Cyberlink Cove

Chapter 3

CYBERLINK COVE (SKYHOOK ISLE)-2077

 

Daniel Thomas woke up, refreshed. After a cup of bitter black coffee and some scrambled eggs, he picked up the phone and dialed Jared Wistmore’s home phone number. No one answered, so he left a message saying that he’d be stopping by in a few minutes for his shipment.

 

After getting dressed and showering, Thomas slipped out with handcuffs in his coat pocket and a gun holstered at his hip, concealed by his jacket. He strolled through the streets at a leisurely pace, and headed towards Smuggler’s Tavern.

 

Mina got to the bar early in the morning. Jared had left a few hours after he got back for Coral Atoll, where he and Chrissy would be attempting to sell off some stolen wares to wide-eyed tourists. Then he was headed back to Jamaica for another shipment, while Chrissy would return to Skyhook Isle. Mina felt a pang. She never got to spend much time with her husband, but she supposed that was the price she paid for the money he earned. 

A knock sounded at the door, which was peculiar. First of all, the bar wasn’t open till night time, and secondly, if it had been a pirate they would’ve just walked in. Looking through the peephole, Mina saw Daniel Thomas standing there, tapping his foot impatiently.

 

“Who is it?” Francie shouted from the back.

 

“That Thomas motherfucker,” Mina replied.

 

Francie came out from the kitchen and said with a quieter tone, “Better go answer the door. He said yesterday that he’d be dropping by for the new shipment of dandelions.”

 

Mina laughed slightly at Francie’s word choice. “Dandelions are some pretty weeds, aren’t they?” she mused, keeping a straight face.

 

Francie cracked a grin. “Ya sure got that right,” she chuckled.

 

Mina opened the door. Thomas turned. “Ah, Mrs. Wistmore, just who I wanted to see,” he exclaimed. Mina simply eyed him warily, distrustfully.

 

Thomas rummaged through his coat pocket and pulled out one thousand credits, tossing the banknotes casually onto the ground. “I want some of the new shipment,” he said.

 

Mina’s eyes widened slightly at the amount of money he was paying. She bent down and scooped the bills up, tucking them into her pocket. “Follow me,” she ordered, walking out the front door and around the side of the tavern to a small shack. Mina pulled out the piece of string that she was wearing around her neck with two keys attached to it, formerly hidden by her shirt. She grabbed one key and inserted it into the lock, turning it. There was a clicking sound, and she pushed open the door.

 

Thomas followed Mina inside the old shed. There was one rusty light bulb, which Mina flicked on. The dimly lit room revealed crates lining the walls, full of marijuana. “Take your pick,” Mina said, shrugging.

 

Thomas walked slowly around the room, opening crates, examining the contents. Then he turned to Mina, who was watching him suspiciously.