Blue manages to make it back from his burner-dropping tour of the landscape sometime after midnight, but still in the small, small hours.

By this time, Karmakaze has received the key data from her contacts, and been able to collate it to a useful extent.

When Blue returns early in the morning, Karmakaze is fast asleep. The couch-bed is pulled out for him, with piece of paper left on top. Its a note, reading, """BLUE - There's a sandwich in the fridge - There is whiskey in the desk - I got to make some calls tomorrow - what time should I wake you?"""

While Blue sleeps, Karmakaze makes more calls. She doesn't find many leads, but PoliDemos turns up again. She makes another round of calls, but finds nothing new.

When Blue awakes, Karma is ready to pass what little information she has.

"""I didn't get anywhere, but our friends at PoliDemos are involved in this. They have been "cleaning up" the neighborhood of illegal activities, including prostitution. They may be involved with Daisy."""

Karma runs down the rest of her findings.

• Students of Justice is just a group of half-assed wannabe terrorists, no record of them being involved or associated with anything organized.
• Go-Go-Delivery is legit, and even sponsor local racing teams.
• No news on organized or other criminal rings in the area.
• The Japanese government is making a move on real estate, which the locals are against, and Ares Macrotech is working to make the grap difficult. If Ares don't keep them out, the elves might, and that could get, messy.

"""Hopefully your decker gets us something more concrete. I am going to visit the furniture guy and see if he knows anything. Then try to contact Daisy. After that, I guess it is back to PoliDemos, right?"""

Blue responds to the note before he settles in to bed. Let me have five hours. Then I'll check if Billie has something for us.

Karmakaze has the chance to find the retired joiner, and confirms what her online research revealed: that he lives in a tidy-looking little building, old but well-maintained by the looks of things, on a quiet street where the midseason sun cooks wisps of vapour off the tarmac. Everything looks peaceful, with traffic a muted rumble rather than a constantly present swirl. Not exactly a hotspot for the wildly criminal, in her eyes. Then again, with white collar crime being what it is, appearances may be deceiving.

At any rate, his doors are all closed and the loudest sound is an automated mail delivery drone tootling down the street .

"""Alright Blue, let's check this last dead end and hope that it isn't one."""

Karma is dressed a little more business professional for this visit, but the armor and weapons are still there. Loose pants and a loose light blue button up fit nicely over her form fit armor, make her look more fit rather than slender. She stills wears her armor jacket, but between its style and it being Seattle, doesn't stand out. Her heavy pistol is on her hip, but the automatic is left in the car.

Karmakaze knocks on the door and has her PI badge and identification ready.

The door doesn't quite open. Instead a panel in the door, so perfectly fit that the seam isn't apparent, slips open and through the gap (about 40cm on a side) she sees a somewhat wrinkled, human, male face.

"""Can I help you, ma'am?"""

Yes, he does sound rather like an old-school craftsman used to dealing with very high-dollar clients.

And the air from inside smells like sawdust.

"""Hello, sir. My name is Kris Kahless, I am a PI.""" She shows him her badge and continues. """I am looking for a woman from the enclave area, and I am hoping you can help. You may not have seen her, but you may unknowingly have some information that may help me locate her."""

Still holding her badge and ID up for the man to inspect, she looks over her shoulder and points at her companion. """That is my partner Blue."""

Blue tips his hat in response to Karmakaze's acknowledgement, and in respect to the prospective host.

The man eyes the ID for a bit, and then says: """All right. Let me go open the garage, and you can sit there."""

He slides the panel shut, and for a bit there's silence until the garage door opens. It's not so much of a garage, as it turns out, and more of a personal carpentry shop. He steps into it from inside the building, and gestures to a very elegantly assembled wooden bench - but so nicely rounded and polished that if it weren't for being all wood, one would be tempted to call it a couch. The rest of the space is taken up by beams and panels of wood, benches, pegboards, tables and a whole army of tools only some of which either Blue or Karmakaze could name.

He leans against a table, and says: """So what do you want to ask me?"""

"""Thank you. I appreciate your time, sir."""

She waits for the garage door to open. When it does, she finds a well-equipped workshop.

