A fine work of art.

[Libby]

Dear Mr.Leary

It has been brought to my attention tha you are a man searching for certain prized works of creativity. As such I believe that I may be able to help you add to your already impressive collection of work. My company is a specialist in finding rare and unique creations and matching them up with discerning individuals. We have almost a decade of experience moving valuable items between nations with no fuss for our customers. It is my hope that this oppurtunity we are hoping to create will be the first of a long and profitable relationship between the pair of us. Should you have interest in finding these works of creativity I would be delighted to meet with you and discuss the future direction of such projects that could make both of us very happy.

Best Regards

Cairan Duggan.
CEO Duggan Artwork Conveyors

[Rhodes]

Raymond Leary puffed on his fine cigar as he contemplated the letter. Swirling the dregs of ice in his 25 year old Seaforth whisky, he idly tapped a large gold ring on the crystal glass. After another minute he set down the cigar and whisky and called in his son, David.


"Yeah, dad?"

"This Duggan sounds interesting. Have your boys make contact and arrange a meeting. Use someone you trust, with all the appropriate cut outs...and nothing to tie into our legit businesses."

"Ok dad, I'll handle it."

"No son, you get someone else to handle it. That's the whole fucking point!"

"I got it, I'll have someone arrange a meet."

"Better boy, much better."


A few days later a simple appointment card made it's way to Mr. Duggan. No name was left, just a time and a place. 02:00, Room 599, Crosby Hotel, Halifax.

[Libby]

Cairan would have prefered to have hosted the meeting on his private island, for one it would have meant not leaving his ladies, his nymphs and sprites behind. He had however brought one with him, Philia was a Zimalian girl aged about 20 she wasn't exactly sure of her own age and had become part of Cairans retinue willingly to escape her fathers beatings. She'd gone from living in a small hut in the wilds of Zimalia to being surrounded by luxury and wealth. She had checked into the hotel earlier that morning a floor down from the one on the card. She spent a few moments sorting out things on the balcony before meeting Cairan down in the bar, a quick whiskey later they were both in the lift up to Room 599.

Philia knocked on the door standing their holding a large package. "Mr. Duggan to see you" she said. It was only when the door opened that Cairan stepped into view from off to one side.

He handed over the appointment card along with a bottle of Champagne. "Good afternoon, we've some art work to show Mr.Leary." he announced.

[Rhodes]

The security guard nodded curtly at Cairan and waved him into the room. 599 was actually a security checkpoint where Cairan and his guest were searched and made to step through a scanner, extremely similar to the security checkpoints at major airports.

When they had passed, they were sent to the door to the adjoining room. It was not a room however, but a long hallway where rooms should have been. The hallway extended all the way to the corner of the hotel and then turned the corner and went down at least on more room-length before ending at a door.

Entering the door Cairan found more security and a staircase up to the next floor. From that "Room" Cairan was shown back the way he came to the corner suite once again. More security ushered him inside. There, Cairan was FINALLY introduced to Leary.


"Mr. Duggan. Sorry to have inflicted my security measurements on you, but a man in my position cannot be too careful. As one businessman to another I hope you can appreciate that. These are my private offices and only those special partners, or those I think could be are invited here. Now, can I offer you and you lovely guest a refreshment?"

[Libby]

Cairan got the need for security but he didn't think the massive amount of to and fro was neccessary at least not if this guy had things as well oiled as he had hoped he had. He however wasn't about to let the deal slide for his annoyance. "Mr.Leary" he extended his hand, "This is my associate Philia" he introduced her before taking the large flat package from her. He placed it on a table and carefully removed the plastic packaging. "Now I hope sir that you appreciate art" he turned the picture to show his host a landscape of some countryside scene of lush green fields and bright flowers, it wasn't exactly a masterpeice but it was a pleasant enough picture. "Now what is fascinating about this picture is this."  He slid his finger along the frame until he found the notch he was looking for and using his fingernail flicked it revealing the small void. Ciaran used his finger to pull the small laminated pouch out and placed it on the table. "That is one hit of what we are calling Black cocaine" he said proudly. "In that quantity not the most valuable of commodities but it could be for you." He had now put the painting down and handed the miniute package to Leary. "It's a substance just as potent, just as addictive as its regular namesake, the difference being that to date its been able to be smuggled into practically every continent on Mundus without detection." He turned to Philia, "Please be a sweetheart and show him" he stepped back.

