Ryan explained why she gave a recorded statement. States she has plans to disappear.

The police arrest the Devlin brothers and their security team in a coordinated plan.

One beige plastic table, two lightweight chairs, four bare walls, Detective Hatchett guided Ryan to a chair in the interrogation room. In a plain gray dress, the Android was wide eyed yet calm. From the ceiling visor holograms of Saturn Zion District Attorney Kimber Carruthers and Ryan’ attorney John Sunip appeared. Hatchett gave his boss, Enceladus Chief of Police, a nod. Myrtle nodded in return. The weight of this murder case hung between them. Hatchett closed the little room’s door.

Myrtle sat with the suspicious pattern of fires in Orchid Valley, the rumors of physical assaults, the frightened witnesses. The image of two bodies burnt holding each other settled in Myrtle’s mind. Myrtle worked to get Ryan’s witness statement recorded and then Ryan and her daughter would be placed off world in Witness Protection. Eyebrows were raised but Myrtle pushed it through.

The door opened. Hatchett stepped out holding Ryan’s elbow. Myrtle felt some kind of way about that.

“Thank you for speaking up Ms. FreeOne,” Myrtle said.

“Don’t thank me. I looked the other way like everyone else in the Valley until they threatened my baby to keep me quiet. I’m no hero, I’m a mother.” Hatchett escorted the witness out. He rubbed the back of his hand against Myrtle’s knuckles as he walked past.

A driving drumbeat lit up Red’s Bar as the house band launched into its first set. Old fashioned drones zipped by carrying pitchers of beer. On the big tv screens the futbol game switched off.

“Breaking News, ECX is live in Capital City as a series of early morning raids at FlorCorp and several homes. According to reports these homes are security personnel from the controversial flower merchant Omni corporation. We can see suspects being handcuffed.”

Roy And his brother Joshie shared a worried look. Roy down his Bud Light and pushed away from the bar. He strolled for the back door while Joshie paid the tab and headed for front. They both wished Red’s didn’t hat weapon detectors as they casually walked their separate ways. Roy didn’t turn around when the sound of police car sirens filtered in above the bar’s din. Relief surged as he pushed the back exit.

A gray hand flashed seizing Roy’s hand. Roy was pulled out of the bar and flung against the hood of a police car. He turned to see Hatchett.

“Tell me what you’ve done to Ryan?”

Roy smiled.