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rehabilitation of gifted, but misguided, intellects. So far, it hadn't worked. There were a lot of dangerous minds crammed in that box, but only Megalith had a grudge against me. Just because the professor was buried under lock and key, didn't mean he couldn't still be up to no good.
    "The professor knows my specs, Sanchez. If he'd sent something to do me in, I'd have a few more dings in the chassis."
    "Yeah, that's what I figured. So picked up any new enemies?"
    Only one came to mind: Four Arms. He knew I could identify him, so he'd dropped by and left some goonbots to scrap me, then dig out my memory matrix and burn it beyond recovery. Only Four Arms hadn't known how thick-alloyed I was.
    "Makes sense," said Sanchez. "We'll print a hard copy of his mug when we download the rest of your statement."
    "You've got to find this guy," I said. "He's done something with Julie and the kids."
    "Got any proof?"
    I handed him April's drawing. Sanchez studied the handwritten plea on the back for five seconds. "I'll have shots of the family distributed along with Four Arms."
    "That's it?"
    He puffed on his cigarette. "What else can I do, Mack? It's not my department. And this city has bigger problems than one missing family. You don't even know if they are missing. I'll check, but I don't think we've gotten any reports yet."
    "And when you do?" I asked. "When someone finally notices, what'll happen then?"
    "There are procedures, Mack."
    "Yeah, I know. A report is filed. Names are added to a list." My vocalizer hissed out the last word. "Procedures."
    He got this look on his furry face like he wanted to argue but couldn't.

    "Sorry, Sanchez, I know it's not your fault. You're just one cop."
    "Forget about it." He put his hat back on as a forensic drone approached. "Give your download to the unit when you're ready." Sanchez tossed his cigarette to the floor and crushed it out. His pocket drone popped out and vacuumed up every last mote of ash with a satisfied beep before hovering back into Sanchez's pocket. "Don't worry about this, Mack. Once your download corroborates your statement, I'll smooth things over with the Think Tank. Shouldn't be a problem."
    I wasn't worried about me, and Sanchez could see that.
    "Relax. I'm sure they're out visiting family or something. They'll turn up soon enough."
    "Yeah. Family," I agreed, doing my damnedest to convince my difference engine that it was a reasonable probability.
    He had his pocket drone light up another cig. "Look. It's not my department, but I'll check into it."
    That made me feel a little better, but he was a busy cop. I doubt he'd be able to set aside his caseload to search out one family nobody cared about.
    "We'll work out the rest of the details later," said Sanchez. "You look like you could use a recharge. You got someplace to stay tonight?"
    I had one place to stay. I gave Sanchez the number, and he assured me he'd give me a call once Julie Bleaker and her family were found. I was doubtful, but there wasn't anything left for me to do. I headed over to Jung's apartment. It was only seven blocks away, a short walk. Since every step I took added one-twelfth of a cent to my electrical bill, I caught the omnibus.
    Jung answered his door dressed in pajamas with pictures of little sailing ships and pirates on them. My humor model wasbarely sophisticated enough to find some absurdity in the outfit, and I might've laughed except I hadn't developed that simulated reflex yet. It was only a matter of time before I did. For now, it saved both of us some embarrassment.
    "Little early for bed, isn't it?" I asked.
    "I wasn't expecting company."
    He turned and loped inside, and I took it as an invitation to follow. Jung's apartment was bigger than mine. He'd been driving a cab longer, and he was good with the customers so his tips were better. Not that much better. I could afford a place like this with an actual separate bedroom and eight cubic meters of extra living space except I didn't need it so