"What did we even come back here for, Toaster? You really think there's evidence left behind after a whole phcking week?" Reed asked with a sigh of boredom and frustration, kicking the dirt with the tip of his shoe. It was dim, almost nightfall. The Eden Club had opened just an hour ago, and the music was bouncing even in the alley across the street. They couldn't see anyone close by, but that didn't mean no one was watching. They'd agreed to put on a bit of a show, just in case.

"There is a fifteen percent chance of my superior sensors picking up evidence left behind by the human forensics team," Nines confirmed as he looked around the alley floor. He crouched and made a show of examining the ground. It was dirty cement. Nothing special. No evidence. No obvious signs for him to read. That didn't stop him from running his fingers over the uneven cement. He could identify the multiple rock types that made up the cracked surface.

"Are you phcking kidding me? I can't believe I let your plastic ass drag me down here for a fifteen percent chance!" Reed shoved his hands in his pockets with a scoff and looked up at the deep blueish grey of the sky. He'd be able to see stars if not for the lights from the surrounding area. Shifting his gaze, he noticed a discreet security camera belonging to one of the small businesses on the main street. It was probably for watching the bins to stop littering, but also covered the fire door a little way off.

"The chance is slim, but worth pursuing with what little we have to go on," Nines replied in a uniform tone as he continued his examination, following a thin crack with his fingertips. He looked up with an expression of mild annoyance as Reed shifted from foot to foot. His anti-android persona had certainly come back easily enough. It was easy to think he meant it as he looked down at him as if he were an inconvenience. Like he'd been dragged there and forced to watch him like a baby.

"How phcking long?" Reed was restless. Itching to get this over with. The sooner they parted, the sooner it would be over and they could go home. Together.

"An hour, perhaps longer...It is my intention to be thorough," Nines replied indifferently as he got to his feet and moved to a new spot. He tried not to focus on Reed too much. His current task, within their narrative, was to examine the area for evidence. He heard Reed click his tongue in annoyance and noticed the telltale glow of his mobile phone. He made a show of scrolling through a page or two before letting out a frustrated sigh.

"Do you really need me here? Surely there's something else I could be doing! I'm not a phcking babysitter!" If he didn't know it was all an act, Nines would have been annoyed by his obnoxious tone. He spared him a glance as he raised his fingers. "Oh no, don't you phcking dare you...That's disgusting!" Reed groaned as he watched Nines' tongue dart out to lick slowly over the tips of his fingers. In reality, they both knew he was having a very different reaction to the show. He averted his eyes for a whole new reason as he realised Nines was scanning him.

"Perhaps you would like to scour the Eden Club for witnesses." This was it. The moment they'd been building up to. It was time for Reed to leave the alleyway. He froze for a moment. Part of him desperately wanted to refuse the offer and remain where he was. He watched as Nines stood and moved to yet another spot, continuing his role and scanning the ground again. Shit, we signed up for this crap...Time to go.

"Sure...Anything's better that standing here watching you...do whatever it is you're doing. Hit me up if you find anything." He turned to leave, waving a hand over his shoulder in farewell as he pulled a small notebook and pen from his inside pocket. He may as well actually do the job he was pretending to do. Getting a witness certainly wouldn't hurt, but after a week, he knew they were unlikely to turn up anything. He heard Hank's gruff words of praise and assurance in his small ear piece. They were monitoring Nines' signal now. Reed showed his badge and stepped into the club unchallenged. It wasn't unusual for police to come around like this, though usually they were clients looking to skip the queue. The club allowed it because the special treatment made them more likely to turn a blind eye to any illegal activities going on inside.

The club was a little different from before. A lot of androids were deviant now, so there were fewer tubes along the walls. They'd changed their business model to include voluntary workers, both human and android. They'd also installed a bar and a dancefloor, which proved surprisingly popular. The poles were still there, and currently a deviated android was dancing at one and a human was swinging on the other. Reed kept his badge and pad in hand as he moved slowly around the edge of the room, scanning for anyone who might be a potential suspect.

Figuring he may as well start with the staff, he stepped up to the bar and flagged down the server. They'd worked a few nights the week before, but had been inside the whole time, and by the time they'd left, it had been quiet outside. They'd noticed nothing out of the ordinary. Of course. The staff were helpful in other ways, too. They could point out some of their regulars. The types who came in on certain nights like clockwork. Reed thanked them and moved around those they'd pointed out. He was met with a mixture of surprise and annoyance. Of course, no one could remember. It had been a whole week, and the police had been around a few days ago anyway. Good thing I'm not actually looking for information, otherwise I'd be pissed.

"Reed? Gavin Reed? Fuck, man! I've not seen you in weeks!" Reed turned in surprise at the loud voice, forcing a bright smile as he saw one of his old colleagues. Three of them, in fact. He was on edge instantly. These were ex-police officers. The ones who'd been let go during Connor's purge. Part of him wondered if he should be surprised to see them in the Eden Club, but maybe he shouldn't. Just because they hated androids, didn't mean they wouldn't put their dick in one. It was all they were good for in their eyes.

