Jimmy, one of the box haulers, nods as I cross the floor. �Toshi, someone to see you!� He yells over the blaring electric rock that his boss favors.
It�s not a bad system but visiting Toshi always gives me a headache. I step behind some large boxes and I see him look up from the flatscreen he�s reading. Probably porn.
�Jhaelyn.� He quirks an eyebrow.
Toshi is a small man, hair shimmery black with olive skin, unassuming and not to be trifled with. But we�ve built a decent relationship through the years. He�s one of the first contacts I made after I started taking things over for my father. Now he sits here wondering what brought me stalking into his office without even a call, and how much money it will mean for him.
I won�t keep him in suspense for long. I reach slowly into a carrycase, pull out a remote surveillence camera and drop it on the desk. He nods. I�m sure he recognizes it. He sold me this one and five like it three months ago.
�I hope you aren�t trying to claim the warranty.� He says with a half smile.
�A shipment for a client of mine has gone missing.� I respond, dropping a handfull of credit sticks next to the camera. Their soft thunk is lost as the drums come in over the loudspeaker.
He picks up the camera and takes a closer look. �I can think of one large order that came through recently.�
�Over fifteen?� More cred-sticks hit the desk. It looks like mahogany though an expert could tell it apart, one of my �gifts� for a special client.
�Yes. Paid in advance. Should have known he was one of yours.� Working on the other side of the fence is always more regimented than legitimate business. Even with years of association, meetings are like courtship. Every step of the dance must be danced before stepping into the parlor.
I push another pile of cred across to him. We�re now up to about nine thousand, over halfway there even considering Toshi�s cautious nature. �You seemed surprised?�
�It�s just,� He pauses and I drop another handful of cred sticks onto the table. The first set have already disappeared. �He didn�t quite know how things worked here. And his accent was off.�
So it�s a non-native then. Or someone new to the game. Considering the money for specialty equipment this person had to throw around, I�m betting on the first. I�m almost reassured. It�s easier to root out an intruder than a turncoat. �I need a shipping list.�
He holds his hand out and I give him a reader. Within minutes the transfer is done. I can�t hear anything but the music which has resorted to screaming and pounding drums. I still don�t know how he concentrates over this noise. Toshi scrolls through the screen a little longer as I put the reader back in my pocket. He then hands the camera back and I feel something taped to the bottom. Microdisk.
�Thank you, Toshi.� I say with a genuine smile. Bless you Toshi and your paranoid voyerism. I shake his hand.
�Just glad it�s not a hardware problem.� He looks back to his screen and I turn to leave.
Of course, my phone starts ringing as soon as I step out of the warehouse. The sun is setting while I walk, that transitional time between daylight and when the streetlights come on.
�Hello Jhaelyn?� He starts before I can say anything.
The question. The harried politeness, as though he was afraid he�d reach someone else. There�s only one reason I can think why Maxis would call me on the business line. �What happened to her?�
�Listen, Jhaelyn, I had to step in. Lyssra got jumped by a group of Motorheads.�
�Where is she now?