A Convenient Accident

Los Angeles. The city of Angels. Home of the rich and famous, or so Chimera had heard. She was still trying to work out what was so impressive about the city. It was late on a Friday night and the streets were crowded and noisy. People gathered in tight dresses, high heels and loose shirts, the air heavy with the scent of alcohol and diesel fumes. It made Chimera nauseous. Traffic had not abated as the day drew to a close and Chimera had grown bored of counting the amount of emergency vehicles that had past, sirens loud and lights flashing. The city was lit up worse than a christmas tree and quite frankly, the chaos was giving her a headache. This had resulted in Chimera wandering the back alleys where it was quieter. The smell wasn't any better, but her eyesight and hearing weren't continually being assaulted, so she had to accept a win somewhere. It had also helped to vent some of her frustration on the fools that thought she was an easy target at one point. Four men, one woman and a dark alley. To be fair, it would have been heavily in their favour, if it hadn't been Chimera they cornered. That was their problem, or at least it would be, when they finally woke up.
As far as Chimera could tell with a glance, she was currently outside the back of a hotel and an expensive one at that. Chimera paused, sniffing the air and grinned, fangs flashing in the low light. The hot smell of food reached her and she silently traced it to a large open door in a concrete yard. Inside she could see people dressed in black and white darting around what looked to be a kitchen. A large one at that, adding to her suspicions that the building was a hotel. Chimera crept closer till she stood in the doorway. They all seemed far too busy, not noticing her as she slipped part way inside. To her right was a large walk in freezer, its metal door closed, yet she could feel the heavy thrum of the machinery keeping it cool. To her left was an open door leading into an industrial chiller, the door open slightly. A few feet in front of her, the room widened and she could see the large cookers at the back, partially hidden by the rack of utensils that split the room into two walkways. Chimera glanced around one last time, before slipping into the chiller, where she saw a big tub of cream sitting on one of the shelves. No one was inside and she browsed the shelves of desserts ready to be served in the hotel restaurant. She was thieving a strawberry dipped in cream when she heard an exclamation of surprise behind her. Chimera spun round with a curse, hastily swallowing the mouthful of strawberry. Distracted by the food, she had foolishly dropped her guard. Stood by the door was a man in a white coat, checkered black and white trousers and carrying a box in his hands. Before the man could recover from his shock, Chimera darted past him, only to skid to a halt as she found her escape blocked. She couldn't quite fathom out, how she didn't hear the large truck that now sat with its open back against the door. A loading bay. Of course it was. Two more men stood by the truck doors as a third shoved boxes closer to the edge. All three stared at her in surprise and she cursed again as an angry shout came from the chiller behind her. Unable to get out of the loading bay door, Chimera went the only way she could. Further into the kitchen. She spun on one heel, darting to the right of the utensil rack, putting her out of sight for a few precious seconds. Long enough to turn into a small tabby cat, native to Earth. She shot past the rack, bearing a brief glance for the sinks as she surprised a young Dishwasher, before darting through an open door in front of her, just as it swung shut. Chimera slunk to the side of the door, behind a potted tree and quickly glanced around, assessing her position. She was in the main restaurant and apparently unnoticed for now. A few people sat at tables to the side where it was well lit and a waitress was hurrying away from the kitchen with several plates of food. Chimera noticed a rope barrier up in front of an archway to her right, preventing people from entering the seating area at the back of the restaurant. The lights were all dimmed right down, meaning that it would be nice, quiet and highly unlikely to be disturbed. She quickly snuck her way there, as far from the customers as possible. The restaurant was dimly lit and her tabby colouring allowed her to hide in the shadows with ease, disappearing under the rope without a sound, thanks to the thick carpet.
Against the walls, the tables had sofa like seats instead of chairs, their backs forming a low ledge all the way around. The junction of each ledge where two sofas met, held some form of decorative ornament, vase of flowers or elegant lamp. Chimera jumped up and settled behind the statue of a cowboy holding, one handed to his bucking steed. She closed her eyes intent to doze till everything quietened down and she could slip away, deciding it was time to return to her ship.
Chimera hadn't dozed for long when she heard soft voices. Opening her eyes a fraction, she watched a waitress leading a woman in a tight black evening dress and two men in suits to a table. The waitress switched on a nearby lamp, giving the table just enough light to eat by, while remaining discreet. The men stopped at the archway and positioned themselves either side.
Like Guards.
The feline thought briefly. The woman followed the waitress to a table just one down from where Chimera hid.
"Can I get you a drink while you wait, Ma'am?"
"I'll have a bourbon."
"Yes Ma'am."
