Page 118 of Nearly Roadkill
Scratch:What kid?
Ms. Budge:Toobe. The kid. The boy.
Scratch:::face steaming up, red as hell:: You guys got nasty minds. I’d do *anything* for that “kid.”
Ms. Budge:OK, calm down. I had to ask.
Scratch:Where the fuck do you get your info? Why aren’t you going after real bad guys, like politicians and rapists?
Ms. Budge:My job is to go after you.
Scratch:So bypassing Registration is my “crime”? You’ve been chasing us for something you “suspect”?
Ms. Budge:I can get you on illegal trafficking of code, but the laws on that are so fuzzy, you’ll probably get off.
Scratch:And how do you get off, sir?
Ms. Budge:I don’t understand your question.
Scratch:Forget it.
Ms. Budge:Look. No one can prosecute you, let alone convict you. Come on in.
Scratch:So your only job is to chase people you suspect of keeping to themselves, and maybe just maybe committing crimes online, which is an unreal world in which nothing that happens is real.
Ms. Budge:Afraid it’s better than that.
Scratch:Yeah?
Ms. Budge:We’ve got warrants out for you and Winc.
Scratch:Why?
Ms. Budge:You were the one in the cute flower print dress at Coney Island, am I right?
Scratch:No, I was the big Black dude you’re so afraid of in your dreams.
Ms. Budge:If you keep hiding out I’m gonna have to add “Resisting Arrest.” I won’t like it, but I’ll do it.
Scratch:Why are you talking to me if you have a warrant?
He doesn’t have an answer to that. The screen scrolls blank after Scratch’s question.
Scratch:I think you want to know something else.
Ms. Budge:You interest me. You’re something/someone I don’t have a handle on.
Scratch:What’s so mysterious? brb.
Ms. Budge:Why do you DO this? DAMN! He’s gone again.
Scratch has left the room.
Scratch has entered the room.
Scratch:Good cop, no tracer.
Ms. Budge:Told you. It’s just me and you.
