Case #2: Video

[19centconstable]

[George looks pale and rumpled, like he has not slept. His hair is trying to un-part itself. His constable's coat is off. His suspenders are holding steady, but his shirt is threatening to become un-tucked. His eyes are glazed over, and he speaks slowly and groggily.]

I...saw...movies...

You tell them not to open the door, but they always

Comments

howie's afk for the night. EDDIE'S TURN.

[needshumility]

Fingermarks... I didn't think any of you had barcodes.

[19centconstable]

I'm not certain what that is, but fingermarks are...marks left on things by...well, everybody's fingers have these tiny ridges on them in sort of swirly patterns, and nobody's patterns are exactly the same as anybody else's.

[needshumility]

They're not... swirly patterns. They're lines.

Wait. Do you mean on my finger tips, or under my nails?

[19centconstable]

Your fingertips. I'm not sure how someone might touch things with their fingernails. Unless they were very long. But that just seems unhygenic.

[needshumility]

Oh, are these marks you leave behind?

I thought you meant like...

[He holds his hand up to the camera. There's uneven black lines going down his nailbeds. Like a barcode.]

This.

[19centconstable]

How on Earth did that happen?

[needshumility]

It didn't happen, everyone where I'm from has them.

[19centconstable]

Where do they come from?

[needshumility]

The animals have barcodes. I presume this is our version.

[19centconstable]

Miss Brunswick is telling me something similar. I've never seen an animal with markings like that.