The waitress hurried away and Chimera watched the woman as she pulled out her phone, tapping a quick message with perfectly manicured nails, her mouth pulling down into a slight frown. The cat shrugged to herself before yawning and closing her eyes once more, her interest in the woman already gone. It wasn't long after the woman received her drink that the waitress returned with a dark haired man in tow, dressed in an impeccable black and white suit. The woman stood to greet him as the waitress left. The gentleman beamed, taking the woman's hand and giving it a kiss, bowing slightly as he did so. They took their seats once more. His skin was darker, more tanned than the woman's and when he spoke, his accent was strange. Chimera tried to place it. Spanish perhaps? Or Mexican. Mexico was right on the border of the American states if Chimera remembered right and the accent seemed fitting compared to the popular shows she had been introduced to.
"Anna. It's good to see you again."
"You're late Hector."
The woman, Anna, spoke with a disapproving tone, snatching her hand back as if his tardiness was a personal offence. Chimera huffed in amusement while the man, Hector, merely leant back with a smile.
"My apologies. There was a problem with traffic. Shall we order?"
Chimera closed her eyes again, ignoring the return of the waitress. Once the waitress had vanished with their order, she heard the Mexican pour a drink and lean back in his seat.
"You look stunning as always my dear."
"I'm well aware of how I look Rodriguez. I thought we were here to discuss business, or are you just wasting my time?"
Chimera opened one eye, raising an eyebrow, as much as she could in feline form, at the woman's brusque comment. The Mexican just laughed.
"Time with me is never wasted Anna and I do love a confident woman. Very well then, straight to business. I have the shipment you requested, ready for delivery."
"All of it?"
"All fifty tonnes of the purest quartz available."
Chimera opened both eyes and stared at the couple.
'Fifty tonnes of pure quartz? Dear stars, what is she going to do with that? Not even jewellers use that much.'
"Good. How soon can you have it delivered to San Francisco?"
The Mexican sighed, toying with his glass. Chimera couldn't see his face as he sat with his back to her, but judging by Anna's expression, something was wrong.
"That's where we have a problem."
I knew that was coming.
Anna scowled, her eyes narrowing.
"What problem?"
The Mexican paused as the waitress returned with their food. They remained quiet until she had passed the woman's guards, back to the kitchen. Chimera studied the two men in the archway for a moment. She could smell the oil from their guns, hidden under their jackets. One had shifted slightly as the waitress passed, revealing a glimpse of what appeared to be, a shoulder holster. Her stomach growled at the smell of the food and she took a deep breath, savouring the smell of chicken and salmon as she returned her attention to the couple.
"It is getting increasingly more difficult to sneak things past the Mexican border without being caught. I can get your quartz to San Francisco, but it will cost more than we originally planned."
Chimera watched as Annas scowl deepened, her knuckles going white as she tightened her grip on her cutlery.
Well, that seems to have made him popular. Why would she need to ship quartz under the radar? Hardly an illegal substance.
"How much more?"
Anna's voice had gone dangerously low and Chimera got the sense of a predator sizing up it's prey. The Mexican on the other hand, didn't seem to sense the danger. Whether he was stupid or just naive, was up for debate in Chimeras opinion.
"Not much. A couple of million. My contact is awfully nervous of the Border Patrols."
'ouch. That's not small money on Earth.'
Anna was silent for a few minutes as she ate. Chimera was amused when the Mexican shifted under the woman's piercing gaze. Finally, she responded to his demands.
"Very well, but I expect a quicker delivery. Two days from tomorrow. Your contact had better not be late, or he will suffer my wrath."
Hector Rodriguez gave a laugh.
"I'll be sure to warn him. The ship is called The Helix. I will let you know which dock he will arrive at, as soon as I know."
They fell silent again as the waitress returned for their plates.
"Would you like the dessert menu?"
Chimer licked her lips at though, but was disappointed with Anna's response.
"No, that will be all."
The waitress nodded at Anna and glanced at the Mexican who shook his head.
"I'll go get the bill then."
Once she had gone, Rodriguez turned to Anna, crossing his legs as he leant back in his seat.
"If I may ask, what exactly do you plan to do with fifty tonnes of quartz, that you don't want the authorities to trace back to you?"
Anna raised a manicured eyebrow at him and Chimera huffed her amusement again.
"That, Mr Rodriguez, is none of your business. Now go. You have work to do."
As the Mexican stood with a smile and departed, Chimera rubbed a paw over her nose. As interesting as it had been to listen in to their conversation, she had no interest in Earth's black market dealings. Every planet had one, hell, even her own home world had had a black market. The woman's perfume was making Chimeras nose burn and she tucked it under her tail when it was clear that there was nothing more to see. The waitress returned with the bill and departed quickly after. One of the guards approached the woman as she stood, bag in hand.
"Are you ready Milady?"
"Prepare for the arrival of the shipment in San Francisco and if that fool causes any problems, kill him."
Chimeras head shot up and she stared at Anna in amazement. The woman's voice had changed to sound deeper and echoing. Her eyes flashed gold, as though lit from behind. Unmistakable in the dim light. The guard bowed, his hand placed over his heart in salute and Chimera realised that both men wore hats that covered down to their eyes. Anna flicked a hand and the guards moved to flank her as they left through the archway. Chimera sat up, watching with curiosity.