Page 83 - Tales Apocalyptic and Dystopian

Cannon’s Last Case

“Well, of course I don’t. And I already checked the transaction log
on my own. The most recent activity—during which this vandalism
must have happened—is recorded for a time and at a place I could
have done it myself: at home late at night. I was sleeping, but without
other contact with the Complex during that time it would be
impossible to establish my innocence, like proving a negative.”
Spike marched on silently, waiting for her to continue. When she
didn’t, he cocked his head in her direction and asked abruptly, “So
what do you expect me to do, Miss Chase? I have no technical skills
applicable to solving the mechanical aspects of this case. It sounds to
me as if you have already taken matters into your own hands to large
extent, preparing for this interview. I do have one question related to
short-run damage control: what did you do with the message in the
exhibit?”
She waved her hands vaguely.
“Oh, I put up the standard place-holding graphic showing that the
area was under construction, a work in progress soon to be unveiled.
The perpetrator could wipe that out again at any moment, along with
other parts—or all—of the rest of my exhibit. It would mean the end
of me socially. Don’t look at me so skeptically, Spike! I am well aware
that you cannot fix this—it’s not like finding lost jewelry or missing
persons—neither of which are likely to occur again. No, I need you
to do two things: advise me whether or not to pay the extortionist,
and if, in your experience, it is possible to profile the type of person
likely to be the culprit so I can confront him or her and force an end
to it.”
Spike Cannon smiled grimly.
“Fine. That’s your story, lady. Trouble is, I don’t buy it. If you
know me, you know I don’t like it when a client lies to me.”
Mary stopped in her tracks, mouth unbecomingly agape.
“Why—why do you say that? No one has ever accused me of lying
before!”
The old detective faced her, watery eyes gleaming.
“You haven’t had much practice; you and your peers evidently
don’t develop the ability early in life, owing to its pointlessness. You
think human nature is about to be resolved into some theoretical
optimum by science: I can’t say it won’t, but we both know it hasn’t.
The mess this planet’s in is because of our idiotic conviction that

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