---

Karmakaze enters the shop ahead of Blue. The carpenter asks his question, then she asks hers.

"""I have a few questions, but I hope I won't take too much of your time.

"""I am looking for a call girl by the name of Daisy. You were long gone by the time she was in the enclave area, but it seems no one in the area now is willing to share any information. Our investigation has lead us to believe some sort of land grab or gentrification project is happening, and she may have got caught up in it. I was hoping maybe you accepted an offer to sell, or maybe got threatened, or just figured out what was going on, and moved out. In that case, you might be able to lead us to who is moving in on the area."""

Karma provides him with a description of Daisy, just in case.

""""I know you were probably gone before she was working the area, but maybe you still have friends that will help us find her."""

He listens thoughtfully, nodding, while moving to one of his workstations where he takes a rounded piece off a lathe. Then he chooses a very fine sanding sponge and starts to meticulously polish the nooks and crannies of the turned wood.

"""I don't know any call girls, but sure, I can tell you why I retired. Things were going on, peaceful as they get, and then one day the folks from PoliDemos show up, tell me that they're handling security now. I ask them what it means for me, and they say that it means I take down the 'Star cams, and they will put up their own. For free; no cost to me. Sounded like a good deal, but I wasn't born yesterday and I know a squeeze when I see one. They weren't suggesting anything illegal, you know? But they were making it pretty clear that they were moving in. So I sold out and retired."""

Blue Doesn't want to interfere in Karmakaze's questioning. This is her bailiwick. Nevertheless, he also want's to be part of the conversation. He chuckles at the mention of PoliDemos.

"""Yeah, we've had some interaction with that bunch ourselves. Your impression is spot on, as far as I can see."""

"""Thank you, sir. We knew PoliDemos was involved, but not to that extent. Do you have any friends, or know any other business owners that would be willing to help us? Any idea where they would house people they deem "criminals?" I think that is where Daisy is. Maybe we can locate some evidence to turn over to LoneStar, or post on the matrix, and have PoliDemos removed."""

Blue thinks while the conversation continues, +++I wonder what the hearth spirit for this place looks like?+++

"""No idea, sorry. I'm not in their inner circles. I don't think that they have a prison of their own anyway, I guess they just push undesirables out or something. I didn't cross them, and don't mean to. If your ladyfriend was pushed out, maybe she left with somebody else? I mean, if I were looking for somebody like that I'd look for where her last business manager went.

"""On the other hand, I don't know how many people actually, uh, dislike PoliDemos. They just aren't my style, but I know they were going around and I can't say I heard many grumbles. If you're looking for people who dislike them, check out ... hm. Maybe check the people who used to run the local business neighbourhood watch before PoliDemos closed that down. Surprised? You shouldn't be. The watch had been run by the 'Star, or at least sponsored, and I know that PoliDemos had broken that up."""

"""I will check with the watch. Thank you for that advice. Anyone else I should contact? Any other business that left when you did?"""

"""No, I don't know anybody else who moved around the same time. Not that I would expect most people to; it's not as if PoliDemos was going to be bad for business when they moved in, rather than just a changing of the guard. If you're looking for the watch I'd start with Nordicaf. They're a sort of viking-themed coffee stand off Stone Way, and they were part of it."""

"""Thank you, Mr. Svensson. This is the first positive lead I have on finding Daisy."""

She turns to Blue, """Do you have any questions that I may have missed? Or are you ready for a cup of Nordic coffee?"""

Blue looks around the workshop. """ Well, I do want to get on with the case, but first, Mr, Svenson, I see some of your work here. It looks mighty fine. What sorts of things do you make for people? I'm just wondering, in case I might want something down the road. """

He glances around his garage workshop, and chuckles. """I've done a little of everything, but joinery is most of my work. Furniture, like that seat, but also cabinetry. I also do woodturning, of course, but my house construction days are past me. Not that anyone builds that much with wood any more, and I gave up most of those tools long ago. Officially, I'm retired, but if you have a wardrobe or a cabinet that you need, you can give me a call."""

With that, he strokes a calloused hand over the surface of the workbench against which he's leaning, and Blue can tell from the precise fit that an expert craftsman assembled it lovingly.

