– He couldn't have known events ahead of time.

– However could have planned them.

– What are you trying to say?

The investigator looked away, thoughtful.

Indeed the professor in question was a unicum in his own right: he defended his dissertation at the age of 26, received his degree in 31, and in 32 became the author of a revolutionary scientific development in the field of neurolinguistic programming. In 33 he demonstrated a method of incubation of a cloned body. In the same year – a method of recording human consciousness into a digital form; in 35 – a method of loading a digital form of consciousness into a cloned body; in 36 he received a foreign patent for his invention, which, by the way, he demonstrated in violation of the statute of the closed research institute at an international exhibition of modern weapons. And… no one was able to repeat his method, invention. Or maybe even a discovery. This was a good reason to authorize the detention of the scientist by the competent authorities in order to find out, among other things, whether anyone else knows the secrets of the technology he implemented. After all, it changed the whole structure of human and mankind existence – it was possible to clone oneself young and, repeating this process, to be… eternally alive… and even more – to be different. After all, consciousness could be downloaded into any body.

Reflecting on this, staring at the monitor, ostensibly analyzing what he had heard from the visitor , the investigator was about to ask " what is it?" as she, having made a second pause, carried on: .

– P asked me to zero out all the accounts. How is that even possible? And my husband didn't have any small grants. And e, – she paused again for a couple of seconds, – it turned out that for some reason he had been transferred a very large amount of currency to his international account . An account I didn't know about. This guy did.

– This we also figured out and tried to block all kinds of accounts, – the investigator tried to calm e e down.

– Tell me, please, why didn't you take action to apprehend this blackmailer? And why don't I have access to his accounts, but you do?

– Access to your family accounts? We don't have access to them, we blocked them as part of the investigation procedure.

– Not to family, to offshore and trust.

– Are you sure they exist? I'm sorry, I'm still investigating. I have to ask.

E e face again overflowed with indignation.

– Am I sure?! And this is what – she pulled out of her purse a very expensive go brand sheet- statement from a crypto exchange, showing two accounts with two denominations of cryptocurrencies.

One listed 20 thousand units, the other 5 thousand . The yellow marker circled the amounts at the exchange rate at the time the statement was taken. The sums seen made the investigator slightly embarrassed, to say the least. By virtue of his position, by the level of cases that he had to handle, he had encountered larger sums, but… this was a servant of science. His inquisitive and trained eye figured out another e one peculiarity : the lady took the document from Hermes handbag, namely – from Matte Crocodile Birkin, which was sold at auction for about 203 thousand dollars. His suspicions of a conspiracy component in the script of Rembrandt's drama increased. His reflections put him into a lethargic state, from which he was brought out by the lady's question.

– Am I sure?! What do you say now?

– And where did you get this data from?

– From your madman, as you like to call him.

– Why would he give you that kind of information?

– He had a specific request, he's as crazy as you think he is.

– Let's stay within the bounds of tactfulness.

– Yeah, you should.

– What's the request?

She faltered a little.

– I am listening to you. You came to me for some purpose, – said the investigator in a questioning tone, assessing the visitor with an inquisitive look.

O on looked around, more out of habit, – there was no one in the office, bent slightly toward the investigator and said quietly:

– And do you keep a record?

– No, why? Not yet. If I'm recording, I should warn you. Is there something you want to tell me?

– Yeah. (chuckles)

– I'm listening.

She bent e.

– I all e understand, but all options have been tried. The only thing left is yours.

She was intriguingly silent. Now the investigator looked around involuntarily, looked questioningly at the not e.

– He asked to unlock his computer, then password key generation files, then log into his accounts and transfer the cryptocurrency to an account from which to cash them out. Or use them as currency in electronic payments.

– Hmm, how can I help you? – asked the investigator, thinking for a second. – If even I agree, to you understand to whom and what you are offering, right?

– Absolutely. I told you. I went to ZASLON , they wouldn't let me into his cell block. It's locked and sealed. No security clearance. Maybe you can… You can easily get a search warrant.

– Of course it is. It's investigative procedure. And I've already been there.

– When? may I know…? – she asked with a touch of indignation.