By the time Piper had pulled into the truck stop that served as their rendezvous point, the truck was sputtering and shaking due to its lack of gas. At the entrance was a sign that read Marty’s Highway Haven. Marty’s was like a small town located in the middle of nowhere. It had its own convenience store, two restaurants -- one of them being a diner -- a liquor store, and for some reason, a drive-in movie theater.

Piper drove the stuttering truck over to an available gas pump and got out without even waiting for her father. Victor grabbed the cage and climbed out of the truck. It was awkward with the cage, not to mention his joints and muscles had begun to hurt after his impromptu flight and hijacking. The gauze which was wrapped around his hands had splotches of blood and looked like a Rorschach test. After his feet hit the ground, Victor pulled out his flip phone and began dialing. Before he could hit send, a voice called to him.

“No need. I saw you guys pull in.” Victor turned to see a man about his age, but with much less hair, jogging over.

“Hello Duncan.” Victor said.

Duncan took a second to catch his breath. “Everything go okay?”

Victor showed off his bandaged hand. “About as well as it could have. Any word on who hired the guy?”

“Frank, my old business partner. He was being petty and tried to get back at me. Can I see my baby?” Victor handed Duncan the cage. He took it and peered through the towel that covered it. He nodded, put the cage on the ground and pulled out his wallet. “I’ll admit, I was a little worried. You smogger types can get overzealous at times.” He handed Victor a small stack of hundreds.

“Money makes me extra careful.” Victor winked.

Duncan put his wallet back in his pocket and replaced it with a small envelope. “Here’s a bonus. Free tickets to the exhibit when it opens up next month.”

“Thanks.” Victor pocketed the money and the tickets. “Piper will enjoy that.

Duncan began walking off with the cage before turning around. “Oh, I almost forgot. Marty said he wants to talk to you.”

“Thanks. I’ll talk to him after some food and a shower.”

Victor and Piper walked into the diner as the lunch rush was on its last legs. People filed out the door as they walked in. The hostess greeted them with a smile and brought them to a table in the back room. They preferred it back there, because it was quiet, allowed them to relax away from people and it was easy for anyone to find them should they need to talk.

A waitress walked up to their table. It was Gladys. An older woman who had worked at the diner since its opening. Piper had once asked her why she never was promoted to manager, and Gladys said that she was given the choice, but she preferred to be out with the people.

“Will it be the usual for you both?” She asked. She had the voice and accent of a kindly southern grandmother.

“Yes ma’am.” Victor said. Gladys smiled and walked off.

Piper and Victor enjoyed a quiet meal. There wasn’t much talking whenever they ate. Victor stared out the window and watched as vehicles and people came and went from the truck stop. Piper was reading a magazine. She always picked one out from the convenience store. Whichever one she was reading, Victor noticed it was about whatever big awards show was about to happen on TV. He wasn’t up to date on most of the current movies. They only had so much space in the truck, so they kept their DVD collection to a minimum, and the drive-in theater only played what Marty considered the classics.

They finished their meals and after Gladys cleared everything away, Victor left her a generous tip. They didn’t rush out of the diner either, because they knew that sooner or later they would receive a visitor.

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

“Right on time.” Piper muttered. She didn’t bother to look up from her magazine.

“There you are.” A short man walked up to their table. He wore a gray dress shirt with slacks and his brown hair was slicked back with gobs of hair gel. Victor slid over to give the man some room.

“Hello Marty.”

The man sat down. “Hello Victor. Piper.” Piper turned a page and gave a halfhearted wave. “Got another job lined up, if you’re interested.”

Victor leaned back. “I am, but don’t I deserve a break?”

“Of course you do. Unfortunately, the client seems to be in a bit of a rush. He asked for the best. I told him, ‘well I can’t do that, but I’ll get you Victor.’” Marty laughed raucously like he had just it killed in a comedy club. When no one else laughed, he regained his composure and cleared his throat.

“So what’s the job?” Victor asked.

Marty shrugged. “Don’t know. He said he wants to discuss it in private.”

“Okay, what’s the pay?”

“Triple the usual.”

Had Victor been drinking something, he would’ve spit it all over Marty and ruined his shirt. Piper looked up and stared.

“Well,” Victor said astonished, “tell your client we’ll talk.”

“Excellent. We’ll swing by your truck around 8.”

At seven fifty-five on the dot, Victor climbed out of the truck and into the cool night air. The slight breeze tickled him as it blew through the bristles of hair on his head. Piper stayed inside. She let Victor take care of the leg work, as long as she got to drive. Victor lit up a cigarette and inhaled deeply. It didn’t have the same effect that breathing in the fumes from the truck’s tailpipe did, but the cigarette did offer a modicum of peace and power.

It was two minutes after eight when Marty and a man walked out of the diner entrance and crossed the parking lot. As they approached, Victor finished his cigarette and stomped it on the ground.

“Victor,” Marty said. “This is Gene.”

Victor walked up and grabbed the man’s hand. His grip was a little weak. Gene looked like one of those handsome nerdy guys you see in movies. The type where the actor is considered a Hollywood hunk, but they try to downgrade themselves for a role as a computer hacker by wearing glasses.

“I hear you’re pretty good.” Gene said. He had a deep nasally voice.

“I try to be. What’s the job?”

Gene crossed his arms. “I just need something transported from Point A to Point B.”

Victor raised his eyebrows.

“It’s a special kind of cargo,” he continued. “Needs to be transported nice and quiet. Can’t really tell you more than that unless you agree to the job.”

Victor exhaled. “I need more information than that.”

“I can’t…”

“Then I can’t.” Victor said. “I prefer to know what I’m working with.”

Gene put on an annoyed half-smile. “It’s a person.”

“Sorry, but I don’t have the room. Get a taxi or a shuttle service.”

“They wouldn’t be riding in your truck.”

“You want me to house them in my trailer?” Victor then turned to Marty who had been standing there in silence. “We might need to start screening some of these people you send my way.”

Before Marty could answer, Gene spoke again. “You would be transporting a criminal.” Gene continued speaking, annunciating each of his words. “I need them brought to an airfield so they can be given to the proper authorities. They are dangerous and I need someone capable. I’ve been told that is you.”

After a moment of silence Victor asked, “What makes them so dangerous?”

Gene took a breath and spoke more calmly. “They are a smogger. They caused a lot of damage up North and my superiors want this done quickly and quietly. There are many who would pay handsomely for the services they can provide, much like yourself.”

“I hope you plan on transporting them inside a coffin or something, because a pair of handcuffs and a gag ain’t going to do much.”

“We’ve got that covered. I’ve already said more than enough. Are you taking the job or not?”

Victor scratched the back of his neck. “Since you’re offering me triple my usual rate, and I can’t have others like me harming my reputation, yeah I’ll take it.” He offered Gene his hand who took it. “Alright, where’s the cargo?”

“It’ll be delivered first thing in the morning. I’d make sure to get plenty of sleep.”