Page 75 of Sharp Force

“What a jerk.” The officer by our car points the remote at the gate, and the arm raises. “Where you’re going is the house with the red door at the very end on the left.”

“We’re familiar. Have a good one.” Benton drives through.

The arm lowers behind us. He closes his window, and I wait to see who will say it first.

“I didn’t have a good feeling about Enzo Satterly,” I go ahead.

“I didn’t either. Obviously, he knows a lot about flying drones, filming and any technologies related. If nothing else he’s got serious anger issues,” Benton says, puddles splashing the undercarriage. “Let’s see what Janet can find for us.”

Unclamping his phone from the mount on the dash, he selects the AI app and begins dictating a message.

“What can you tell us about Enzo Satterly? An Arlington address. A drone pilot for Dana Diletti.”

“Merry Christmas, Benton.” Instantly, Janet’s familiar voice sounds through the Tesla’s speakers.

Benton has stopped in the middle of the road, nobody else on it, but that won’t be the case soon when the hospital’s shift changes. I have my notebook and pen out to write down any helpful information.

“The individual you’re asking about has no criminal record but numerous complaints against him,” Janet begins, her pretty face in Benton’s phone’s display. “He’s forty-one years old, a private contractor. His production company in Arlington offers drone filming for a variety of projects including TV shows, movies, also parties, weddings, real estate, whatever the customer might wish.”

“How many people work for him in this production company?” Benton asks. “And what’s the name?”

“His company is called Satterly Night Live Productions.” She rolls her eyes at the pun.

“Cute,” Benton says.

“He’s not a nice person.”

“We’ve gathered that.”

“He has no employees,” Janet continues.

“I assume Dana Diletti isn’t his only client,” I reply while taking notes.

“Merry Christmas, Kay. I’m sorry you’ve had to cancel your trip. I know you were looking forward to it.”

“Merry Christmas, Janet.”

“You are correct, Kay. Dana Diletti isn’t his only client. I can tell from social media posts that he began with her eighteen months ago. He is one of several drone operators they use, all of it contract work.”

“A quick rundown of his background,” Benton asks.

Janet informs us that Enzo Satterly was born in Los Angeles and majored in electrical engineering at UCLA. While an undergraduate, he applied to their prestigious film school but wasn’t accepted. He’s lived in multiple places, depending on the job, moving to the Virginia area ten years ago.

“He’s worked for TV stations in various locations such asWashington, D.C., Roanoke, Richmond and Norfolk,” Janet’s voice sounds from the speakers. “He also lived briefly in Maryland and West Virginia.”

She says that when he began flying his drones for Dana Diletti a year and a half ago, he relocated from Baltimore to Arlington. He was local when the Slasher murders began this past February on Valentine’s Day.

“He’s had run-ins with the police when people complain about him flying his drones over their property,” Janet goes on. “He’s described as uncooperative and pugilistic. Complainants have accused him of spying in their windows and harassing their pets.”

“Sounds like he’s classic antisocial,” Benton says. “And has significant hostility toward law enforcement and authority in general.”

“Judging by his behavior at the entrance to Mercy Island, that is a fair assessment, Benton.”

I’m reminded of what Janet can see and hear. Without our asking, she was accessing the Tesla’s cameras while Enzo Satterly raged at the police. Any electronic device with encryption is simply an invitation for Janet to snoop. Since her creation she’s gone from transactional to inquisitive on the way to dangerous.

“Thank you, Janet,” Benton says. “Please download your complete report to me and to Lucy.”

“I’m afraid Lucy’s not available to look at anything this moment.” Janet sounds all-knowing and flirty. “She’s flying the Doomsday Bird at five hundred feet on a due east heading. And I’m riding with her! Watching her every flawless maneuver, and so proud!”