CHAPTER 20 - RARE COIN AND CURRENCY SHOPPEE

Mallory despised violence. She refused to pack heat since the Goodword incident. Situations that were violent were out of control. And control, investigative control, was critical to Mallory’s success. Deduction, inference, listening, all required some semblance of calm. The petty thieves, snitches, and weasels knew they had nothing to fear from Mallory. The bigger prey had a lot to fear, but violence was not one of their fears. Occasionally Mallory had to assert herself, but usually when there was no other path available. Mallory simply detested violence.

Witney Llanfair, on the other hand, thought of violence as just another form of expression, like love making, or eating apple pie with your fingers. Witney spent most of her time in the School for Wayward Girls in either the mosh pit or on stage with her band – the Buttered Embryos. Violence was like art to Witney, with only one difference. It was best not to sign your art when you were through. But even this rule was not hard and fast as that pervert Taffy Dunst could testify, and did.

Mallory and Witney made an unusual pair as they approached Blacky ‘One Eye’s’ Rare Coin and Currency Shoppee. The shop was in an unnamed alley off end of AU Street near the only rendering plant left in Capital City. If you had not known that the alley was there you were likely to miss it. Some neighbors, who had lived there for years, didn’t know it existed although they complained a lot about the smell. The small wooden building that housed the Rare Coin and Currency Shoppee was old and needed paint. The building was windowless except for a window in the door. A small window with a sliding steel gate and a speaking tube. The window as perhaps three inches thick and when you looked through it all you could see when the steel gate was thrown back was a single bloodshot eye staring back. That would be Blacky.

Mallory pulled the bell chain twice, waited a few moments and pulled twice more. The steel grate flew back with a distinct heavy sounding thud. The eye startled at Witney and then Mallory. As Mallory and Witney stood waiting, and the door resounded with clicks, thuds, and squeaks. Mallory turned to Witney and said, “Now remember keep you mouth shut. Silence is the best interrogation tool.”

Before Witney could answer the door slowly opened. Blacky, dressed in black baggy pants and a stained white tee stuck his 230 pound 5’2” frame out the door and made a quick look up the alley toward AU street and then down the alley toward the rendering plant. Blacky motioned them quickly to enter the shoppee. Mallory stepped in followed by Witney. The door slammed shut and Blacky began slamming home the levers and locks that kept his door secure.

Funny, thought Witney, these old wooden walls are as thin as paper. Why the locks? I could just kick my way in here in a moment.

Blacky turned to Mallory. “Who’s the kid?” asked Blacky.

Witney looked closely at Blacky and he did have only one rather oversized eye. Mallory had said it was a medical experiment gone bad or perhaps an early Linden attempt at mind control. However, Mallory had cautioned, don’t state at his missing eye and never mention it. Blacky was sensitive about his deformity or his romantic advantages as some saw it.

“My minder,” said Mallory.

Blacky nodded and walked to the counter in the tiny shoppee. He lifted the gate of the counter and stood protected behind the counter by an ornate wrought iron barrier taken from an old bank. Barrons Bank said the elaborate script above what had once been a teller’s cage. Blackey rested his frame on a tattered bar stool he had found in the alley years before.

“What ya want Mallory?” Blacky asked with all the eagerness of a man about to have his spleen removed or his alimony increased.

Mallory said nothing, but she reached into her purse and pulled out a large gold ring. She placed it on the counter before Blacky. Blacky reached for his philosopher’s stone and rubbed the ring on it for a moment. The he lifted the ring to his eye and examined it carefully.

“So,” said Blacky.

“I want to buy some Lindens,” said Mallory. Then Mallory added “at a discount.”

Blacky looked up and examined Mallory and the kid carefully.

“Ill give you $L 20,000” said Blacky. Mallory visibly frowned disappointment, but she was shocked at the large discount. Mallory said nothing.

“Ok,ok, $L 40,000 it is,” I can’t go a Linden more. Mallory said nothing.

Witney was thinking that the amount offered was enormous, but Mallory knew better. Witney said nothing but began to look about the room. Mallory said that would be ok. Observation was critical in successful detective work. The room was pretty much bare, but there was an old tattered couch against one wall with a small tray. Blacky sleeps here Witney realized. Witney could see the muzzle of an ancient but effective shotgun sticking out from under several large tattered pink pillows, one of which read ‘Moth’.

Still Mallory said nothing. Witney could see beads of sweat breaking out on Blacky’s face. Mallory was staring hard at Blacky even though she had warned Witney not to do so. Blacky was averting his gaze and was fumbling with the ring.

