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I looked over at the cargo container held firm in my mechanical claw’s grasp. It eased down until six large latches on the trailer snapped and locked the shipment down. Angelika walked around the container and double-checked the latches were secure. She opened the far side cab door and made some comments in a language I didn’t recognize. I became antsy. “I’m ready for payment.” The transport sped off and I yelled my objection. A moment later, Angelika stood in its place with a blast rifle pointed at me. She smiled. “I’m afraid our transaction is complete.” I cursed. “Law enforcement?” She nodded. “They know better than to get involved.” “You won’t get away with this.” “You might as well cut your losses and leave, before you do something you regret. I’d hate to shoot you.” I stood there a moment and tried to come up with a way to remedy the situation, but knew I had no options. It wasn’t completely unexpected. Black market dealers were criminals, and a great number of them couldn’t be trusted. A good gut feeling came in handy in cases like these. “What goes around comes around, Angelika.” “Perhaps.” She motioned to my entry hatch with her blast rifle. I huffed and climbed the stairs. “Jeanie, close the hatch.” As it lifted, I turned and watched Angelika sprint off into the darkness after the trailer. The hatch slammed. “Set a course for the Rosin system.” Jeanie responded moments later. “Course laid in.” I walked up to the bridge and slumped down in my captain’s chair. “Get us out of here.” While we lifted off, I reached down into the side pocket of my chair and pulled out a half-empty bottle of Vladirian liquor. I took a drink of the sweet yellow liquid as Jeanie started in again. “Aston, why did you ask me to unload bay two when you showed your guest bay four?” “Just a hunch that paid off.” I smiled and took another drink. “Won’t they be upset when they find out you left them with an empty cargo container?” “Probably.” I chuckled as my aft engines shot us toward the upper atmosphere. I was sure I could find a mining company willing to make a deal. Everyone wanted to be the first to crack open those platinum mines. “And are you worried they may try to find you?” “Possible, but unlikely. I don’t plan to come back to Loehs again.” Criminals were evil, but most were lazy. It would take work to track me down, and that would be more effort than Angelika wanted to spend. “Why did you attempt to sell her the cargo in the first place?” “I’m not sure.” I took another drink. I never thought I would one day become an addict. Boredom set in long ago and there were few ways to cure it. There was a certain thrill to dealing with the black market. It was addicting, and the marriage would probably last until one of us was dead and gone. I
only hoped I was old and grey by then.
* * * THE END * * *
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