I Dare You {Reed900 Fic} (Has Been Revamped)

Chapter 17

Hey, so I just wanted to apologize for how long this chapter took to get out. Me and this chapter just did not get along. I was almost to the point of scrapping it and starting over but I'm also lazy and didn't want to do that if I didn't have to. But hey, I got it done and I kinda don't hate it yet so here we go! 

"Adler is one of the most notorious men in the Midwest. He has his hands in everything, and I mean everything. Technology, sciences, and art. But those are all just shells, where he gets his true business is from the crime. --He's been big trafficker of illegal drugs and guns and we suspect even sometimes people for twenty-five years. And he operates out of everywhere, Chicago, St. Louis, Des Moines, and Detroit. Which is his home base."

Gavin was frantically pacing back and forth in the break room as he rambled off information about the owner of the Ainsworth Mansion, Lorenzo Adler. Conan had to drag him to a more private area so he would actually speak in coherent sentences.

"If we know this much about Alder and his criminal enterprise, why doesn't the DPD put out a warrant for his arrest?" Conan logically asked as his eyes kept track of Gavin's movement.

The detective stopped cold for a second as he looked over at the calm android. "We would if we could, and we've tried. We've never been able to pin anything on him that stuck, it's technically all just speculation." He started pacing once again. " And every person we've ever sent undercover after him, anyone who ever investigated a case with him involved, or anyone who just spoke out against him as a witness has either wound up dead or just wishing they were dead... That fucker does not play around, we're lucky we've made it this far unknowingly. At this point, it's practically apart of the orientations that you don't mess with Adler unless you want to die."

Conan paused, processing this new information, his face soured as he leaned back against the countertop. "Well, shit."

"Yeah, that's why we're fucked."

"But why would somebody like Lorenzo Adler want to interfere with the lives of androids? I don't see how after the revolution we would affect him personally." Conan contemplated.

"You obviously weren't here when androids were first introduced, but I was. Many big names were actively against them, including Adler. They felt threatened by Elijah and what his company could mean to them. A lot of people were then, the fear of being replaced-- it's a strong motivator." Gavin answered thoughtfully.

"Of course, once those toxic capitalists realized that they could employ an entire workforce without having to pay them a cent. They were all suddenly 'pro-android'." He mocked. "But Adler wasn't as easily convinced. I mean, I think he tried to assassinate Elijah like once or twice at this point."

The detective said that last bit so nonchalantly that it felt more like he was telling Conan what the weather was instead of saying that his step-brother had almost been killed by their main suspect more than once.

"So that would at least make him a prime suspect. But I still don't see his motivation in all this."

Gavin shrugged, "Honestly, I don't know either. Adler is a very secretive man. Covers up his tracks real well. But there are a lot of reasons why people hate androids, I mean look at me. You would think I'd be all for them with my step-brother being the CEO of Cyberlife and whatnot. But instead, I hated you. I wasn't on good terms with Eli at the time of your creation and I was afraid of being replaced. Watching the unemployment rate skyrocketed only solidified that fear in me. And well, you know how I am with emotions. It all balled up into anger."

Conan contemplated Gavin's explanation before speaking again, "You weren't afraid of me when we first met... were you?"

The detective froze once again and awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, he wasn't really sure how to answer that. "Uhh, I mean, yeah. --Well obviously mostly because I haven't had a partner for a long time and well, you know why." He stepped over towards the coffee machine and started fiddling with a foam cup, pressing his fingernails into the easily indented plastic. "But a lot of it was because you looked like Connor."