Lexi just shook her head. What a dick, she thought wryly. As if she would boldly proclaim just information to the first twat that came in and inquired if she was serious. But hey, there was a skull back there and she would show it to him.<br/><br/>“Come on then,” she said, coming out from behind the counter and gesturing for the man and his companions to follow her. The store room was brightly lit when she flicked the switch. A buzzing from the florescent lights was the only sound as they wound their way through shelves of curios and unpacked boxes. Sid’s half eaten sandwich was drying up on the work bench but Lexi ignored that as she searched for the key that led to the back room where the skull was stored.<br/><br/>“We keep the bones under lock and key. Can’t be too careful with letting the locals know what goes on here.” She said mysteriously, rolling her eyes mentally. Some people just fall for any old ghost story or get their rocks off over satanic shit.<br/><br/>The lock stuck a little, since it had been a while since the door was opened and back here, the room was dark, lit only with a single light bulb from a cord suspended from the high ceiling. Shadows bounced around the room. Some long bones were stacked on a shelf and in the farthest back corner was a box, leather bound with brass, like some pirate’s treasure box. Lexi knew it was old, could have been some box from Treasure Island or something equally as cheesy.<br/><br/>“Here lies the head of Captn Randolph McGuilvery, “ she intoned as she opened the lid with a creak.<br/><br/>Staring back was the gaping eyed skull, yellowed with age and full of stained teeth that grinned wickedly at them.<br/><br/>“What in bloody hell are you doing, Lexi?” A deep baritone voice thundered.<br/><br/>Lexi jumped, slamming the lid closed in her fright.<br/><br/>“Sid, I didn’t know you  were coming in today.” She answered, hand over her heart to still the pounding. She stared at the small, but square man with the pugilistic face who was glaring at her over his RayBan sunglasses . His Mariner's ball cap was pulled down low over what she knew to be a bald head and he had his fist jammed deep in the pocket of his leather bomber's jacket that bore that same logo.<br/><br/>“Good thing, too,” he said. He jerked off his sunglasses and jammed them in his other pocket.<br/><br/>“What is this bloody lot doing in here?” he demanded, giving them all the evil eye.<br/><br/>“Guy wanted to see the skull and bones we have.” She answered, looking at the blond man and shrugging as if to say, “What you gonna do?”<br/><br/>“So you bloody let these bloody fucking tourists back in the inner sanctum to view the Captn? How do you know these people aren’t the FBI or the CIA or Ghostbusters or who ever the hell agency that wants to infringe on our freedom of religion and expression and what ever other fucking infringement they can think up? You don’t just bloody show the fucking bones and shit to just any fucking body! Everyone get the fuck out.” Sid turned to the group, shooing them like a flock of chickens.<br/><br/>“If you are bonafuckingfide then, you have to prove it. We can meet tonight and I’m bringing blabbermouth here with me. Convince me or fuck off.”<br/><br/>Sid stormed out of the room but his voice filled it,<br/><br/>“ Tonight at the Anthony's Pier 66. After midnight. Everyone  GET the FUCK OUT. Lexi. Go home. I have to decide if you still have a job.”