Chapter 4p2 – Oddball Tractor Beam

Tic pushed open the door of the Haggle Bin Fine Goods Emporium and wrinkled his nose at the musty smell of old junk.

"Maybe it's not my place to ask these kinds of questions," said Milly, kicking snow off her boots as she came in behind him, "but how is coming to a pawn shop going to help me find my parents?"

"You want information," said Tic, "this is where you go. All the rumours pass through places like this. I've picked up more than a few jobs by just standing around here and keeping my ears open. Just browse around a bit. I'll talk to some friends." He headed down an aisle of stuffed yeti heads towards the back of the shop, where he caught the attention of a bug-eyed little troll of a woman. "Psst, Haglyn!"

"Tic Bolter!" she said with a wide smile, revealing three wiggly-looking teeth set crookedly into her gums. "What brings you back to my humble shop so soon?"

"Last job didn't pan out so well," said Tic. "I'm babysitting a rich kid right now."

Haglyn stepped away from the antique space heaters she'd been rearranging. "Rich kid, eh? You sure find yourself some interesting characters to hang around with, Bolter."

"What can I say?" grinned Tic. "I'm like an oddball tractor beam. Anyways, she thinks her long-lost parents are somewhere around here, so if you hear anything about a couple of kidnapped space/time engineers let me know, okay?" He headed back out to the front of the shop.

"Oh, there you are," said Milly. She was standing in front of a hairy, slab-faced man in a parka, looking very pleased with herself. "Guess what: I got us a lead!"

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