"Stevenson! How the phck are you doing?" Reed asked with forced enthusiasm, putting on a smile to match. He heard Hank saying something, but couldn't make it out over the noise. On the plus side, Hank could hear him, so he knew he was distracted. He reached out and grasped hands with the tall brunette, who almost looked like he'd stepped out of the eighties with his bushy moustache and clean-shaven cheeks, not to mention the bushy mullet. They were all dressed neatly in various colourful shirts with dark trousers and neat shoes. The perfect outfits for a night on the town.

"I've been good! We were lucky. Some mutual friends managed to find us work after that plastic prick got us fired. You still on the force?" Reed showed his badge in response. Stevenson was clearly surprised. He scoffed as he set his hands on his hips, more annoyed with the bosses than with Reed himself. "How the fuck did you swing that? Thought you were the worst of us!" Reed chuckled in an almost conspiratorial tone as he stepped closer to Stevenson and his two friends, Benson and Dobbs. Good cops, or so he'd thought.

"You've got to go with the times, you know what I mean? I got through well enough for Fowler to give me a pass. Had to completely drop going to meets though," he replied as he clasped hands and greeted the other two former officers. Shit, they'd all been in the training, and they'd all quietly mocked the speakers and Connor. He also knew what they meant when they said they'd gotten work through mutual friends. They had to be talking about the AAL. He knew they'd been members back in the day. He'd even been at some of the same meet ups.

"Man, you were lucky! We didn't even make it to the third day before we were cut!" Dobbs complained as he ran a hand through his sandy hair. Reed nodded his sympathy and decided not to brag. That wasn't the route to get information. Not that he'd expect them to actually cooperate. Reed raised his pad and tapped the paper with his pen.

"Hey, maybe you were the lucky ones. They phcking partnered me with one of them! A new one. Supposed to be better than Connor. Got it out in the alley across the way right now, looking for evidence on a case. Can you believe this phcking thing thinks it can pick up a clue from a week old crime scene? What a phcking joke! And, of course, I can't go home until it's done mooching around. Luckily, it agreed I could come in here looking for witnesses...Figure you can help a guy out? Can't go back empty-handed." Reed put on a grateful expression as the trio nodded. He let them lean over and see what he had so far. He didn't have any incriminating information, so what did it matter? They sympathised with his story, grumbling about how unlucky he was. Reed laid it on thick, making it seem like Nines was now the one in charge leading him around on a leash. They fucking ate it up.

"Suppose you'd be pleased if he disappeared, right?" Benson added with a smirk. Something in his dark eyes set Reed on edge. He felt prickles running up and down his spine, and the hair on his neck stood up. Benson had some Asian heritage, though he wasn't sure exactly what it was. Chinese or Japanese probably. He had just enough European blood to give him a strong jawline and bring out his cheekbones. Handsome guy. Looked like a creep right now though. There was something downright cruel in the way he smirked.

"It would mean a lot of paperwork, but sure. Then I could finally get back to normal!" Reed replied with a small chuckle. He didn't miss the looks that passed between the trio. Stevenson excused himself, phone lit up with a call. Reed wanted to follow and listen in somehow, but there was no way he'd be able to do that with Dobbs hanging over his shoulders. Phck, too close-too close! He took in a breath to stop the pressed in feeling. Having gently pushed Dobbs off and reclaimed his personal space, he realised just how large, open, and busy the club was. Bodies moved and pressed in on all sides, voices yelling loudly over the music. He took another breath. This wasn't the time to work himself into a panic attack. He looked at his pad and lowered his head more, determined not to notice the mass of bodies surrounding him.

"Saw you're working on that android case...Damn shame, am I right?" Benson's tone suggested it was anything but a shame. Reed allowed the elbow on his shoulder, smirking up at him in return.

"My heart phcking bleeds. You know how much shit I've had to deal with? Kids, grieving widows, phck! Some of them are even human!" Benson winced in both sympathy and disgust. How could any human let themselves get involved with an android? Didn't they know they're just glorified sex dolls? They couldn't really feel anything. These humans must be pretty fucked up. "You know what gets me? They look at me like shit! Like it's my fault! Like I'm not doing enough, but my partner? Phck! They accept whatever he says, just because he's a phcking android!" Reed's scowl deepened, his tone becoming more and more bitter. It was almost scary how easily he could slip his old hatred on like a shroud. Maybe the old Gavin Reed hadn't gone as far as he'd thought. The thought made him shudder.

"The guys are on it." Stevenson shared a knowing smile with his friends as he returned, raising a bottle to his lips.

"On what?" Something stirred in the pit of Reed's stomach.

"Just work stuff. You know how it is," Stevenson replied nonchalantly as he accepted a beer from Dobbs. Reed nodded uneasily as he heard Hank shouting in his earpiece. It had started. Nines had been taken, and they were following. Reed flipped his pad shut. He had to get back to his car and follow as soon as possible. He took a breath and let out an almost theatrical sigh.

