The Zoo had nothing for me. All their animals were still locked up in white fiber-glass cages. Still R&D had never led me wrong before. I was missing something important but I couldn’t put my finger on what. I gave the Keeper a wry smile and a shrug as if to say “It could happen to anybody”. She rolled her eyes and gestured toward the door I came through.

“Well, if you think of anything-” I said.

“I know where I.A. is, thank you very much.” Her tone said she’d rather make a dentist appointment. I couldn’t blame her- unless was hiding something from me. No one likes Internal Affairs. We spy on our neighbors while pretending to be one of them. It never really works though. We’re too different.

I tipped my hat, got a good look at the badge attached to her lanyard and walked on.

Once I was out of sight, I pulled out my pocket notebook and jotted down a note. Mimi Rodriguez gave me a tour of the Zoo and assured me that everything was accounted for. Why did R&D finger the Zoo?

Next stop was the Incenerators.