Fox Hunt (Fox Meridian Book 1) by Niall Teasdale Page B
Authors: Niall Teasdale
Tags: detective, Science-Fiction, adventure, Mystery, Action, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, Sci-Fi, Police Procedural, Hard Science Fiction, Police Procedurals, cybernetics, robot, fox meridian
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following his separation from Miss Trent. There have been some comments suggesting that she thinks Miss Trent is doing Murder on My Mind because of that.’
Fox peered up at the attractive, blue-eyed blonde in the photograph. ‘I can see her being catty, but not killing over it. Unless the other show is a big enough threat… What are the rating comparisons like?’
‘ Murder on My Mind is Mystery and Mayhem’s premier show this year, first airing on a Saturday night. This means the shows do not compete for primary audience, but the new show is taking audience from the old one’s Saturday night repeat slot. They compete in a more comparable manner on a Tuesday night when both are showing repeats. Mind has been gaining steadily in that slot. The two are roughly even.’
‘Okay. I guess she’s worth a look. You’ve got a lot of people up there, Kit.’
‘Yes… But I believe most can be left to look at if these ones get you nowhere.’ She flicked her fingers at the display again, advancing a last picture. ‘This one, however, is Adrian Paul Daker. He’s a staff writer with the station, has done several scripts for Murder is My Business , and will get to do far more now that Miss Trent is deceased.’
‘Put him on the list then. Get requests for interviews sent out for all of them. I want to see them tomorrow.’
‘I will forward the requests immediately,’ Kit replied, smiling.
‘And I’m going to take a shower, grab a glass of wine, and watch something brainless.’ Fox got to her feet and was unbuttoning her jeans as she walked to the bedroom.
‘Unfortunately,’ Kit said to her retreating back, ‘neither Murder is My Business nor Murder on My Mind is showing tonight.’
‘Oh, ha ha. Not that brainless.’
19 th January.
Time Spire sat beside the maglev in the crook of Broadway and West 40 th , just outside the Manhattan Conservation District which began at 42 nd Street. The Spire was one of the earlier arcologies on the island and had been through a couple of refits as people decided that its facilities were not quite up to what they expected and businesses moved in to replace residents. The highest residential floors still had occupants, however, and the address still held some prestige. On the other hand, you got off the maglev at the Time Square station and had to use one of the pedestrian slideways to get into the tower.
According to Kit’s directions, IB-19 had their offices and production facilities on the 65 th floor. Roberts and Dolan had apartments near the top. Paretski, Shark, and Daker lived in other buildings, but had accepted requests to meet with Fox in the company’s offices. According to Kit, they were shooting an episode of the show today anyway so Paretski was on site.
The IB-19 office was a mass of v-tagged adverts for their programming which Fox had tuned out before she had taken the three steps from the main door to the reception desk. Her VA transmitted her ID to the receptionist, a stunningly attractive blonde whose smile barely flickered as she noted who was now standing in front of her.
‘Inspector Meridian. We were told to expect you. Mister Roberts is terribly upset over the loss of Miss Trent. We all are.’
Well, the fake regretful smile was impressive, but still fake. ‘I’m sure. Is Mister Roberts available? I’d like to start with him. I also understand that Miss Paretski is shooting today? If someone could arrange for me to see her when she’s available, that would reduce the disruption, I think.’
The blonde smiled. ‘Of course. I’ll make arrangements. Mister Roberts is in his office. Third door on the right.’ She pointed to Fox’s left where a corridor led deeper into the suite.
Nodding, Fox followed the directions and was walking into Alan Roberts’s office a second later. The work he had had done to keep himself looking young was not working for him. The bleak smile he offered up as she stepped into the room just appeared wrong on a face
Fox peered up at the attractive, blue-eyed blonde in the photograph. ‘I can see her being catty, but not killing over it. Unless the other show is a big enough threat… What are the rating comparisons like?’
‘ Murder on My Mind is Mystery and Mayhem’s premier show this year, first airing on a Saturday night. This means the shows do not compete for primary audience, but the new show is taking audience from the old one’s Saturday night repeat slot. They compete in a more comparable manner on a Tuesday night when both are showing repeats. Mind has been gaining steadily in that slot. The two are roughly even.’
‘Okay. I guess she’s worth a look. You’ve got a lot of people up there, Kit.’
‘Yes… But I believe most can be left to look at if these ones get you nowhere.’ She flicked her fingers at the display again, advancing a last picture. ‘This one, however, is Adrian Paul Daker. He’s a staff writer with the station, has done several scripts for Murder is My Business , and will get to do far more now that Miss Trent is deceased.’
‘Put him on the list then. Get requests for interviews sent out for all of them. I want to see them tomorrow.’
‘I will forward the requests immediately,’ Kit replied, smiling.
‘And I’m going to take a shower, grab a glass of wine, and watch something brainless.’ Fox got to her feet and was unbuttoning her jeans as she walked to the bedroom.
‘Unfortunately,’ Kit said to her retreating back, ‘neither Murder is My Business nor Murder on My Mind is showing tonight.’
‘Oh, ha ha. Not that brainless.’
19 th January.
Time Spire sat beside the maglev in the crook of Broadway and West 40 th , just outside the Manhattan Conservation District which began at 42 nd Street. The Spire was one of the earlier arcologies on the island and had been through a couple of refits as people decided that its facilities were not quite up to what they expected and businesses moved in to replace residents. The highest residential floors still had occupants, however, and the address still held some prestige. On the other hand, you got off the maglev at the Time Square station and had to use one of the pedestrian slideways to get into the tower.
According to Kit’s directions, IB-19 had their offices and production facilities on the 65 th floor. Roberts and Dolan had apartments near the top. Paretski, Shark, and Daker lived in other buildings, but had accepted requests to meet with Fox in the company’s offices. According to Kit, they were shooting an episode of the show today anyway so Paretski was on site.
The IB-19 office was a mass of v-tagged adverts for their programming which Fox had tuned out before she had taken the three steps from the main door to the reception desk. Her VA transmitted her ID to the receptionist, a stunningly attractive blonde whose smile barely flickered as she noted who was now standing in front of her.
‘Inspector Meridian. We were told to expect you. Mister Roberts is terribly upset over the loss of Miss Trent. We all are.’
Well, the fake regretful smile was impressive, but still fake. ‘I’m sure. Is Mister Roberts available? I’d like to start with him. I also understand that Miss Paretski is shooting today? If someone could arrange for me to see her when she’s available, that would reduce the disruption, I think.’
The blonde smiled. ‘Of course. I’ll make arrangements. Mister Roberts is in his office. Third door on the right.’ She pointed to Fox’s left where a corridor led deeper into the suite.
Nodding, Fox followed the directions and was walking into Alan Roberts’s office a second later. The work he had had done to keep himself looking young was not working for him. The bleak smile he offered up as she stepped into the room just appeared wrong on a face
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