Fox Hunt (Fox Meridian Book 1) by Niall Teasdale Page A

back, crossed at the wrists, which were just above her tail. Her tail was up, curled, and the end was twitching nervously, and Kit was wearing such an intent look of concentration. ‘What’s this?’ Fox asked. Kit paused, turning to look at her, and the expression switched from concentration to nervous query. ‘All the pacing and frowning. What’s with that?’
    Kit’s hands swung forward and she looked even more nervous as she clenched them together under her chin and began wringing them. ‘I… wanted to look professional. It’s my first report on potential criminal activity and–’
    ‘Okay. The presentation is nice and I like the rows of photographs. You’re an AI, so I expect your data to be accurate. I am aware that this is your first try at this so I’m not expecting you to get all the inferences right. I’m expecting to have to teach you what I expect to see in these cases so you know what to look for. And the pacing is making me dizzy. Why don’t you sit down and tell me what you’ve learned?’ Fox patted the sofa beside her because Kit’s pacing was really distracting and she wanted her out of eye line.
    Kit looked at the sofa and blinked. ‘Oh… o-okay.’
    ‘You know how to sit, right?’
    ‘Yes. I’ve just… I didn’t expect to be allowed to… It’s very familiar.’
    ‘I hate formality. I get enough of it at work. Sit.’
    Kit sat, her tail curling around to settle in her lap where she fiddled with the end of it while she went on. ‘I accessed the local news feed archives for the time around their separation. Some of the gossip channels picked up on it, but the story was covered only briefly and there was little detail. There was no indication of real problems between them; they were simply dissatisfied with the arrangement.’
    ‘So they had an amicable split and they seem to have been working together just as they were before that.’
    ‘Yes. No indications of other relationships prior to the separation. Financial aspects were handled equitably. He got their shared apartment in Time Spire, but she got a substantial financial settlement.’
    ‘Put through a request for the details of her will and–’
    ‘I anticipated that and made the request earlier today.’
    ‘Very good.’
    Kit smiled, still looking nervous. ‘I understand that money is a prime motivator in human society. If Mister Roberts were in some way financially inconvenienced and his ex-partner’s will favoured him, this would provide a motive.’
    ‘Thank you for explaining your reasoning. Who else do we have?’
    Roberts’s photograph shrank back and two others zoomed out. ‘These are the other two producers, Walter Dolan and Nathan Shark.’
    ‘Wait… Nathan Shark ?’
    ‘Originally Nathan Crabbit. He changed it five years ago before starting his career. A rapid rise through the ranks, but Murder is My Business is his “big break.” He’s the junior producer and the gossip channels suggest he was brought in to eventually replace Dolan, who is likely to move into an executive role.’
    Fox sighed. ‘So… Dolan might see his promotion threatened if his star writer shifted her attention to the competition. Shark… I’m sorry, I just can’t believe someone changed their name to “Shark.” I’m going to interview him just so he can explain that, but putting that aside, he could be seeing Trent’s activities as threatening his upward move.’
    ‘I had not considered that motivation,’ Kit stated, sounding surprised. ‘It is a more subtle variation of money. I should have recognised it. I am learning already.’ She actually reached out and gestured at the display, enhancing her presentation with a little interaction. ‘This is Madeleine Paretski, the star of Murder is My Business . She plays Cassandra Brook in the show. I accessed and reviewed some of her work which seemed… competent.’ That got a snort of laughter from Fox. ‘She was romantically linked with Mister Roberts for a few months