Deadrock Read Free Page B

assignment officer," said Chief Madison.
"Since when do you take it upon yourself to refuse assignments?"
    "But
Chief, I had to! The Spinelli case is set to break in three days!"
    "I
hand-picked you for this Watcher, Max. Besides, it's a chance for you to get
some practical use out of those bean-chips of yours."
    Bean-chips,
noodle-nodules, wit-whackers, cortex-crumbs – Max had heard them all. All
those names for the infochips implanted in his brain when he was eleven. His
dad had thought them a great idea, and so had Max. Grandma had not been so
enthusiastic. One night, Max had crept out of bed to eavesdrop on their
argument.
    "The boy
needs time to grow – what's he going to do with a brain full of
electronic knowledge? He won't need to go to school!" she had said.
    "Exactly!
Think of the time he'll save!" said Dad.
    "Time for
what? Work? Why do you think there's normally an age limit of twenty-one on the
implants, Jack? It's to protect these kids."
    "But we
can override the limit because of his IQ. He's smart, Mom, and he wants to do it! He wants to be a cop! Think of it –
one day I might even partner with my own son!"
    "You're
robbing him, Jack. You're making him a freak to kids his own age and robbing
him of his childhood."
    "He's my
kid. I'll do what I want!" said Dad.
    And he did.
Max got the implants and dropped out of the fifth grade with a brain that had
earned a college degree. Several degrees, in fact. Sometimes Max surprised himself with what he knew.
    "Max,"
said the Chief, "you have a chip for American history, right?" said
the Chief, eyeing the room curiously.
    "History
of the Old West, Chief! Wyatt Earp, Billy the Kid! Dodge City, not Old New York
City."
    "Close
enough," she said. "Look at it this way. The Mayor's great-grandpa's
been slandered. Imagine how you'd feel if they started saying your grandfather
hadn't been Chief of Police, that he'd been a thief."
    Max swung
himself into the canvas hammock that hung by the window and watched a
jet-scooter zip past the ninety-third floor. "Leave Granddad out of this,"
he said.
    Madison leaned
on the nearest seat, a saddle slung over a step stool. She smoothed her
no-nonsense tone into a coaxing pitch. "But just for argument's sake, you'd
want to clear Granddad's name, right?"
    "Maybe,
but I can't go now!"
    "You're
assigned," she said, ending the debate. "You go when and where I send
you."
    Max burrowed
deeper into the folds of the hammock. "And if I refuse?"
    The Chief
studied her hands and said softly, "I'd hate to take your badge over this,
Max. After all, I'm the one who fought to let a kid become a cop, remember?"
    Max lay still
for a moment, then dangled his legs over the side and rocked. "I remember.
Okay, but Leo isn't going to be too happy about this, either."
    "Leo's
not going. He doesn't have Watcher Clearance. He can complete the Spinelli
affair without you. I'm going to put him with O'Malley."
    "O'Malley!
They can't handle it," cried Max.
    "Enough!
Look, I don't generally make housecalls. I only came here because of my respect
for your family, so shape up!" She glared at him as he crossed to the wall
covered with holograms of Clint Eastwood, John Wayne and Android Bob. He
pretended to study their faces while he waited for the Chief to calm down.
    The Chief
swallowed hard and fought her emotions. When she spoke, she seemed tired.
    "I need
someone I can trust, Max. And after all, it's just a Watcher. All you have to
do is witness the crime and bring the murderer to justice. It'll only take a
few days."
    "But I
need the points from the sting. Missing it'll cost me my promotion, Chief,"
said Max.
    "Not
necessarily. You can take care of the murder quickly, return, and do the sting
right on schedule. What do you say?"
    "When can
I leave?" asked Max.
    "Just as
soon as Bird's processed," said the Chief.
    "Bird?"
    "John
Look-For-A Bird. He'll be your partner. He's just coming off of another
assignment," said the Chief.
    "Just
coming off a suspension, you