"Well, I'd best get back to it. Can't leave him out there all night," he scoffed casually as he turned to leave. The trio laughed heartily, something nervous in their eyes as they looked at each other. Stevenson stepped in Reed's path as Benson laid a hand on his shoulder and Dobbs looped an arm across his back. He felt trapped. Not good. He stiffened under the unwelcome touches, feeling on edge as he looked between them.

"Don't be in such a rush! We haven't seen you in weeks! Have a drink with us," Benson insisted, keeping up his casual nature. The other two looked a little less certain, almost worried. They didn't want him to leave the club just yet. They don't know Nines is gone already. Something must have slipped on his face. Perhaps realisation. Perhaps apprehension. Whatever it was, it made Benson's hand tighten. Reed licked his lips as he looked between them, taking a couple of steps back.

"I'm still on the clock. You know how it is...My partner will come looking for me if I don't get out soon." He found it hard to keep up the annoyance in his tone as he was overcome with worry. He knew that Nines had already been taken, but they clearly didn't. "Step aside." His tone at least maintained its rough edge. His gun was still on his hip. He could force them to move, but that would not only completely blow his cover, it would also scare the regulars. He could start a fight, but with three against one, it wasn't looking good. Shit, how do I convince them to let me through?

"You heard the man...Stand aside." Reed's whole body stiffened as a tall figure pressed against him from behind. A familiar cologne hit his senses, and he knew who it was without even looking. He sighed in relief as he relaxed into Anton's gentle, almost protective hold.

"Anton, what the phck are you doing here?" Reed gruffed, though he couldn't hide the fact that he was relieved to have an ally. The other three backed off a little. Not because of Anton, but because of the four men in suits who'd appeared along with him. The gangster hummed almost dismissively as he rested his hands on Reed's hips. It almost felt wrong now.

"Just a little business...It looks like you require some assistance, Detective." Anton's tone was almost dripping with honey as he felt a little lower down and caressed his thigh with one hand. Reed looked over his shoulder almost reproachfully, and Anton drew back. Feeling a little more confident, Reed tucked away his pad and pen.

"I was just leaving," he insisted, glancing at the trio of ex-police officers. They'd run these streets for some time. They knew who they were dealing with. Anton's gang was hard to miss. They backed off with expressions ranging between worried and annoyed. Reed walked between them confidently. He knew that Anton was at his back without looking. Once he was at the door, he ran into the alleyway. Despite knowing what he'd find there, he still cursed under his breath at finding it empty.

"Something happened here?" Anton asked curiously as Reed shoved him out of the alley's entrance. He already had his phone in his hand. He had to call this in and get forensics down there. They might find something. Some small bit of evidence.

"My partner just got taken, phck!" Anton remained silent as he watched him call out a forensics team and some officers to watch the area. He had no choice but to wait. He cursed under his breath again as he pulled his phone out and brought up the GPS. They still had a signal on the tracker, but it was moving away fast. They must be on some less busy backstreets. He couldn't follow yet, but at least he knew Hank and Connor were on it. Phck, I hope he's okay...

"You seem upset...Getting attached to the pet robot?" Anton's playful expression dropped as Reed levelled him with a hard stare. "Sorry I asked..." he murmured awkwardly as he looked towards the club. His guards had stepped out to watch the area and make sure those other guys didn't cause trouble. Anton regarded Reed. They'd had something once. Not a relationship, but as close as either of them had been willing to get. He'd known him for many years, and he'd never been so defensive over anyone else. His foot was tapping. He was restless. Constantly looking at his phone or towards the mouth of the alley, even though he knew his people wouldn't be there for at least another twenty minutes.

"Stop phcking staring!" Reed mumbled guardedly as he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"I can't believe I'm doing this..." Anton sighed as he signalled to one of his guards. Reed frowned questioningly, looking up as a sleek black car pulled up beside them. The guard tossed the keys to Anton, who waved them in Reed's direction. "My men can keep an eye on your precious crime scene. Get in the car!" Anton climbed into the driver's side without looking back. Two of the guards silently took the back seat while the other two approached the mouth of the alleyway. Reed paused. He shouldn't leave the scene without an officer taking over from him. It was protocol. These men could plant evidence. When forensics reported this, he'd be in deep trouble. Anything found would be inadmissible due to possible tampering. Tampering with what? There's not a phcking thing here!

"Shit, drive the phcking car!" Reed caved and climbed into the Mercedes. He buckled up quickly and pulled out his phone to bring up the GPS, watching Anton glance at it every so often. He wove through traffic quickly. Cars moved aside as they noticed the black Mercedes speeding towards them, screeching and swerving as it flew by. Reed gripped the handle above his head, wondering how he'd explain it if the traffic department saw them. He looked at the GPS. They'd left the main city. They were heading to the outskirts. There were plenty of places around there, any number of roads they could turn off. He scrolled along the map, eyes widening as he noticed the old nuclear plant. Phck! He knew what was going to happen a moment before the red light blipped out. "The signal's gone! Phck!"