Intimate Relations, Rebecca Forster [best ereader for manga .txt] 📗

"It does bring up an interesting moral question," Thomas said. "If they look as real as you say, if they feel real, then is there some line crossed if you don't treat them like humans? I mean, is it possible to rape a doll? If so, and he hurt a human being in defense of the doll, is that on the same legal footing as defending a real woman?"

"'Tis above my pay grade, to answer a question like that."  Finn took a drink. "As an officer of the law, I cannot make a judgment since he was doing nothing illegal if he owned that thing. I can hold him on drunkenness perhaps. But as a man, I don't understand any of it. It seems to me there must be some sickness in these people."

"I have a feeling Mr. Cuca felt the same way.  The neighbors say he became progressively reclusive as his business grew. Maybe he was ashamed of how he makes his living. He admired the art, but the first time he got an eyeful of what people do with it he freaked out," Cori said.

"There is a difference, you know. Perception, reality, fantasy."

Thomas scooted up on the couch, energized by the discussion. He swiped a hand through his hair. He talked so fast Finn and Cori had to hang on his every word for fear of missing one.

"I've seen it all in my practice. It's amazing how people can work themselves up. When a person is hurt—especially if they were near death— they lie in bed reliving whatever went down. They decide the driver of the car that hit them meant to do it. If an operation doesn't cure them, then the doctor was incompetent or he actually wants them dead for some reason. When they sue and don't get the settlement they think they deserve, then I'm a shyster or criminal. They think I consciously want to ruin their lives. Perception. Fantasy. Reality. All of it is wrapped up into one experience, and all of it gets warped as it tumbles around in a brain."

Thomas shook his head. He put a hand on Cori's knee, but it was only a gesture of inclusion.

"Very few people can control their emotions. They can't be objective when their life takes a bad turn. Worse, they can't look at their own failings. I think your Mr. Cuca loved his art but hated what happened once it was out of his hands. All those people abusing something he lovingly created must have pushed him to the brink. It's a low blow."

"Lapinski, you're one smart shyster," Cori said. She gave his hand a pat, moved it off her leg, and dove in for a handful of nuts.

Thomas Lapinski beamed at Cori's compliment, and Finn smiled. Pity the man didn't see that his brilliance was only a small inroad to Cori's affection. It would take a patient man to win her over. One mistake in love had turned her into a single mother and a wary woman. Still, Cori's love life was none of his business. Cami's murder was.

"But, Thomas, this party wasn't all about pleasure. Whoever put it together had business to do. It was so important these very fancy men couldn't say no to the invitation."

"Except the host wasn't a person." Cori put the can of nuts on the coffee table and dusted her hands. "The invite went through the Asylum offices at the request of a corporation. The guests were directed to download an app, the invite went through, and it disappeared from their phones once it was accepted. I can't imagine there isn't some way to retrieve that invitation. I'd like to have a look at it."

"Don't bother wishing. Self-destructing message apps are amazing. You won't find a history," Lapinski said. "It's like Snapchat, but whatever Asylum was using was probably more sophisticated."

"Amber used Snapchat before she went back to school," Cori said. "It always looked like trouble to me. I'm glad she got rid of it."

"I'm not a fan, but that's the attorney in me," Thomas said. "I would also assume the invitation was sent to private numbers or emails. Even if you confiscated their phones, you might not have the phone it came in on."

"So what would you suggest, Thomas?" Finn asked.

"Try to find out if there was someone who didn't accept the invite. It might still be on their phone," Lapinski said. "Do you know how the women were invited?"

"I assume the same way," Cori said. "I'll find out"

"Do you have the name of the corporation? I can do a deep dive and try to figure out who is behind it. At the very least I can look at what they produce and get some idea of what might constitute an 'earth shattering' announcement."

Before Finn could speak, Cori had her jacket, purse, and Lapinski in hand.

"Oh, no you don't. Dinner time. We've done more in the last forty-eight hours than we usually do in a week," she said. "When you get on that damn computer you never quit." Lapinski got up and buttoned his coat, but his smile faltered when Cori asked: "You want to come, O'Brien?"

Finn shook his head.

"Thank you. I'll be fending for myself tonight."

"Okay, I won't be late. If you're asleep, I promise to tiptoe past the couch," Cori said. "Leave the key under the mat if you decide to take off."

"I will," Finn said. "But before you go, I have one more question. Thomas do you know the name of the person who invented Bitcoin?"

"I do. Satoshi Nakamoto," he said. "Why do you ask?"

"Does he have another name?"

"Not that I know of." Thomas helped Cori on with her jacket "Again, why?"

"One of the neighbors saw a man in the Cucas’ unit. I've written down the other name he gave me, but I can't remember. All I do remember is that he said it might be the man who invented the Bitcoin."

"Nobody has ever seen