"""Again, thank you for the help, Mr. Svensson. Here is my card if you remember anything else."""

Karmakaze handed him her private investigator business card.

She smirks, as not many people use physical business cards anymore, """I am a little old fashioned."""

Svensson laughs when he gets the card, but accepts it and tucks it into his back pocket before turning around and, after a moment's rummaging in a toolbox on his bench, comes up with one of his own. It's on stiff white cardstock, and reads: Svensson Handcrafted Joinery along with contact information.

"""Ignore the physical address, that's where the shop used to be."""

""" Nordic coffee it is, then. """ Blue follows Karmakaze back to the car.

Karma accepts the business card with a nod and a small smile.

"""Thank you. I definitely can use some of your handy work at my place. Thank you again for your time."""

She reaches to shake hands with Mr. Svensson before heading off.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

"""Nordic coffee it is, then,""" Blue says.

"""Yes. Hopefully this gets us on track to find Daisy. I am hoping she is safe in some policlub prison, which is an odd thing to hope for."""

""" If she is being held by those people, I think I might enjoy breaking her out. It seems I, maybe we, might become a thorn in their side. """

Trading a triple A corporate enemy for an extremist policlub enemy? Why not?

It's not a long drive to Nordicaf. It's a little stand with a tired asphalt parking lot around it. It looks as if it were built in 2000, and barely redecorated and rebranded since then. One side has a walk-up counter for whoever copes best with the Seattle weather, bicyclists and the like, and the other is drive-through. The stand has a sort of stylised norse high pitched roof, and a couple of stylised viking battle axe silhouettes in its branding. A little too on-the-nose? Maybe. But at least you know what you're getting.

It's not too busy right now, with customers sort of trickling through.

""" Looks like the walk up counter if we want to have a chat, right? """

Karmakaze walks up to the counter with Blue.

"""Hello. Do you guys have a special? And do you have anyone here who was part of the old neighborhood watch?"""

Karmakaze's rather unsubtle approach produces a rapid succession of expressions on the person at the window: curiosity, followed by glad agreement, followed by wariness.

"""Uh, sure. Special today is herbal mocha with a shot of cool mint."""

There is no follow-up statement on the watch, but the barista takes a glance over her shoulder.

Blue tries to see who the server might be looking at over her shoulder.

Blue doesn't immediately see anything there; the other side of the little coffee shop from the walk-up are is the drive-through area, and while there is a car there, it doesn't look like anything special or memorable. Just some slot's ride to the saltmines.

Inside, the shop is packed with everything that the trade demands; water and electricity supplies lead to automated delivery systems, grinders, push-button arrangements for everything from espresso steam sources to cold brew drip management machinery. It's all arranged so that the barista can deliver the maximum enhanced water with a minimum of time and effort spent. Honestly, a halfway-decent software agent could run this show. The human is largely there for a combination of nostalgia and trouble-shooting.

While Blue contemplates these facts, the car's slot is served a disposable cup, and Karmakaze gets direct attention once more.

Bouncing around in the back of Blue's consciousness is the fact that he hasn't cast a spell or summoned a spirit in almost half a day. Back in the Biozu days he was an almost constant conduit of mana. It feels weird.

"""I'll go for one of those specials. Never had that before. """

"""I will have the special as well. Mint chocolate sounds delicious."""

Karmakaze produces another one of her business cards and hands it to the barista.

"""I am a PI, and I am hoping someone who was on the watch previously might have information on a cold case we are working. I don't think the current guard is going to be very helpful."""

The barista starts with the specials. Apparently the herbal mocha involves lavender in addition to the mint, and this blend of scents is puzzling to the nose.

While doing this, the barista gives Karmakaze a few sidelong glances, and finally says: """Yeah, OK. Uh, whaddya wanna know? I mean, the old watch is done, right?"""

"""Maybe. Or maybe that is temporary. PoliDemos is involved in some sketchy business that might get them removed from the area, depending on what we can find.

"""I suspect them in the disappearance of my subject. A young woman, about 5'4" human with shoulder length blonde curly hair, with a slim but curvy body. She may have been working as an escort.

