“Four thous...” she trailed off incredulously.  Four grand was nothing to turn your nose up at for certain, especially for herself, but she knew this was worth more than four grand.  Four grand could get her by for three months, maybe.  Joey's mind went about its calculations.  If this shop offered 4,000 for the core, would she get an offer of more or less at another location?  Did she have time?  She did have two more cores in her pack.  If she could manage to hold on to them awhile it might allow her time to find a better offer, but that in itself was a massive risk.  High-end parts like these always left a trail of sorts, and those were difficult to shake, by design.<br/><br/>Or maybe he offered four thousand because he somehow knew they were nicked goods.  His body language suggested he probably wouldn't budge from the given offer.  Jo knew she might have to take what she can get here.  When the buyer is ignorant of the situation, things are simpler.  In this instance, however, she needed to take care.  She wasn't certain what he knew.<br/><br/>“Four thousand,” she returned stiffly, “I'll settle if you buy two.”  Joey took another core from her pack as she said this, setting it more gently on the countertop.  Two might be pushing it.  She wouldn't dare offer up three.  She would need to find another buyer.  The bag was pulled toward her and she folded the top to conceal the rest of its contents.  She'd not had time to properly count her plunder, but she estimated, by the weight of the bag, there was at least two more grand in there.  If he agreed on this trade, she could walk out with about ten thousand, and<span style="font-style: italic">that</span>she could settle for.<br/><br/>“And, this...” she added.  “Is it for sale?” Her dainty hands fiddled with the voice accessory.  It could prove to be useful.  She needed all the coin she could get to afford her mum's medicine.  It was not often she could afford small indulgences like these.