Artificial(ish) Intelligence

Chapter 48

"Anything?" said Libbi.

"Still nothing," said Will, playing ineffectually with the phone app.

"Could she be playing a game?" said Libbi. "I've seen what you're like when you're in the middle of--"

"No," said Will. "Paige always answers a chat. Just in case someone needs her."

"How sweet," said Libbi.

Will ignored the remark. They were nearing Paige's home and, once they could talk, he'd be free from the selfiebot. He had nothing against Libbi -- hopefully she could discover her memories and return to her body -- but it would be easier, for him, if she did it by herself.

Paige's unit was like a small cottage, and fit her perfectly.

"Look at all those green bits and colourful bits," said Will.

"You mean the garden?" said Libbi.

"Sure."

Will rapped on a window. He cupped his hands to restrict the glare and peered inside. Nothing.

After finding the small deliverybot entrance around the side, he tested the flap experimentally, hearing it squeak, scaring away a few spiders. This part of her yard wasn't as well kept as the rest of her green and colourful bits.

He called out her name while walking to the front again.

"How about trying this?" said Libbi, hovering near the door.

"Oh," said Will.

He'd seen too many movies. Actually, that's the end of the sentence. I was going to mention scenes involving police, detectives, family, friends, investigating a disappearance and visiting their last known address, each time trying everything but the door. I didn't say this because it isn't where he got the idea. He was simply lacking in common sense.

There was still no answer to his knocks. Will raised his eyes at Libbi, a knowing look that said See, you were wrong. If she was wrong, that meant he was right. Which meant he won. At least this level. To beat the game would require another step.

"Paige! I need you to help--" He looked over at Libbi and quickly corrected the sentence. "I'm here to check how you are, after Marvin's...you know."

"Will, kick the door down," said Libbi.

"What?" he said, subconsciously stepping back.

"Aren't you worried about her? If she always answers her calls then she'd always answer her door, especially if it's you."

"You do it," he said.

"Err," said Libbi, her frail metal body swaying in the breeze.

He somehow moped an attempt of an answer out of his mouth: "But I..."

Even an extra sigh wasn't enough to arrest Libbi's incessant demands.

"Hang on, hang on," said Will. "I've seen this movie. One cop is about to bust it down when the other just opens the unlocked door."

He tried the doorknob while smiling at Libbi. It barely turned. In the spirit of comedy he tried a few more times before his glee was replaced with a snarl. "All right, fine," he said, with less enthusiasm than -- bare with me here -- a Jack Russell terrier just leaving the house after missing out on walks for a week and which was now being forced by its owner to return immediately. Or something like that.

Will tried to think back to all the cop dramas he'd seen, the particular technique employed to maximise the force while simultaneously, and more importantly, minimise the damage to his foot. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and swung his leg wildly. The door didn't feel anywhere near as strong as he'd suspected. In fact, it didn't feel like anything at all.