Lexi walked with halting steps to the table where the three patrons from the store were seated. Mr. Hottie and his two companions had plates of succulent salmon placed in front of them. Lexi paused, looking around for Sid, but didn’t see him anywhere. The Asian woman stood and bowed low, pressing her hands together and greeted her as Clerk-san.<br/><br/>Lexi had worked in a daycare when she was younger and had worked with an Asian teacher there. If Ms. Lucy had taught her anything, it was to value the gesture of the bow. Lexi paused and then found herself returning the bow, respectfully.<br/><br/>“Greetings. The honor is mine. You may call me Lexi-san, if you choose.” She said sincerely, struck by how the formality of the bow brought out all the kindness in her nature.’<br/><br/>The older man looked as cool and collected as if he were in a business meeting. He stood and offered his hand, introducing himself. Lexi gave his hand a strong shake, none of this dead fish and femme fatale shaking for her.<br/><br/>“ Nice to meet you, Mr. von Engels, “ she  replied. “I’m Lexi Davis.”<br/><br/>She glanced over at Mr. Hottie and grinned weakly at his greeting of Sexy Bitch. She slid in the chair closest to him. The waitress brought over her drink and took her order for Lump crab cakes.<br/><br/>“Just the appetizer please,” she said. “Don’t wait for me. Go ahead and eat your food while it is warm. This place has a reputation for being slow  with  the  service, or at least they do downstairs. I’m not sure upstairs has more than just a reputation.”<br/><br/>Lexi took a long sip of the Crown and Coke. It was strong and she gratefully sipped some more. Her skin was crawling as she glanced around at the heavy handed large men hovering around in this tuxedos.<br/><br/>“Look. You guys have to know that I do not know why Sid is all worked over you seeing the skull.  I had heard rumors that it was there and belonged to some pirate captain but nothing more.”<br/><br/>She took another fortifying sip of the drink and turned to Mr. Hottie.<br/><br/>“So sue me! You rattled my cage and made me rise to the bait. Our shop is filled with oddities and many of the things sold there are sold to some very odd people. I don’t ask questions. I just take their money, But I swear you, “ she leaned on the table to speak directly to the Asian woman. “ I never intended to get anyone in trouble. I like my job and I can never make this kind of money anywhere else around her, I would not deliberately jeopardize that.”<br/><br/>Sid sauntered by,<br/><br/>“The wait staff taking care of you?” he asked as if they were honored guests.<br/><br/>Lexi was startled. Sid was never exactly courtly.<br/><br/>“After you have eaten, we will move closer to the outer rim of the balcony to discuss business. You understand? Decisions will be made then, about your job.” He looked at Lexi  “ and about the desirability of doing business with you, sir.”He inclined his head to Mr. Von Engels. Putting a fat cigar to his mouth,  Sid walked away into the shadows.