, ma'am."

"You don't have to call me that," she said, "My names Claudia."

I had already pulled up her file and had been reading her rap sheet as we spoke; of this I knew she was fully aware.

Claudia Evans, age 26 had spent 2 months in prison for possession of a sum of red ice. Looking at her now I doubt she was the dealer, but the time she served certainly affected her chances of finishing college. She had a younger sister who was killed by her father when Claudia was just 14. Martian Evans was serving life for the crime. Before this job she worked at a fast food joint in the far side of town. The manager of which was charged with multiple assaults to staff, but got out on bail with a good lawyer. Claudia Evans never could take a breath, get a job, buy a house, find a lover, and be happy, especially when the first part was hard enough.

Though, she was a woman of great strength.

"Nice to meet you Claudia." I say shifting my gaze to her face. "Did you happen to see the culprit? Or hear anything?" I decided to ask; though I knew she hadn't seen him, if she had she would have been alarmed by my face.

"No, I didn't see it, just heard the shots and the the screams.. I crawled under the bed." She shivered, pulling the blanket back over her bare shoulders. "What happened to your arm?" She questioned after a moment changing the focus to me, "I've never seen an android with a broken arm before. What happened?"

I looked at my arm, taking a moment to reply, "It's a long story." I say very quietly, not exactly wanting to answer.

She looked back out into the alley behind me. I knew I had to go, but I stalled a moment more.

"So much blood." She whispered, "Why do terrible things follow me? Wherever I go.." her words faded away into the soft night air.

I had no reply. There was no way I could give a reason or a logical response, I had nothing I could tell her. I simply stared ahead, letting my eyes trace the shadows of the alley in front of us. I heard Claudia take a breath and she shifted next to me. I tried to form words to say, but, before I did, something on the concrete floor caught my attention, glinting in the fresh light of a street lamp above us.

I slide my feet to the ground again. I walked over picking up a small metal disk of the ground. It was silver in color with a hot pink ring around the edge, on the side in small print was written, 'Tipsy'.

"What is it?" Claudia asked grateful for the distraction.

"It's a hacking chip from the club." I state standing and turning to her slightly.

I looked at the device, it rested on the tip of my finger. "Do people take the chips out of the club?" I inquire.

"We have different kinds for people to take, they wear off after a few hours, though, the ones with pink rims are permanent and they stay in the club, and are only rented out for large events." She stated happy to help.

"Do people steal them?" I ask taking a step back in her direction.

"Well yeah, not a lot though, our staff is pretty good at catching thieves.." Her voice drifted away as she finished, it seemed to remind her of something.

"Thank you." I say, "You've been a great help."

She gave a half smile. "You're welcome." She said quietly. I started to walk away.

"And Claudia," I turned back looking up from the chip in my hand to look her in the eye.

She met my eye and tilted her head slightly, confused.

"The world doesn't hate you," I gave her a saddened but genuine smile before I turned and left.

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