Robotec

By Gurmeet Mattu

A detective story with a touch of science fiction in this novella-length (20,000 words) introduction to Mac, an android detective and his veteran human partner, Detective Frank Stagg. Mac isn't the powerful mechanical Robocop of the movies, you see, but a delicate sensing and problem-solving device and needs Stagg to defend and protect him. Their first case together seems to be inconsequential, a missing person, and the resolution seems to imply no crime has actually been committed but it leads to murder and madness as the pair confront a national institution. Fast-paced and occasionally light-hearted, Robotec contains enough twists and turns to satisfy every mystery fan.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eroticafe
• Release date: Feb 3, 2014
• ISBN: 9781497768062

Book preview

Chapter One

The young man had a routine. The corner shop had to be empty before he went in and made his purchase. Always the same shop and he refused to be served by anybody but Mr Gupta and always as close to 3.15 on Monday afternoons as he could manage after the Saturday draw, though he did all of the weekday ones as well. He never watched the results on TV but waited to be told about his fate by the elderly Indian. Only then, when he'd been told that he'd failed to win once again would he buy his next lucky dip Lottery ticket.

The big woman might have been beautiful if she hadn't had such an addiction to fats and sugars in her earlier days. But the years she'd spent in overeating had left their mark; her jowly flesh masked what might once have been a delicate and refined facial bone structure and her body's curves were cloaked in flab. But she was tall, so that redeemed her a little, carried her weight well, and she had a great mane of coppery red hair which meant she was still of a stunning appearance. Her other major asset was a beguiling smile which was both warm and inviting, attractive to men but not threatening to other women.

It was this charm she now turned on Gilly Hand who waved her to a seat without a second glance. Gilly, stick-thin by comparison with the big lady, had seen them all, the long, the short and the tall, and they scarcely registered with her any more. Still, it reminded her that she too had once been like this woman, desperate for work and prepared to do anything to earn a living. She'd been a lot younger and prettier then, of course, and she'd come to the profession late, with her best years behind her, knowing she might have five or six years at most unless she specialised. There was always a demand for older women, but many of the girls burned out and wanted to exit the job with some dignity.

Gilly had got lucky and just as she was reaching the end of her career Harry had taken an interest in her and offered her the position as his P.A. which she'd gladly accepted. Harry's wife, Nadia, hadn't been well-pleased obviously and naturally assumed that Gilly was a floozy that Harry had taken a shine to, but Gilly knew that Harry never mixed business with pleasure and if he wanted her to be his personal assistant it wasn't with the intention of seducing her. As things had worked out Nadia and Gilly had taken to each other somewhat, especially when Gilly confessed to her boss's wife that she preferred the company of women to that of men, which was actually a lie as Gilly wasn't fussy.

The redhead coughed and Gilly looked up, finally acknowledging her. She was indeed a big girl and wore the kind of billowing dress that fat women imagined disguised their form but which actually exaggerated it.

Any chance of a coffee, love?

Um, don't think there's time, Harry's bang on schedule this afternoon, so he shouldn't be long.

Pity, I'm parched, I am, and I never give a good performance with a dry throat.

'Don't worry,' Gilly thought to herself, 'I don't think it's your voice Harry Bream's interested in.'

Harry's buzzer saved her from further conjecture and she waved the big woman into the inner sanctum, watching her traverse the carpeted floor like some olden sailing ship with heaving sails flapping.

Chapter Two

It wasn't my idea, it was the scientists who designed you who decided to call you Sherlock, Chief Inspector Nelson Hale said.

My project designation was XPT-40005l956gg, the robot replied, is that not sufficient?

Bit of a mouthful. What's the problem with Sherlock, I'd have thought it was a compliment?

The machine swivelled its grey head towards him and the red light in its eyes flared. By Sherlock I assume they wish to make some comparison with the fictional character, Sherlock Holmes.

Seems obvious.

But I am not fictional and I am not human. Also, to compare me to Sherlock Holmes might raise expectations. My faculties are not yet tested and to bestow such an eminent nomenclature on me might be premature.

So, what do we call you? Hale asked, his eyes narrowing wearily.

I have not yet processed that.

Well, please do so.

That is a Command Decision function. Do you wish me to proceed?

Yes, Hale snapped.

The robot's red eyes dimmed, as if it was drawing power from them to drive its thinking.

Within seconds it replied, I wish to be called Mac.

Mac? Why the hell do you want to be called Mac?

It is an abbreviation.

An abbreviation for what? You're not Scottish as far as I know.

In fact 38% of my mechanical components were manufactured in Lanarkshire and a great deal of my base programming was done at Edinburgh University, so I do have some claim to a Caledonian heritage.

You're also part Chinese, Japanese, Indian and American, so why Mac?

As I said, an abbreviation. I am a machine and Mac is an abbreviation of that.

Mash is an abbreviation of machine, not Mac.

I beg to differ. You are referring to the pronunciation whereas I am basing my shortening on the spelling.

Hale ran a hand through his thinning hair. Okay, okay, I'm not going to argue with you, Mac it is. Now, are you ready for your first assignment?

All systems report ready. Do you have a case for me?

All in good time. First I have to assign you a partner.

Chapter Three

Alice Ball entered the lift with her rear, right, upper molar aching. This visit to the dentist was long overdue because the filling had been loose for ages but cracking that walnut had been its death knell. Now, she was in agony and just hoped that the problem could be resolved quickly. She wondered why pains in the head always seemed much