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soon,” Detective Rivera said. “You asked about the first victim. She was found this Monday at St. Anthony Park, in Eleggua District. Another Goldie’s dancer. Stage name was Candy.”
    I wrote down the information and circled Goldie’s strip club. Both girls worked there. Too much of a coincidence. The fact that the habbies weren’t already at the club investigating displayed the crappiness of the habitat police force.
    “This one wasn’t cut. The corpse was placed on a park bench, upright, holding three pennies in her hand.” He coughed into the phone again. This time, it took him several seconds of hacking before he stopped. “She was painted red and black and had a sign around her neck that said something about opening doors and having keys. I’ll have to check the evidence room, but then that’ll cost you extra.”
    I sucked my teeth. No need to trouble yourself detective. It’s just a psycho running around the habitat killing women.
    He continued, “The murders are probably related, but we’re not moving on this unless the higher-ups tell us we should.”
    “Fuck,” I muttered under my breath as another beep sounded.
    The computerized voice said, “There are no more messages.”
    I doubted the habbie’s higher-ups, whoever they were, would have them search for the murderer. What can the habbies do anyway? None of them were trained detectives, just Humans that had completed time in federal prisons and had to serve mandatory habitat police service, in order to return to the Human cities.
    “Princess? Everything okay?” Ray asked.
    I wrote a couple more of the details down in my notebook. When I finished writing, I looked up at Ray. “Please, stop calling me Princess.”
    “Were there any messages from Zulu?” He flashed those four diamond teeth at me.
    “No.”
    I read the information I’d written down.
    The woman from the alley was Carmen, and she did have a kid. Knots formed in my stomach. Her family and the kid didn’t know she was dead. The habbie said they wouldn’t release the identities until Friday . If they really will release the identities. They weren’t exactly known for being on top of their jobs.
    Chewing the inside of my cheek, I considered my options. The detective only gave me Carmen’s address. I didn’t have a phone number. It was probably not a good idea to call her family and tell them over the phone that she died. I should just go by there and tell them in person. It’s the least I can do.
    Carmen’s screams for help had been in my head all morning. I’d barely gotten any rest last night in Zulu’s apartment. He’d let me sleep in his bed as he slept on the floor. I’d dozed for maybe an hour before getting up to go to school.
    I closed my notebook and put it in my satchel. I could help Carmen’s family. Ease their worry. Do better than I did last night. I wished I could turn back time and figure out a way to save her. Throw a trashcan or something. Scream for help.
    I shook my head at the thought and then focused on Ray. “You and I are going to check something out. It’s off campus.”
    Shaking his little bald head, Ray said, “No way. The contract has only three locations where I guard you.”
    He put three tanned fingers in the air and continued. “The university, your apartment, and Zulu’s condo. I can’t guard you anywhere else, so you don’t go anywhere else.”
    “Now you’re being ridiculous,” I muttered. “This deals with a kid who lost a mother. Do you have any kids? Or like them at all?”
    “I have a four year old little girl.” He rubbed his finger across the four teeth with the diamonds in them. “Every birthday of hers, I put a diamond in my tooth. Don’t know what I’ll do when she turns thirty-three.”
    “That’s really cool.” I forced a smile. “So this will only take thirty minutes, at the most.”
    “We can’t. The contract doesn’t include it.”
    I blew out air and leaned back on the wall. Ray crossed his arms