“Worried about protecting your domicile? Guns R Us is pleased to offer the all new RemingMoss 500 and RemingMoss 870 shotguns! These two beauties are designed after classic pump action shotguns and feature the latest in smartgun technology,” the salesman exclaimed as Jay walked by. “You can even get them with faux wood finishes for that antique look.”

Jay waved the holographic advertisement away and kept walking as it returned to the wall screen. Or he tried to keep walking. No sooner than the Guns R Us ad was gone it was replaced by one for K B MILFs, which is an escort service and brothel. Numerous ads for beer, food, and even virtual girlfriends and boyfriends followed. Jay sighed. He knew this is what happens when you sell your net search data even one time. But he had been hard up for cash and hadn’t known the one sale would haunt him years later. Jay was already late for his scheduled delivery and still hadn’t come up with a passable excuse. Jay finally reached his destination, Capones Italian Bar and Grill. Capones wasn’t a bad place. The food was decent, the beer better, and nobody dared rob the joint. That was probably due to it being a mob joint.

People had assumed the government had long ago put the La Cosa Nostra out of business, but that simply wasn’t true. The mob had simply gone to ground behind their legitimate fronts biding their time and let its more outlandish and outspoken members be arrested or killed. The mafia reemerged in 2055 taking control of a fourth of the criminal underground in New York City. The Yakuza, Triads, and Bratva also known as the Russian mafia, controlled the rest. Smaller gangs were still a problem, but generally left those alone that they knew worked for the larger factions or corporate employees.

“You’re late,” the bouncer at the door told Jay.

“Had problems with my bike.”

“Really?”

“You saw me walk up, didn’t you?” Jay retorted. “Where is the boss?”

The bouncer snorted. “Nucky is waiting for you in the kitchen.”

“Not in his office? Jay asked.

“Nope. Nucky likes to cook at times. Today is one of them.”

“Thanks,” Jay replied walking through the door. Two minutes later he was escorted into the kitchen by another one of the mob boss’ goons.

“Now we add the meatballs and sausages before stirring,” Riccardo “Nucky” Capone was telling those gathered around him.

“Mr Capone…” Jay started only to fall silent as Capone held up a hand.

“Finally, we add a little wine for that extra flavor,” Nucky said pouring some wine into the pot before him. After setting the bottle down, he started stirring. Without looking at Jay, he said, “You took your sweet time getting here. I expect better from any courier that works for me.”

“I apologize Mr Capone. I had some motorcycle trouble.”

“Is that so?” Nucky asked picking up a towel and wiping his hands off before turning to face the courier.

“Yes sir.”

“I’ll let that slide just this once,” Capone said.

“Thank you, sir.”

“Where’s my data crystal?”

“There is no crystal Mr Capone, the data is in my reserve,” Jay replied tapping his head.

“Tony, check the data,” Nucky told one of his men.

“There is no need to check it, Mr Capone. As you know, the whole point of using couriers for this sort of thing is that our internal storage or reserve is completely secure and cannot be copied or even transmitted without the proper key, which only you have.”

“We’ll see,” Tony said pulling out a tablet and gesturing for Jay to join him at the table he sat at. Jay complied. Tony held out a cable and grinned. “Too proud to plug?”

“You should upgrade so you have your own internal cable,” another one of Capone’s men said.

“No,” Jay answered ignoring the guy’s comment and taking the cable before plugging it into the port at behind his right ear. “Sending you the data.”

“It’ll take a moment to verify,” Tony said.

“Jay, you can have some pasta with us once everything checks out,” Nucky said pulling Jay’s attention to the mob boss.

“That’s…it would be an honor,” Jay replied. Tony caught Capone’s eyes and shook his head.

“Almost done,” Tony said causing Jay to turn to face him. Nucky held out his left hand and another man placed a bat in it. The man grinned.

“You know what I hate, Jay?” Nucky asked.

“No, Mr Capone,” Jay asked starting to turn back to the boss. His head never completed the turn as Nucky swung the bat hitting Jay in the side of the head. Blood flew as the courier fell to the floor.

“I hate liars. Who did you sell the data to?” Nucky asked swinging the bat like a golf club catching Jay in the ribs. The courier curled into a ball. “Huh? I asked you a question you piece of filth.”

Jay groaned instead of answering.

“You didn’t think we would put a tracker into data passed amongst the family?” Nucky asked hitting the courier with the bat again. “Matteo, you and a couple of the boys find out who he sold the data to and then dump him in the ocean.”

“Right away boss,” the man who had given Nucky the bat replied taking the bat back. He waved to two of the other men who jerked Jay to his feet and carried him out the back door of the kitchen. Matteo followed carrying the bat.

“Nucky, we’ll need another courier,” Tony informed his boss.

“I know. You and Tommy handle that,” Nucky said wiping his hands on a towel before turning back to his sauce. “Ha. I gained a level.”

“Really? Congrats boss,” one of the other men said.

“No, you twit! Life isn’t a net game!” Capone roared.

“Sorry boss! I don’t want to sleep with the fishes.”

“Ha-ha. Get a load of this guy,” Tommy said. “That’s too cliché.”

“And don’t glare at me like that again. This is the only time I’ll let it slide,” Nucky said. “Have you ever heard of a woodchipper before?”

“I…sorry Mr Capone, but no.”

“Do a net search and watch the first video that comes up,” Nucky instructed as he turned back to the stove.

“People actually wasted wood like that back then?”

“Yup. You know what else woodchippers are good for?” Capone asked.

“No boss.”

“Imagine if you’re the wood.”

“Ah…”

“I see that you understand me now. Clean up this mess,” Nucky instructed gesturing at the blood on the floor.

“Right away boss!” the man said rushing out to get a mop.

“Idiot,” Tommy said. “Didn’t even check the broom closet.”

“Any particular requirements for the new courier?” Tony asked ignoring the Tommy’s commentary.

“Yeah,” Capone said after calming down. “Make sure they can be trusted, and perhaps someone we can hire for exclusive use.”

“No courier will go exclusive, Nucky,” Tommy said. “They would be giving up too much money.”

“Unless they are new to the game or down on their luck,” Nucky replied. “Which is what I prefer.”

“Gullible, desperate, or both,” Tommy concluded.

“I’ll get right on it,” Tony said starting to stand up.

“Not so fast. The pasta is almost done, and I didn’t cook it all for myself.”

“Thanks boss,” Tommy said.

“Yeah, thanks Nucky.”