Chapter 6
Lochlan
The detective’s apartment is pretty plush for someone on a government salary and I wonder if Colin O’Brien is legit. Then again, if his wife’s artificial intelligence is as good as Izzy says, she’s probably the one who brings in the bucks.
A very pretty woman opens the door, smiles graciously, and extends her hand. “Hi, I’m Jenna Jones. Please excuse the mess. I wasn’t expecting company.”
Toddler toys cover the living room floor and my throat grows tight. What about my baby and my wife? Are they alive? With every passing second, the odds of their survival decrease.
“My office is there.” The thirtyish redhead points down the hall.
Dressed in yoga pants and a long-sleeved cotton shirt, she leads me into a converted bedroom. It’s as neat as the living room was messy. More like a home theater, two brown leather lounge chairs face a monitor covered wall.
An automatic camera buzzes, swivels in my direction, and a computer-generated image of a young man appears in the center screen.
Jenna beams. “Jason, meet Lochlan James.”
“Nice to meet you. How can I help you today?” The avatar crosses his arms over his chest in a creepy mime of my stance with my skepticism plastered across his face.
Jenna rushes to explain. “Jason is programmed to appear sympathetic. He will emulate your facial expressions and emotions.”
“Sorry, Siri and Alexa have never impressed me.”
Jason peers out into the room. “I am neither Siri nor Alexa. May I ask why you are here, Mr. James?”
“I need to find my wife. I think she was abducted by her ambulance driver after we pulled her from the rubble.”
“You are referring to Doctor Calliope James. Please view the center monitor.” The avatar disappears and images of my fucked-up day flash across the screen.
Some videos must’ve been recorded by cameras on nearby buildings, some from news helicopters, and some from police cruiser’s dash-cams.
One video slows where I punched the paramedic who refused to let me ride in the back of the ambulance with Callie.
Jason reappears in the left most display. “Why did you hit the man?”
“I wanted to escort my wife to the hospital.”
Jenna adds, “He was worried for her safety.”
“I understand.” When Jason blinks as if he doesn’t give a shit my fists clench and I grind my back molars.
“Well, do you know where the driver took her or not?”
“She is in New Jersey.” On the right-hand screen, an ambulance enters the Lincoln Tunnel. Then, it stops at a toll booth on the turnpike.
“This is a waste of time. I could’ve done better with a plastic laptop and Patten’s database.” I turn to go but Jenna puts her hand on my shoulder.
“Be patient. We’re just getting started.” She walks toward the avatar and asks, “Jason, who was driving the ambulance?”
A license pops up and Jason reads out the name. “Paul Grakos.”
She smiles encouragingly at me. “Good. Jason, find this man’s friends, family, and any associates in New Jersey. Then, give me the most likely places he would hide Calliope James.
A list of over a hundred people appears with low percentages beside them.
Jenna points. “Jason needs more data. Do you know why your wife was targeted?”
Jenna directs the question to me but the computer-generated man answers. “Patten Securities has signed a contract to protect the new Blue Plains Tunnel in Washington DC. With seventy-five percent accuracy, I conclude someone is using the tunnel for illegal activities. The EMF waves introduced by their new security system may interfere with their plans.”
