Midtown, New England. Thursday June 25th, 2028. A figure stands in a telephone booth, scanning the area as he makes a call. He checks on a small chit of paper pulled from his long, black raincoat. The numbers are punched in with care as he holds his head up, eyes closed. Several seconds later, someone answers.
”Jake, what in the hell took you so long?”
”I got held up, OK? It’s not easy doing what I do, you know. Anyways, I got it. You managed to retrieve the code?”
”Of course, it’s right here with me. But remember, this is an open line. Anybody could be listening in so let’s keep this conversation brief. Come and meet me at the designated place. And remember to stay clean.”
”You ain’t got no worries. I told you. No tails, no activity. Nothing, nowt, nada.”
”OK, OK. Just as long as I know I can relax. Dying of something as boring as plain old “stress” isn’t exactly what I had in mind for tonight.”
”What? If I were you, my mind would be more on if this thing is actually gonna work or not. You know that everything rests on your intel. I didn’t bust my balls to get the package, just for it to fail at the penultimate hour.”
”I’ve upheld my end of the bargain, now the other is in your capable hands. So to speak, I mean. There’s a lot at stake here. All that’s left now is to pair them up and share it out. But again, I don’t like speaking on an open line like this.”
”I understand. Well, I’m on my way. But I want some assurances from you. No funny business when I get there, right? A deal’s a deal. I’ll be meeting you on my own so I expect you to pay me the very same courtesy. I’ll only say this once.”
”And I’ll second that, without the idle threat thrown in for good measure. Just bring the package ASAP. I’m on my way too. Should be no more than thirty minutes, give or take. But make sure you wait for me, you hear? No disappearing off somewhere wondering if you got the right location or not.”
”Oh, you can bet your ass I won’t be going nowhere. I mean, half a million do-“
”Enough! Are you crazy? That’s the third time now and I ain’t repeating myself. Leave right now. I’ll meet you there shortly. I’m gone.”
With that, the phone went dead. He hung the receiver back in it’s cradle, pausing for a moment to contemplate the long night ahead. The sky was awash with a plethora of spectacular and vivid dark colours all blending into one other. He stepped out of the tight cubicle, placing a hand in his coat pocket and drawing out the golden ticket. Something so small yet so valuable. It's worth incorporating the potential to fund countless future generations. He examined it closely.
Incised with surgical precision from the joint, the top portion of an index finger rolled around in the palm of his hands. It gave off a pale, lifeless hue against the celestial glow of the impending dusk skyline. Cold and stiff to the touch.
”Biometrics combined with passwords to unlock digital wallets. Spilling over with invisible cash.” He whispered to himself, grinning with a rising anticipation. ”What an insane world we live in.”
