* * *
“Keep the meter running,” Remi said when they’d reached their destination. “I shouldn’t be too long.”
“You got it,” the driver replied before Remi shut the door.
Remi pushed open the large glass door to the sound of a bell chime and stepped into the confines of the repair shop. The disarray was akin to a teenager’s bedroom - computer innards were heaped and strewn about in every which direction - but the man who stepped out of the back room looked to be about three times that age. He was tall, paunchy, greying and wore eyeglasses.
“We’re just about closing for the day pal, why don’t you come back tomorrow?” he said.
“This won’t take long, I found something in the park and I was just wondering if you could tell me what it is.”
“Let’s see it.”
Remi pulled Jane out of his pocket as he walked up to the counter, noticing the attendant’s name badge as he did. He held the silver box up to his face and spoke, “Jane.”
“Yes, Remi?”
“Say hi to Bruce.”
“Hi to Bruce,” the little box replied.
Remi smiled and shook his head before trying again, “I mean, please greet Bruce.”
“Hello Bruce, my name is Jane, it is a pleasure to meet you.”
Bruce raised his brow and nodded in appreciation, “that’s pretty sophisticated voice recognition for something that size. I haven’t seen that particular model though. What network is it on?”
“Like I said, I found her in the park, I don’t think she’s a phone,” Remi answered.
“It’s not a she, pal. It’s just a piece of hardware. Let’s take a look,” Bruce said and picked the box away from Remi.
“She’s really smart, she seems to be aware of what’s going on. Ask her something,” said Remi.
Bruce flicked Remi a look as if to say ‘fine, I’ll humor you’, and then said, “Jane.”
“Yes, Bruce,” Jane answered.
“How did you get here?”
“Remi placed me in his pocket and transported me by foot till he engaged the services of a man utilizing an antiquated four wheeled vehicle with a combustion engine, after disembarking he once again transported me by foot to this location.”
“That’s pretty impressive,” Bruce said to Remi, “I know for sure that we don’t have anything like this here. Maybe it’s Korean or Japanese...maybe Chinese...I’m not sure, there’re no markings on it.”
“I know, I checked.”
“I’ll give you a couple hundred bucks...take it off your hands for you,” Bruce suggested.
“That’s okay, I promised I’d help her find someone,” said Remi.
“Three hundred, that’s as high as I’ll go,” Bruce countered.
Remi snatched the silver box out of Bruce’s hand. “She’s not for sale,” he said before shooting Bruce a nasty look.
“Okay, four hundred,” Bruce called out as Remi walked away.
He didn’t answer. Remi was back inside the cab by the time the bell chimed on the closing door.
“5th and Gardenia,” he said to the driver.