Tek Kill Read Online Free PDF Page A

father is very well off, and he has a sister who dropped out of college last year. The kid had some sort of mental problems. Seems to have been a breakdown that was pretty likely triggered by a serious Tek addiction.”
    â€œTek,” said Jake quietly. “But Grossman himself has no involvement, no connection with the stuff?”
    â€œNone that I could unearth. But, again, it’s something to dig into further.”
    â€œDid you really threaten him?”
    â€œI threatened to coldcock him if he didn’t quit harassing Kay.” He held up a fist. “I might well have slugged him. But shooting a guy down with a lazgun—nope.”
    â€œAnd you were nowhere near his place last night?”
    â€œNever been there, Jake,” he said.
    â€œThe security tapes from your house show you coming home around four in the morning,” said Jake. “They were faked, obviously, but when were they substituted for the real ones?”
    â€œI’ve been thinking about that quite a lot,” admitted the agency boss. “I never heard a damn thing and no alarm went off. Ambrose, my valet, was found sprawled on his backside in the kitchen. Could be Drexler and his crew did that, but maybe it was done earlier by parties unknown.”
    â€œLieutenant Drexler is not an especially lovable guy,” said Jake, “but I don’t see him being directly involved in a frame.”
    â€œI wouldn’t think so, either,” said Bascom. “But we have to check up on him, too. Cops, as shocking as it may seem to a sensitive lad such as you, have been known to sell out for sufficient kale.”
    â€œWhen are you expecting to get out of here?”
    â€œKay’s working on it. Hopefully before sundown.”
    â€œMeantime, Sid and I will get going.”
    Bascom held up his hand. “Couple of more things, Jake,” he said. “Firstly, until I’m sprung, please, try to get along with Roy Anselmo.”
    â€œWe’re as friendly as can be, Chief.”
    â€œI’m sure, yeah,” said Bascom. “And then—well, Kacey dropped in on me right before you called.”
    â€œI know, I collided with her outside.” He pointed a thumb at the door.
    â€œThis is where, if you would, Jake, you can do me a favor,” confided Bascom, leaning forward in the chair. “Kacey and I haven’t been very damned close for a lot of years. I’m never going to agree with her politically, since she’s a wild-eyed nut in that sphere. I would, though, like to see her more often than I do. After this mess is over … well, I’d like to stay in touch. This family crisis has brought her back into my circle and I’d like her to stay a mite closer from here on.”
    â€œShe wants me to involve her in the investigation.”
    Bascom rubbed his hands, slowly, together. “I don’t think Kacey ought to become deeply mixed up in this business,” he said.
    â€œBut you don’t want her to feel she’s left out, either.”
    â€œThat’s about it. I’d be much obliged if you’d keep her distracted but not unhappy.”
    â€œDon’t they ask goats to do this when they want to catch tigers?”
    Bascom smiled. “You’re very good at dealing with wacky women, Jake,” he told his operative. “Roy Anselmo can’t cope with Kacey if she starts poking around at the agency.”
    Jake said, “I’ll give it a try.”

7
    WHEN the big robot rubbed his copper-plated hands together, they produced an echoing rasping sound. “This is swell, kids,” he said in his deep rattling voice. “We just installed this dingus and it’s supposed to be hot stuff. Unlike other identity imagers, this baby can—”
    â€œHey, we’ve got a class to get to in about sixteen minutes, Rex,” said Dan, impatient.
    Rex/GK-30 chuckled. “You flesh-and-blood types worry too much about a