I pushed through the lingering adrenaline and the cold realization of the city’s dangers, finding my tricycle parked exactly where I’d left it. My legs still felt a bit heavy from the afternoon's "activities" with my neighbor, but the promise I made to the girl at the motel took precedence. I pedaled hard, the chains rattling against the frame, heading back toward the flickering lights of that hourly establishment.
"Finally! Mr. Barnes, what took you so long?" Chole Blake called out as soon as I pulled within sight. She didn't wait for me to come to a full stop; she jogged over with a youthful energy and hopped onto the back of the trike with practiced ease.
"Sorry, Chloe. I got caught up in something," I said, glancing back at her. She looked refreshed, her uniform replaced by a casual
