salute [james conrad] 1

Chapter 2

"So let me get this straight" Charlotte says, leaning into the table.

She looks at both Randa and Brooks.

"You want... me." She says as she points at herself "to go with you" She says, pointing at both of them. "To an uncharted area to... protect you" She leans back in her chair.

Both Brooks and Randa nod.

She shakes her head and scoffs.

"Do you even know the dangers you face going into an uncharted island? The possible threats?" She questions, looking at them.

Brooks opens his mouth. She holds up her hand, motioning for him to stop.

"I'm assuming that you know the dangers. If you didn't you wouldn't be doing this little adventure" She pauses "Even if I do agree. What do I get from..." she gestures in a circle to all of them "whatever this is"

Brooks looks at Randa, who nods. He then reaches into his pocket and pulls out a stack of bills and lays them on the table.

Charlotte looks at them, then back at the stack of bills. She chuckles and shakes her head.

"You think that I am going to accept, to go into an uncharted island with the possibility of us dying, with that amount of money?" She questions, pointing to the bills.

"We can double the amount" Randa says, looking at Brooks, who nods nervously.

"Yeah, No." She leans forward into the table and looks at both of them. "I want 6 times that" She says, motioning towards the money.

"Yeah. We can do that" Brooks says.

Charlotte shrugs "If you can do that, then I guess we have a deal"

The three of them stand up, and she goes to shake hands with them, but pulls back.

"I do have one little question" She says "I assume you know I am a Ranger" She says. Both of the men nod "So... who am I exactly going to an uncharted island?  What is in there?" She asks.

Brooks gulps and looks at Randa.

"Well, as you know, it's an uncharted island, we need protection incase something goes wrong"

Randa scoffs "Yeah. We're just scientists and doctors. We need someone who can protect us in the jungle, against wild animals and potential threats" He says.

Charlotte shrugs, still not believing the lies they were feeding her.

"Okay. Good enough for me" She mutters. "Is there somewhere I need to be at a certain time?" She asks.

Randa looks at her.

"The Athena. Docked in Bangkok. Pier 14. 6:00 Tomorrow night"

"Got it. Until tomorrow" She says as she grabs her purse and walks away.

"Oh, and Miss Wilson"

Charlotte turns around

"Yes?"

"Thank you, for agreeing"

Charlotte shrugs "I mean, I have nothing better to do"

And with that, she exits the bar, and walks home, ready for a new adventure.