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Like Icicles In Her Heart

"one snowy day, a private investigator gets a case that she will never forget."

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Competition Entry: The Sound Of Silence

Smooth jazz played low from the vintage jukebox in her office. She was typing up the last of her report from her last case when she heard the bell on the door chime. Blair Kierkessen looked up and saw with her so brown they were black eyes, a woman in a blue evening gown and white fur stole. Her brow furrowing her perfect line-less face.  

“Detective Kierkessen?”

“That’s correct, how can I help you?”

“My name is Zelda Chamberlain.  I need help finding a missing person.”

“Of course. Have a seat.  Can I get you something to drink?”

“No thank you.”  Zelda sat down across from the Detective. 

“So,  who is missing?”

“My servant.”

“Okay what’s their name and where did you last see this servant?”

Zelda averted her eyes awkwardly. “He’s a Lopex 19, from the Argyle Series, I last saw him at home.  Before I went away for the holiday.  I returned home and he was gone. They don’t make his model anymore, please, Detective, you have to help me find him”

“Holiday?  How long were you away? Why didn’t you just  have him accompany you?”

“Yes. I went to Tuscany for a Christmas party. I couldn’t bring him with me because I didn’t want to hear from my friends that I keep an obsolete mech servant.  It’s too scandalous. I have a reputation to protect.  I’m willing to pay extra for your utmost discretion, Detective.”

Kierkessen stared at her.  Taking a deep breath, she nodded.  “Alright, I'll take the case. Provided I’m granted access to search your home.  Do you know anyone who may have stolen your … servant?”

“No, no one,  as I said,  he’s an obsolete model.  My choice to keep him on and not upgrade him is purely sentimental.”

“It’s illegal to not keep your service bots updated to the Mecha Standard. As dictated by the Optimum Efficiency Act of  ---”

“2391, yes, Detective I’m very aware of the Law, now you see why I went to the Private Sector rather than going to Proper Law Enforcement.”

“Right…”

Zelda took out an envelope.  “Inside is the key to my estate, and half your fare with interest for your discretion and you’ll get the other half once you find my servant. Or find out what happened to him.”

“You’re giving me paper money?  No one uses paper money anymore Ms. Chamberlain.”

“Mrs. Chamberlain.  I’m a widow but only recently.  Those are deeds  I inherited.  It’s the only currency I have left.  I’m living on borrowed time, my funds are nearly running out,  Detective. After my husband died in childbirth and our child along with him.  I’ve just been beside myself with grief. It is hard to be in the world when so much that I loved is gone. That servant has been with me since my childhood.  He’s family.”

“Then what is his name?”

“Pardon?”

“Mecha that achieve Heirloom status are allowed to be re-registered under a name, not just referred to by designation or series they’re from”

 "My family has always called him Larry. But I never re-registered him.”

Blair nodded.  “I'll do what I can to help you find Larry. I can drop by your estate first thing tomorrow.”

“Thank you.” Zelda stood and left.   Blair opened the envelope to see that there were two deeds for two houses. One in the Caribbean, and the other in Remote Scandinavia. 

“Can you imagine such a thing,  Nayeli?  Selling off your inheritance  just to keep what you have left of your family?”

The jukebox paused the music, then chirped.  “I’d like to think you’d do the same if something happened to me, Blair”  

Turning around to face the jukebox in the corner.  “Of course, I would.  In a heartbeat.  It’s not worth solving mysteries without my best bot by my side. No one provides a soundtrack to my adventures like you, Nay-Nay, you know that.”

The jukebox chirped again.

“Enable Nayeli Remote Access, Earbud Pod One,”   Blair said as she wiggled each earbud in her ear. “Can you hear me, Nayeli?”

“Five by Five, Blair.  Shall I play the New Case Playlist?”

“Yes Please.”

_____

The snowy hills of the Chamberlain estate were proving a monumental feat for  Blair’s tug boat of a truck to drive through. The glare of sunlight on the blanket of snow was making it hard to see. The earbuds were quiet as Nayeli was in sleep mode.  Feeling every bit of her age, Blair got out of the truck, once it was parked in front of the estate front door.  Letting herself in with the key,  she walked around. 

It was so silent. The silence was too loud. It was causing anxiety to flutter in her gut.  “Zelda? ” she called out, walking around the house more. It was like a time capsule to the 1900s, the architecture and layout of it all.  

“It’s Blair Kierkessen,  Are you awake?”  

Ascending the staircase, and walking by empty bedrooms, she stopped by one that looked like a prepared nursery.  It was all pastel colors and plush toy animals. There was a vacuum in the corner near the window with the morning light streaming through.  

“Larry ?”  

Lights blinked on the handle of the vacuum as it vroomed awake. 

“Lady Zelda …?”   

Larry’s voice was distorted,  his voice software desperately needing an update.  But they didn’t make his model any more.  So getting an update would mean scrapping him for a newer and up to date model. 

“No,  my name is Blair. I was -- -”

“When is Master Chamberlain returning home with the baby, Lady Zelda? I’ve kept the room clean like you asked.  When are they coming home?”

Blair felt her heart begin to weep, but she kept her voice steady, and so professional it may have sounded cold. 

“They aren’t coming home.  I was told they both passed away, Larry, I’m sorry.”

The vacuum vroom went loud then abruptly shut off.  Leaving only the loud silence behind.

Published 
Written by OpheliaTusk
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