Alyssa found Michael sitting at the kitchen table.

He held up a couple of letters. ‘Our insurance premium has jumped by a third and they’ll give us the loan we asked for, but only if we pay the top rate of interest. It seems we’re too high-risk. I’d love to see the algorithms and data behind those decisions. You okay?’

‘I’m fine. Tired. I’ve got spreadsheet eyes. And I’ve just had a call from Brandon. He had a visit by the police this morning. Said he’d been identified as a potential pre-criminal by some programme they’ve got. He’s as ornery as a bag full of hornets.’

Michael put the letters down. ‘Pre-criminal? What the hell is that bullshit?’

‘They think he’s either already a criminal and not yet been caught, or he’s at risk of becoming one.’

‘Brandon? He’s training to be a paralegal.’

‘That’s what he told them. But they said that their data indicates he’s related to, or is a friend or known associate of, people who do have a record.’

‘So, if my brother commits a crime, or my old school friends do, I’ll be flagged as a potential criminal? That constitutes warranted suspicion? No actual evidence, just a hunch based on bullshit data? And what is this so-called data? Because it sure as hell doesn’t know anything useful about Brandon; the man acts like a wannabe saint.’

‘He says it was his network of friends on social media linked to arrest records.’

‘Seriously? If I’m friends with someone on Facebook who’s been arrested I’m assumed to be a criminal as well? And the police come and hassle me? You’re his sister and I follow him on Instagram, are we also in this bullshit database?’

‘Look, calm down, honey. They were warning him that they’re keeping an eye on him. It sucks, but …’

‘Calm down? Are they also keeping an eyeon rich white dudes? It’s bullshit, Alyssa. It’s racial profiling dressed up as predictive policing.’

‘I know, but getting mad doesn’t solve anything.’

Michael’s phone started to ring. ‘And nor does ignoring it. Yes, David? … What? … Channel 9.’ He pointed at the television. ‘Dead? What the …’