Read The Ripple in Space-Time: Free City Book 1 (The Free City Series) for Free Online Page B

worry, ” Ryo snorted as he parked the hulking conveyance in front of the rundown
pub, “ we can take care of ourselves. ”
    “ I do have the Dublin Coroner on speed-dial, ” Keira quipped.
    “ That won ’ t be needed. ”
    “ Before we get started here, ” he admonished
his young cohorts, “ I want to forewarn you both that no one will be leaving
this pigsty in a body bag today. ”
    Lev shifted uneasily at the
caution.
    Keira bit her lip and nodded.
    “ When we go in, I want Lev to wait quietly in the
background. ” He stared sternly at the young man, “ Keep an eye out for surprise attacks and for anyone trying to sneak out.
Yell like hell if either happens. ”
    “ OK. ”
    “ Keira, I ’ ll do the talking when we get
inside, you stay well behind me and keep an eye out for trouble. This joker ’ s not likely to want to cooperate. ”
    Ryo took a deep breath and steeled
himself for the coming confrontation, “ Keira, will you alert the local
beat cops that we may have some trouble here within the next half an hour? Tell
them we ’ ll call if we need help, otherwise they should stay away. ”
    She quickly sent off the message
as Ryo finished up his instructions.
    The trio stopped on the sidewalk
to study the battered exterior of the shady drinking establishment. A rusty
marquee loudly proclaimed Satan ’ s Lair in flashing red lights.
    Just inside the door, Ryo stopped
his cohorts for several tense seconds as his eyes adjusted to the gloomy
tavern. A hideous and hefty bar woman scrutinized them from behind the counter.
Several solitary late morning inebriates were scattered about at the booths and
card tables.
    Just as he had instructed them,
his colleges took their positions.
    Ryo watched the proprietor
carefully as he approached the bar.
    She flexed her heavily tattooed
biceps menacingly, “ You three don ’ t belong here. ”
    He produced his badge and her eyes
narrowed, “ I have information that an unemployed Traffic Controller named
Julian Korbus is currently in this establishment. ”
    She glanced involuntarily to the
right.
    “ I want you to point him out to me and we ’ ll escort Mr. Korbus out of here without any trouble. ”
    The bartender shook her head
contemptuously, “ You Free City jerks don’t have no authority in this town. ”
    Ryo gripped the bar and lunged
towards her threateningly, “ We ’ re after the
thugs who blew up that laboratory on the moon! ” He sneered with
seething rage, “ Do you want to join them in a Syndicate prison? ”
    “ HEY YOU BARFLIES! ” the big woman shouted suddenly, “ Has anyone seen Jules Korbus? ”
    Ryo didn ’ t bother to turn around, he was certain that outburst was meant as a
warning to one of the half-dozen patrons in the dingy pub.
    “ I ’ ll shut down this place if I don ’ t find this idiot in the next
two minutes,” the old Investigator snarled.
    “You’ve got no cause; my license
and Municipal bribes are all paid up.”
    He slammed his fist hard on the
greasy bar, “ WE SHALL SEE! ”
    The commotion was too much for a
sleazy looking fellow in a back booth, the man bolted for the side exit in
alarm.
    “ RYO! ” Lev bellowed.
    Keira leapt sideways and grabbed
the fugitive's arm, but he deflected her with a walloping gut punch that sent
the woman crashing into a rickety table.
    Ryo sprinted towards the escaping
man but Lev got there first. The younger man tackled the escapee and the two
tussled wildly on the filthy floor.
    The old Investigator joined the
fray. He got kicked hard in the left side and stumbled backwards, slamming his
shoulder painfully against the unforgiving wall.
    Lev jerked the bucking criminal to
his feet and Ryo sprang forward and wrapped his arm around the man ’ s neck.
    “ STOP! ” Ryo tightened his python-like
grip on the fugitive, “ Stop or I ’ ll snap your friggin ’ neck! ”
    The criminal ’ s face grew red with asphyxia before he drooped limply and slumped to
the floor.
    A half an hour