Behind the iron bars protecting the counter were several displays of antique currency. Witney saw some old notes and coins with dead kings and queens stamped into them. There were some early Republic Notes as well, referred to in history class as ‘mud notes’, because the Senate had printed so many notes in its social improvement programs, that mud had become more valuable than currency. Some social program, recalled Witney. The only segment of society to benefit were the senators themselves. She knew, her former boss Hyram Funstas Senator from the Sim of Clissa, used to regale her with tales of excess, debauchery, and hedonism practiced by his ancestors – senators one and all. Things are better now. All classes in Second life are free to live in excess, debauchery and hedonism.

The room was silent except for Blacky’s labored breathing.

“Ok how about $50,000,? That’s my final offer Mallory,” said Blacky.

There was a small back room and probably a basement as well realized Witney. The exterior proportions of the building told Witney that another room about two meters by six must be behind the counter. Perhaps a vault or a wash room she figured. The floor was wooden and had a spring to it. A basement for sure realized Witney. Behind the bars Witney saw a faded photograph of what must have been Blacky in his youth standing with a group of other folks on the steps of what Witney knew to be the Reserve Bank building where her father was president. It looked a bit like a graduation picture, except they were not fighting, but standing neatly in rows.

“Gimmie the ring,” said Mallory after a long long wait. “Ill take it to Blind Ned’s”

“No, no,” laughed Blacky nervously, “He will steal you blind, yes he will. His sisters in the hospital with AFK and he’s really desperate to keep her there. He can’t have her at home any more what with the triplets and all, you know what I mean, two lovers is difficult enough, but three, there’s no room for …”

Blacky was babbling realized Witney. Mallory had made him so nervous that some thought dam had burst in Blacky’s head and a flood of words came spilling uncontrolled out his mouth. Neat trick thought Witney I’ll have to try that myself.

“It’s the best price I can give you Mallory. Lindens don’t grow on trees. Well they are made of paper and that comes from trees, but, you know the Reserve Bank and the blue bloods on the hill, they just don’t print this stuff. No its real money. The best stuff ever, better than the worthless dollar or that joke called the Euro…”

After a while Blacky realized he was simply filling space with empty words and at the same time revealing way too much about his business.

“Ok Mallory, why are you here?” said Blacky.

“I’m here as a friend Blacky,” said Mallory as she leaned toward Blacky.

Blacky was suddenly suspicious and he reached for a dirty rag and wiped his forehead.

“Sure Mallory, I can use all the help I can get,” Blacky said as he started laughing uncontrollably.

‘Tit for tat Blacky,” said Mallory, “Tit for tat.” Mallory reached and took back the ring.

Blacky wrinkled his puffy forehead trying to think what Mallory was up to.

“First the Tit and then I want a Tat in return,” Mallory said in a scary voice.

Witney thought that this is really getting strange. Was Mallory talking dirty or what?

“The linden will demonetize this evening at midnight. The reserve bank is printing new notes as we speak.” Mallory intoned.

Blacky went white, then Blacky gasped. He closed his eye and pressed his face into his flabby palms and began to cry.

“Get a hold of yourself Blacky,” said Mallory, “You still got nine hours to dump the stuff on some poor suckers.”

Blacky looked up, his eye wide open, as a stupid grin spread across his face.

“There’s opportunity in every disaster,” said Mallory. “Now Blacky its time for a Tat.”

“Mallory thanks, but I can’t help you. These guys are bad eggs, really bad.”

Mallory said nothing and Witney stepped forward. Intimidation time thought Witney.

“Listen Mallory I got the grandkids to worry about. They said if I made even a peep we would all be cancelled. I know they can do it. I saw it when the cancelled Tally Ornst, you know Tally the bookie on Gigots. Well he’s gone, dead, cancelled. He tried to stiff these guys, No, I can’t talk Mallory.”

Mallory stood staring at Blacky and then she said, “I’m not going anywhere Blacky till you tell me what I want to know, and with a basement full of worthless lindens, you don’t have a lot of time to find marks and losers.”

Blacky had started sweating again.

“What you got down there?” asked Mallory, “ a ton maybe two tons of the junk.”

“Three,” said Blacky, “three tons.” Blacky was really worried he had already said too much. ‘Took me days to get it down there, I almost had a heart attack, twice, but the opportunity was too good to be true. Too good.”

“What did they want Blacky?” asked Mallory.

“Not much, some information and the deed to this worthless dump and the postage stamp of land it sits on.”

“Good work Blacky now tell me what information,” asked Mallory with a growing ease in her voice.

“Oh just some names.”

“Who,” demanded Mallory.

“Reserve bank people, and their addresses, stuff like that,” replied Blacky.