As she'd been instructed Philia turned to face away from him and Cairan unzipped her dress, she removed her bra and handed it to Cairan who left her to cover her nakedness with her arms before bending down and scooping up her dress letting Cairan held her zip it up only after he'd placed her underwear on the table. As rehearsed she began to explain. "I left Zimalia yesterday evening to fly here for Cairan's meeting with you. I came straight from the airport to the hotel and haven't changed any of my clothing since."

Cairan gave the padded bra a swift yank and the lining ripped. "Inside this bra is several more hits of the stuff, smuggled past two airports. Now if I trust I've demonstrated the ease at which I can move this stuff across borders to you I think you may be able to help me. You see I have access to enough of this stuff to make myself very rich, I also have access to an international network to move it to different nations. What I lack are the connections to move it within a country. What I also do have is the common sense to realise that each nation seems to have gentleman such as yourselves who have what I shall call a certain flair for this kind of arrangements and that the last thing any good businessman wishes to do is become the competition" he gave Leary a knowing smile. "What I propose therefore is that I shall sell you the exclusive rights to Black Cocaine for Seaforth. You have my word that I shall not sell to another dealer within these borders. In return you will buy that painting from me for $300,000. That being agreed you will then buy a further piece of art from me each month for an amount determined by how much of this stuff you want. I'll charge $25 per gram, my contacts tell me you can sell the stuff for $53 a gram on the mean streets of Seaforth. Now assuming you'll bulk the stuff up that should mean you'll make a tidy profit." He rummaged in his pocket and handed a room card over. "Now Philia here placed another package of the stuff in that room, feel free to go look for it, get a sniffer dog whatever you would like to do. I'm confident you'll not find it easily if at all, that is if you require futher proof as my claim that this stuff is at the moment undetcatble by the authorities." he placed the key next to the first package and the bra on the table. "Now if you have any nice white wine I'd like a glass for myself and my nymph here."

[Rhodes]

It was quite obvious to Raymond Leary that Duggan was annoyed with the security procedure. Leary grunted to himself. The pampered fop had obviously not made his bones or run a crew. He watched the presentation with well concealed contempt. How was this fool not in prison already? The whole art dealer setup SCREAMED heat score, but with the right shells....it could be worthwhile. It also depended on what the Black Cocaine was actually worth. With a nod of his head a minor associate went to the table and opened up several of the bags of black cocaine. Mixing it well the man prepared four good sized lines. Looking at his boss, Leary lifted his head. The man then proceeded to prepare another four lines.

When the lines were prepared the man leaned over the table and snorted four of the lines. As an exceptional Reisling was presented to Cairan, the Seaforthians waited for one of their two guests to snort the remaining lines of cocaine.

[Libby]

Cairan removed his wallet from his trouser pocket and handed it over to Philia, she opened it and removed a small steel tube, clearly she was no stranger to the odd line of the merchandise. "No offence but it doesn't hurt to be too careful these days does it." He explained to Leary as his accomplice hoovered up the remaining lines, "Personally" Cairan continued as Philia handed him back the steel tube, "I'm not a fan of any of these narcotics, a nice cigar, a drop of whiskey or even a nice ice cold beer on a sunny day is more my style" he said, "Although this wine is exceptional" he added. "Now I assume quality control is dealt with, I've proved I'm capable of getting the stuff to where it needs to go, if you're interested perhaps we should talk what kind of art you'd like me to send to you, nice portraits perhaps, lovely countryside scenes, I've even got clients who like me to find them sculptures, I figure if we're using the stuff as a means to get the stuff around Mundus you may as well have it looking pretty as it goes. How does that sound? Are we going to make each other very rich men?"

[Rhodes]

Raymond smiled in approval.


"Narcotics is a business, not a pastime. Frankly, I'm glad you don't partake. It always causes problems down the line. Yes Mr. Duggan, I think we are going to make each other very rich men."


With that, Raymond got up from his seat and crossed over to Duggan, offering his hand to seal the deal.