Midnight by Brenden Carlson

Author:Brenden Carlson [Carlson, Brenden]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Science Fiction / Crime & Mystery
ISBN: 9781459745841
Publisher: Dundurn Press
Published: 2021-07-20T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

IT WAS THE EVENING OF DECEMBER 23, two days before Christmas.

Allen had never celebrated this holiday before, so although he was on a mission to find out what kind of weapon had almost killed him and his partner, he also made sure to peer through every shop window on the way to the New York Public Library. Streamers, presents, electronics — all of them were dirt cheap, with sales everywhere. It was an overload of the senses, flooding his eyes and ears as he explored the frivolities of the season.

Meanwhile, Toby was not enthralled by anything. He was the anchor dragging Allen back from complete absorption in the show of capitalism. Allen had hoped that bringing Toby along would give them a better chance of being admitted to the library. After all, two officers were more legit than just one, even if they were both Automatics.

“I ain’t no reading machine, Al,” Toby said, taking out a half-full bottle of something from under his coat. “You going to entertain me while we search?”

“Didn’t you quote Dumas a few days ago?”

Toby let out a grunt. “Shut up, you know what I mean.”

“Please, be patient. And you can’t drink on the job.”

“I’ll do whatever the badge lets me do, square.”

“Well, hopefully that badge will be getting us inside.”

“Yeah, here’s hoping the derms don’t try to stop us.”

“I could have very well gone with Sergeant Sinclair …”

“Nah,” Toby dismissed the thought, “I gotta keep you out of trouble, especially after our little conversation at the Funhouse.”

“I don’t need to be kept out of trouble?”

“You surely do after the shit I’ve seen.” Toby snickered. “Watch out, Al, you’re turning more human every day.”

The two machines approached the library doors, and just as he’d predicted, Allen had to explain their intentions up and down, even after they’d both flashed their badges. The guard at the front of the library said he would have their police numbers looked up. A quick call to Robins cleared things up, granting them access and leaving the guard with an aching ear and a severe dislike of the two machines.

The interior of the library was magnificent, spectacular even by Upper City standards. The murals and painted ceilings were well-maintained, chandeliers illuminated the scores of desks, and to the left and the right off the central hall there were thousands of books. It was a bookworm’s dream, and Allen desperately wished he could stay here and read every book they had.

Toby looked around rather lazily. “Fuck. You wouldn’t catch me in here without you.” Someone shushed him, making him twitch in annoyance.

“Try to be low-key,” Allen said. “We don’t want to cause any incidents. Not without a human present.”

“Fair point, chrome dome. Lead the way.”

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