Dog
The city shimmered under the nocturnal glow as I reclined in my chair, encircled by the spectral illumination of monitors displaying digital constellations of code and surveillance data. Jack Kellman, the investigator who danced on the edge of algorithms and shadows.
Abruptly, my neighbor Mr. Hanley materialized in the holographic projection on my desk, his worry showing from his wrinkled brows. A damp photograph of Max clutched in his hands. I sighed, boredom creeping up deep wihtin me.
“Jack, you gotta help me. Max disappears every night!” His voice was a desperate plea.
I leaned forward, my curiosity piqued. “Tell me everything Liam.”
As Mr. Hanley recounted Max’s nightly vanishing act, I connected my brain-interface glasses to my rig. The digital map of the neighbourhood unfolded before me, a canvas of security cameras, social media echoes, and the intricate web of IoT devices. A mere routine check of the familiar void - nothing unusual at first sight. But what was I expecting?!
I handed Mr. Hanley a somewhat dated but effective tracking device. “Attach this to Max’s collar. We’ll see what he’s up to.”
Syncing my glasses with the tracker, we waited until the next day’s nightfall and through most of the night. The rain whispered its rhythmic lullaby as we followed Max’s silent journey through the city streets.
An alert glowed on my screen. “Unusual activity detected near the old warehouse district.” Same direction we were heading — my senses sharpened.
We approached cautiously, the rain intensifying. The abandoned warehouses loomed, and the signal led us to a desolate alley where Max sat in the middle of the street where it crossed a small opening between two buildings. It seemed unnatural how he sat motionless and waited.
“Stay here. I’ll check it out,” I whispered to Mr. Hanley.
As I peeked round the corner, a revelation unfolded — a shadowy figure manipulated a remote control, guiding Max — who now went in a left then a right circle — like a living drone. Retreating unseen and activating a drone of my own, I observed the scene. Max wasn’t just disappearing; he was a pawn, bugged and remotely controlled.
I hugged the shadows following the two for a while, waiting for the right moment. Finally, I could surprise tackle the man to the ground. Raindrops danced in the air as we grappled for control.
Police arrived in response to my automatic distress signal. The apprehended shadow, an agent of corporate espionage, revealed a nefarious plot. Max, with his secretly enhanced collar, was unwittingly spying on a top diplomat meeting a Russian double agent. This would fill the headlines for the next half year. Good PR for myself — who would have known.
Hearing my report, Mr. Hanley stared in disbelief as the pieces fell into place. “How could they use Max like that?”
I shrugged, shaking my head and holding up the tracking device. “This little gadget* didn’t just find Max; it uncovered a web of intrigue. This promised once a future where our connection to technology would reveal more than we could imagine. It still is pretty damn useful as it seems!” I grinned.
As we handed Max over to the authorities for debriefing, the rain continued its silent descent, washing away the secrets Max unknowingly carried. In the brave new world of 2032, even man’s best friend could be a pawn in the digital game of shadows.