<div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Original</div><div class="spoiler_body"><div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">"Oh, he said something about giving it to the right person, but he just needed a signature. Some UPS guy, or whatever. The ones in brown." There was a loud thunk from behind him as she dropped her feet down to the floor, and a creaking as she stood up.<br/><br/>The envelope contained a letter, written on plain lined paper with a pen. The handwriting was the captain's.<br/><br/>Abraham,<br/><br/>I needed to drum up some money quickly, to pursue something important. I was given an offer to use the space in the boathouse. Some men should be by about the 5th or the 6th, and they will be storing a pair of boats there. I've told them the size of the place, so it will be on them to make sure that the boats will fit. Please ensure that the slots are open and cleared, and that they are able to get in and out without any difficulties. All that was promised was that the spaces would be open, they would be able to get them in and out without any problems, and that the area around the boats would be available for their use. If they push you for anything else, it is entirely up to you whether you help or not. They do not need to be allowed into the office.<br/><br/>These men will be paying $10,000 in cash to you. Please check to make sure that the amount is correct, and then deposit it to the account at DFSCU. Once you have done that, please mail a check for $2000 to ALEK LTD., at 700 G St. Suite 5, Anchorage, Alaska 99501. The boats may be stored until the first of October at 5 PM. If they are there after that time, the men will pay another $10,000, for an extension to the first of November, at the same time. If they are still there in October, I will write to you again with a way to reach me, so that we can discuss what to do.<br/><br/>I am traveling away from my usual haunt at the moment, so I won't be reachable for a while. I will let you know when I am back. If there is an issue with your pay, you may take it out of the $10,000, but please be careful, as I do need the funds.<br/><br/>If a man named Harold Kamin comes by asking about me, please tell him that you have not spoken to me in person in some time, and are not certain where I am at currently, as I have been traveling. He shouldn't give you any trouble.<br/><br/>Regards,<br/>Captain Halifax<br/><br/>Thankfully, there hadn't been any issues with his usual paycheck. It had been deposited exactly on time early this morning.<br/><br/>The envelope simply had the information that shipping companies used, not the stuff that an envelope from USPS would contain. Still, it looked like the thing had been shipped from a location up in Anchorage.<br/><br/>As Bram read the letter, Red walked over and dropped the container on the desk next to him. She opened it up to reveal a rough stack of greasy, cheesy pizza. She tore the top off the container, and pulled a couple of slices onto it, each covered in about seven different kinds of meat. "Couldn't remember if you'd said what kind of pizza you liked, so I got ya meat." She pulled the chair over near his, and sat down, her face about level with the surface of the desk in the much-smaller chair. "Anything good?" she asked through a mouthful of pizza.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div></div></div><br/>The letter, it was from the captain. No one else wrote in hand anymore, at least not in an elegantly curved handwriting, especially not when the matter at hand was one of business. Abraham only had to read it once. It was clear and he knew what he had to do. The fact that there was an air of ominousness about the captain’s words wasn’t lost, but dutifully disregarded.<em>Prepare the boathouse, receive money, send a certain amount, rinse and repeat if necessary</em>– simple task on a need to know basis. Low risk, apparently high pay. Was there something fishy about it? Could be, but really Bram did not care. In his mind he was already commencing what little preparation would be needed to get the place ready.<br/>"Thanks!" Abraham realized how hungry he was when digging in the deliciously fatty pizza. He would pay for it, of course, and much more than the thing was actually worth. As long as it kept the kid from doing anything stupid.<br/>Red was a good girl who had had little luck in her life so far. Perhaps she reminded him of himself, perhaps it was that cute, perpetually sad-looking face that gave the lie to her spunky nature…<br/>Anyways, he saw the money as some sort of allowance. The two had agreed to call it payment. Or information regarding the city’s underbelly. And they were surprisingly valuable, at times! Still, the man would have thrown some cash in the teenager’s direction if that hadn’t been the case.<br/><em>Is that because you haven’t seen you own kids in the last – what – 10 years?</em>No! he told himself, Red wasn’t just some surrogate for something he had lost. Didn’t deserve that! Besides, he could always go looking for his ex. Lived at the east coast, as far as he knew…<br/><br/>When he looked up from pizza and letter there was the girl’s face, pale and slightly freckled. She was beautiful, he realized. In a just world that would have been enough. Her smarts would do the rest. In a just world she would be living with loving parents, graduate from high school in one, two years. In a perfect world, he would stand on a boat with his cousins and uncles, hauling in crabs.<br/><br/>"News," he simply said, not sure whether they were good or bad. "Listen, I’m gonna need you to stay clear from this place for a little while." For a moment he rummaged through his pants, then produced a key to the small apartment above the tavern. “If you need a place to crash.” This was new. So far he had made sure Red wouldn’t stay overnight. People talked, especially when they were drunk and neither of them could use the rumors.<em>So you do have a bad feeling about the whole thing, huh? Getting the girl out of the line of fire and all.</em>Perhaps he did have a bad feeling.<br/>"And Red, think you can do me a favor? Harold Karmin – ever heard that name?"<br/>