Cyberlink Cove

Chapter 19

CYBERLINK COVE (SKYHOOK ISLE)-2078

 

There was something strangely compelling about the woman with the porcelain complexion and steely silver eyes that faced Sean. She blinked languidly, her auburn tresses glinting in the early evening light, the sky featuring flat, blankety clouds with a backdrop of slashes in shades of salmon and gold. There was a certain allure to the woman, whether it was her full, pouty lips or her flinty, shiny grey pupils-Sean had no idea.

 

Lana Niame drummed her perfectly manicured fingers against the rough wooden table, surreptitiously observing her surroundings, expertly picking out things that looked even the slightest bit out of place. She cast her gaze about the tavern, peering between rowdy tables and in between various customers for Mina Wistmore. According to the trackers placed on the soles of Jared Wistmore’s boots, or ‘shoesies’ as the local vernacular had christened them, Jared was frequently at Smugglers Tavern. In fact, almost seventy percent of the data obtained by the shoesies all led back to this particular establishment.

 

The bar was registered under one of Francie’s aliases, Serafina Guidi, who was supposedly a middle-aged Italian immigrant. Whenever some nosy governmental official came asking for her, the pirates always told them that Serafina was on a trip to Italy. Niame, however, had done some research into Smugglers Tavern. She had looked at the notes of previous inspectors, and found that each and every time an inspector arrived at the tavern, the owner was away. Fishy, fishy. Instead of going undercover, this time, Niame was trying a different approach. She was blatantly telling the world that she was someone powerful, sending a message to the pirates that the government was on to them.

 

“How may I help you?” Sean asked in a neutral tone of voice, watching Niame attentively. Niame spared him a glance. Sean straightened, unusually silent for his verbose persona. He flicked his eyes over Lana Niame’s exquisite features, before mentally scolding himself. Sean could already imagine the scathing glare that would be emanating from the sultry woman, though when he snuck a peek at Niame, she certainly wasn’t focusing on the Irish lad before her.

 

Niame turned back to Sean, her elegant attire out of place amidst the noisy, vulgar inhabitants of this particular bar. Noticing his staring, Niame gave him a coy smile before returning to the business at hand. “I would like to speak to the owner of this place,” she told him in a tone that was laced with haughtiness, flashing him her badge-but not long enough for Sean to catch her name.

 

He nodded, heading down the steps and into the basement. Niame furrowed her brow ever-so-slightly. I wonder what’s down there, she mused idly. Niame contemplated trying to take a look, but she quickly shot down that idea. Much too risky for the time being.

 

Sean headed straight to Chrissy. “There’s this gov who wants to see the owner,” he told her nervously.

 

Chrissy immediately leapt up and bounded up the stairs, Sean close on her heels. She strode over to where Niame was nonchalantly examining her fingernails. The ravishing woman looked up as Chrissy approached. Chrissy’s expression was tense, her features taut and strained.

 

Niame glanced at Chrissy with interest. “You own...this?” she asked, gesturing vaguely around her to the spilled drinks and rowdy patrons, wrinkling her nose in borderline disgust.