"""Do you know of anyone like that, or where they would take someone of her profession? Some sort of jail or relocation?"""

Blue would like to call Billy at this point to see if he has come up with anything regarding their questions, but not here. Not while they are static.

+++ Man, I am running low on these burners again. +++

The barista frowns a little, while still pressing buttons and dispensing liquids into cups.

"""Careful with code like that, scan? Parrots have eyes and ears. B stock gets sold to wholesalers."""

After that gnomic response, the barista turns to the vehicle side of the kiosk and hands over a couple of cups. Then she turns back to Karmakaze and hands over two specials. Thin wisps of vapour rise from the mouthpieces.

Blue's eyes fog over at those cryptic comments. +++ What planet am I on? +++

"""Copy."""

She hands the barista her card while saying, """Maybe I can find the answers I am looking for elsewhere, but maybe we can have lunch or drinks later."""

The barista looks taken aback for a moment; as convenient as they can be, cards are definitely an older way of doing things in this era of copied data, but with a swift motion she swipes it up and tucks it under her shirt, into her bra.

That can't be comfortable.

Anyway, she nods. """I'll link you later. Coffee OK?"""

"""Yes. Thank you."""

The barista turns back to the next car in line, and gets back to work. Overhead, the clouds are clearing a bit and the wind is freshening. There's a smell of seaweed coming up from the direction of Elliott Bay, even stronger than the stinks of the intervening city. In this coastal city it's easy to remember that the change in the world brought a resurgence of natural growth.

Karma finds a street side table to take their coffees to. The ocean breeze is a welcome change to the wet cement and smog aromatics of most of the city.

"""We might as well enjoy a 10 minute break, while we wait on some of our contacts to get back to us. Maybe we can put some more load on your decker friend? Maybe he can locate the poli police and jail locations."""

""" Once we are ready to leave, I can call Billy to see if he has anything on the items in your list I sent him. Maybe he can find out if there is a local chapter of our friendly, new policlub. We can also check out the Students of Justice, who might be working for Polidemos. Then there is the delivery service that could have done the actual snatch of Daisy.

"""Lots for us to look into. While we sip and think here, I'll summon a spirit to accompany us on our rounds."



""" I have one, with some services owed. """

::: Thank you for answering my call. Please stay nearby. :::

"""Once we can get to some place without witnesses, as the spirit has to come into our plane to affect things here, I can ask it to protect us and our vehicle from accidents. """

The spirit arrives in the form of old wrappers and trash blown on a slow-whirling eddy of air and spray and vapours. Its voice is the low roar and rumble of wind in the skyscrapers and distant traffic.

There is nothing back from Billy on his own, as of yet.

"""I feel like we should head away from here so I can contact Billy; to see if he has found anything related to your list we sent him. Maybe he will know of a local chapter of PoliDemos, or where the former watch was housed."""

Blue is itching for dusk to come. He's itching to know if Mitsuhama has called off the hunt. He's also itching to get on with the search for Daisy, as every passing hour makes finding her less likely. That's a lot of Itchy and very little Scratchy.

"""Agreed. Let's contact Billy and set up a meet if needed."""

Once the two have left the vicinity of the coffee bar, Blue dials up Billy with the burner phone he has used last. Of course, this, yet another, phone will be tossed as soon as the conversation is over.

"""Hoy, Billy. """ Blue congratulates himself on using a street term. """ Got anything for me? """

Blue's cheery words die on his lips when he realises that his burner is not connecting. In fact, his burner is indicating that it is failing to connect to Billy's.

Not for lack of signal; it's happily trying to sell Blue on tasty pancakes nearby, it would love to upgrade Blue to a long-term contract complete with a virtual girlfriend who is compliant with various add-on devices for Blue's personal gratification, and by the way did Blue know that Melony Michelson is coming to town? ... but nothing from Billy. Not even an option to leave a message.

Is Billy dead? Possibly - but that wouldn't imply that his phone's account wouldn't work. Did his phone fall into Puget Sound, or the sewers by way of his toilet? Maybe - but again, the account should still be live.