Part 3Cold Storage For The Greedy

I watched Halloway’s thumb hovering over his walkie-talkie. Suddenly, my phone vibrated several times in quick succession.

I made a show of opening my banking app, but I was actually looking at the group chat. The same people who were currently looking at me with righteous indignation were having a digital party.

Halloway is a pro! 'Maintenance'—I love it!

Did you see Old Man Jenkins? Give that man an Oscar! The kid looks like he’s about to cry.

Dotty, you’re up! Do the 'good cop' routine. Drain him dry before he leaves!

The cynicism of it was almost impressive. They had turned extortion into a choreographed stage play. They were rotten to the core.

The crowd parted again. A middle-aged woman in a red waterproof apron rushed in, looking breathless and frantic.

"Oh, now, let’s be reasonable! Everyone just take a breath!" Dotty Higgins shoved Halloway’s hand away from the radio. As she did, I saw her hand slip something—a pack of cigarettes, maybe with something tucked inside—into Halloway’s pocket.

She turned to me, her eyes wide and full of "kindness."

"Sweetheart, you’re not from around here, are you? Listen to Dotty. Don't let this escalate. Going to the security office... that’s a nightmare you don't want. These boys have tempers, but they’re good people."

She sighed, the picture of a tragic peacemaker. "Tell you what. I’ll help you out. I’ll take that dead fish off your hands for fifty bucks—I can use it for fish cakes at my stall. You pay Mike the remaining hundred, and we all walk away friends. How does that sound?"

The "passersby" immediately flipped the script.

"See? There’s still some heart on this pier!"

"You’re a saint, Dotty. Kid, you better thank her."

I looked at Dotty’s "honest" face. I turned off my screen.

"Fine," I said, nodding. I opened my Venmo and scanned Big Mike’s QR code.

Payment Received: $150.00.

I saw the flicker of greed in Mike’s eyes as the notification hit his phone. I was a "whale." A sucker with an open wallet.

Dotty’s eyes lit up. She grabbed my arm with surprising strength, pulling me toward the stall next door. "You’ve had a rough start, honey. Come on, let me get you a water. Relax a bit. Mike’s just stressed about the holiday. Tell you what, I’ve got some prime Dungeness crab today. I’ll give you a deal—wholesale price, just to make up for the trouble."

I looked at the crabs snapping in her tank. A thin, cold smile touched my lips. "Sure, Dotty. I’d love some crab."

I wanted to see how far they’d go.