Tick Tock Part Four - The Mouse Fell Down

Dr Berkshall

Getting the FBI involved was the right decision. While they were doing the menial task of poring over paper documents and following leads and trails across America, Nines was free to continue the hunt. Far from keeping him out of the loop, Perkins had insisted he be kept in the know. DPD rules dictated that people close to the case couldn't be involved. Perkins disagreed. People close to the case were relentless in getting results, and that's what he needed. With their interests aligned, it made sense to work together. Colin disagreed, but Nines would be out there hunting regardless, and he felt better knowing where his brother was and what he was doing. The exchange of information was a good leash. It was also nice getting to meet face to face.

Nines waited for them at the old antique shop, letting Perkins slip by to poke around while he and Colin paused in the open doorway. His clothes were still wet then, which made Colin's brow pinch with worry. It didn't truly matter. Androids couldn't get sick. That was Nines' outlook as he huffed and reassured him. Finding the shop had given him a second wind, lifting his spirits for the first time in months. It seemed like a real, tangible lead. The first sign that perhaps the Hickory Killer had slipped up. Had I recalled Fifty-Seven's words sooner, we may have found Gavin a long time ago...He pushed the thought away. Looking back wouldn't help. They had the lead now. They just needed to make a connection.

Not long after interfacing with Colin, a whole truckload of FBI agents turned up to flip the place. Every box of papers they could find was removed. Every inch was checked. Downstairs, upstairs, the attic. They even checked for secret rooms and hidden spaces, though none were found. Nines hadn't expected any. This was simply an old shop. There was nothing to suggest the Hickory Killer had ever used it as a base of operations. It had simply been a convenient location to bring Gavin, as the boat was simply a convenient way of getting around. Getting around the river...

"We should check the other ports and see if anyone recognises the boat...Perhaps someone knows where it comes from." Nines was thinking the same thing. The fact he was docking along the river either meant he was deliberately throwing them off, or he was coming across from Canada. We have considered Canada as an option, however no disappearances have been reported there...Without the help of Canadian officials, they couldn't just launch a search either. Things could get a lot more complicated. They needed a fresh lead. It wouldn't do to divert resources unnecessarily.

The next morning, they split up. While Perkins and half of his team, notably the older half, remained at headquarters to pour over files, Nines, Colin, and the two younger members headed to the different harbours along the river. Nines and Colin travelled alone while the humans went together. There were a lot more boats when Nines arrived at his next harbour, most of them small fishing boats. Being a more popular and better run dock meant it would be more difficult for him to get information without his badge. Luckily, he had other avenues. A popular dock meant more technology, and technology was easily hacked. While making small-talk at the counter, trying to charm whatever information he could, Nines subtly touched the back of the terminal and started an interface.

Since it had little sensitive information, it was easy for him to slip by its defences and download the logs he needed. A quick search of the boat's name and registration brought up two entries in the last six months. The Hickory Killer didn't stop here often, perhaps because the records were so well kept. Spreading his visits along the bank was smart. The lack of pattern even more so. Having the information he needed, Nines excused himself to search the boats currently docked and talk to those he met along the way. He was lucky to find so many people outside; it being winter and the weather fairly bleak. It wasn't raining like the night before, so many fishermen were on deck completing various tasks. Being such a rare visitor, he was unsurprised that many had no recollection of the small boat. He tried both the name and a picture on his holographic display, with minimal results. Even those who had seen it didn't remember much about it.