The Atomic Ballerina (Old Chrome Book 2) by I.O. Adler

Author:I.O. Adler
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: post-apocalyptic, dystopian, miles kim, ex-cop main character, veteran main character, older main character, science fiction crime and, ystery, steampunk, cyberpunk, cattlepunk
Publisher: Lucas Ross Publishing
Published: 2022-01-14T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

ristan hurried to catch up and almost stumbled as they navigated through the Imaginarium’s open air back lot. Half-T

finished projects competed for space with scrap wood, molded plastic, and metal. Several large material printers chugged along under the supervision of a team of toy makers.

A small radio played up-tempo pop music, the volume high enough to be heard above the noise. The radio appeared to be the same or similar model to the others he had seen of late.

No one paid them any mind as they passed through the lot. The workshop’s back gate clicked closed behind them, letting them out into an alley between a row of brick buildings.

Device in hand, Tristan paused to look the opposite direction of where they were going. “Hey, my trike is back out on the street.”

“I wanted to check something out. The owner told me I might have some luck with one of his neighbors.”

“Which one? I’ll pull around and we can go in together.”

“This way is faster.”

He led Tristan through the back alleyways to a sidewalk and scanned it for the motorbike. Didn’t see it. After a speeding van zipped past, he darted across the street and headed straight into a café.

“Your lead’s in here?”

“Yeah. We can get you your lunch at the same time. Grab us a table. I’ll be out back.”

The café had a rear exit down a cramped passage with a single restroom. The establishment shared a small weed-infested parking lot with several other neighboring businesses. A recycling bin sat next to a water tank. Miles crouched between them. He only had to wait a minute.

The high whine of the electric bike engine grew louder. The rider pulled up next to the first of the parked cargo vans and glanced about. He tapped a screen on his dashboard. A phone app. Miles

couldn’t quite make out the conversation, but he didn’t need to. He could hear enough to know who the rider was speaking with.

Tristan.

Miles walked straight for the rider. Before he could react, Miles gave him a hard shove, the bike keeling over. The rider scrambled back as Miles advanced and slugged him. The rider sprawled on the ground. Miles was on him as the rider grabbed for a burner. He dropped it when Miles slammed him once, twice, a third time into the concrete. Tore the man’s helmet off. Young, early twenties perhaps, frosted spikey white hair, in good shape, eyes wide with fear. Miles prepared to cuff him when the rider went limp.

“S-stop! I give up!”

Miles kept a hand on his chest while patting him down. Beneath the bike jumpsuit, the rider wore a Yellow Tiger militia uniform.

“Why are you following me?”

“I wasn’t. I mean, I was, but just to see if you have any leads.”

“Leads on what?”

“The Fish girl. Everyone’s out looking for her. Lieutenant called in everyone who was off duty. There’s a reward.”

“So off-duty Yellow Tigers are looking for Agatha. You have a picture?”

“My mobile is on the bike.”

Miles let go of him and unclipped the device from the bike’s dash.

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