Case No. 243

CHAPTER V: Suspicion

     CONNOR COULD SEE the large smile on Kara's face reflecting on the rearview mirror and he couldn't discern why she was behaving this way. He could only assume what she was up to.

Alice was resting on her lap as they approached the wealthier side of Detroit, a sight she wasn't accustomed to. It was vastly different from Todd's house— nothing was boarded up and everything was clean and large. In the gardens bloomed an abundance of vivid flowers, laced between the stems and ivy green leaves. It was as if imported straight from an artist's palette.

     And although she was fascinated by it, that wasn't the reason for her smile.

     "I don't recall anything happening today that would cause you such joy," Connor said dryly, prompting his hand on his jaw. Blinded by ignorance; he couldn't tell that he was amusing her. Her smile only grew from there, becoming painfully swell as the corners of her lips grazed her cheek.

     "I just find it interesting. You didn't even offer to bring us to the station before heading to the case site." She chirped.

     Connor watched the stunning mansion come into view, his lips pressed into a thin line.

     The car stopped.

     "... Carl Manfred is a very important man. He will have answers and I'm here to retrieve them." He said and instantly stepped out of the car, adjusting his tie in place as he strode towards the front door.

     Before Hank followed his eager lead, he turned to her. A look of distant wonder was present on his face, void of his usual bitterness.

     "Whatever you're doing, keep doing it... Something is happening."

     He paused, as if to say more, and truly his eyes were burning to speak. Though, he didn't and simply departed, taking generous steps (generous by Hank's definition), towards Connor. Kara felt content at his words and though an ominous feeling lingered within her; it was brushed aside by her unrelenting optimism.

     "Alice, wake up. We're here."

     Fluttering her eyes open, the girl slowly arose and massaged her face gently. She processed the view of the large building and all the meticulous landscaping that clustered around it, her eyes twinkling at the sight.

     "This is the nicest house I've ever been to."

     Kara clutched her hand, rubbing the tips of knuckles with her thumb. "Yes, me too. So, we have to make sure we are on our best behavior. Okay? This man isn't an android and he's pretty old, so you don't have to worry."

     The YK500 nodded, though she was not listening to her. Instead, her eyes were glued to Connor's back, his android armband glaring against the rays of the sun. Gleams of golden white light shone in her eyes, her blinking becoming rapid. It was quite blinding.

     It didn't seem to affect Alice though, as her eyelid never even fluttered in the slightest. She simply was frowning, and despite not seeming overtly miserable, Kara still didn't like seeing it. Maybe, she was so absorbed into Connor's world, that she completely forgot about what Alice felt, or what she had wanted. Yet, she didn't seem frightened or hesitant.

     She seemed curious.

     "He didn't take us to the station. Just before we left, he said he was going to take us." She mumbled, confusion overtaking her, and turned to her guardian. "Why, Kara? Why did he change his mind?"

     The woman had to think, skimming through her program to come up with the right words to express her feelings. Alas, she smiled and placed her palm on the girl's hand, squeezing with the other.