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"How is terrorist hunting going, Rico?"

"I don't have time to talk, Dip."

"I thought I would inform you of some pertinent information I found. Diane Thompson holds the record of most citizen complaints against a Nar Valdum City police officer. Her nickname is 'Tommy-gun.' This is in reference to a 20th century human firearm that..."

"Thanks, Dip. Now go away."

"We will speak later, Officer Rico."

The Detective looked away from the shop ahead of us where apparently pig-drinker had run too. "Who's Dip?"

"My computer."

"What's the name stand for?"

"Huh?"

"D-I-P, what does that stand for?"

"It doesn't stand for anything; I just call him 'Dip.'"

"So, what did he want?"

We're looking for terrorists! Why was she still giving me the third degree? "He's one of those learning algorithms. Always wants to contact me and ask questions." If the Detective really had that many complaints against her and was still holding her job, that seemed like it would speak to her skills at getting cases solved. That assured me now, but would be trouble if I kept close to her.

The Detective looked back to the store. It was a shop devoted to Islamic merchandise. She hit a few buttons on her wrist keypad, and Zippy turned to the shop and made a clicking noise.

The Detective stared through her glasses at apparently nothing. "The building has a large basement... maybe eight people down there. Pretty sure they are armed."

"Sounds like we found them, Detective. Let's call the backup."

"Not going to happen, Rico... and my name is Thompson, if you forgot it."

"Why can't we call backup, and can I call you 'Blondie?'"

Thompson looked at me sternly. "Let's stay serious, Rico. Now, my looking into that building using Zippy was technically an illegal search. Can't use it as evidence or call backup to enter the premises using it. Actually, I shouldn't even have a device equipped with such an ability."

"So this is what police work is like on civilized worlds?" I asked, choosing a tone of disdain.

"It has its advantages and disadvantages… for the populace, that is."

"So what do we need to be able to get the police on this place?"

"Evidence, legally obtained, or a violent disturbance. I could barge in there, get them to shoot at me, and then we'd have the police here in no time. Police barging into places tends to get the lawyers to dismiss evidence, so we might not be able to prosecute them afterwards."

I gave her a shocked look - though I actually did fully understand behind admissible evidence and illegal search and seizures. "Prosecution ain't a problem if they're dead."

Now she gave me a shocked look. "I have some idea of how you do things back on Rikar, but I prefer bringing in the criminals alive. Now, with these type of people who don't even care for their own lives, that will be hard. But, we need at least some to question. Now, I'm all for making an illegal entry if we can at least stop the terrorist attacks, but I'd rather a plan where we kinda stick to the law... or close to it."

I was silent for second as I pretended to be thinking. "Now, since I'm not a police officer, if I barged in there, got them to shoot at me, then could you charge perfectly legally, right?"

She smiled. "You seemed to have grasped that concept pretty quickly, Rico. That would work, but there's the whole downside of being shot at... which sometimes involves actually being shot."

"Well... could you lend me a gun?"

"That would get me in huge trouble, Rico." She then smiled at me again - a seductive smile? She pressed up against me, her hands moving along my body. Then she patted the guns I had concealed at each side. She pushed herself away from me, still holding the same smile. "Why don't you use your own guns, Rico."

I am great at concealing firearms. Could she actually tell, or did she assume and confirmed her assumption by that little maneuver? I realized I really had to stop underestimating Detective Thompson.

I smiled weakly. "I don't like walking around unarmed."

"Neither do I. Now let's get to this; another strike could be about to happen as we speak."

I nodded and walked towards the shop.

"Rico," she called out, "I don't how much this means when you're entering a place with the intention of being shot at, but be careful."

"Don't worry; I know what I'm doing."

"I'm sure you do. God bless you, Rico."

I sincerely doubted He would, even if He was the violent bastard the Islamists thought He was. But I smiled back at Diane when she said it, because soon I would be shooting people - and when is that not fun?

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