[Starter] Roman McKenzie
Roman heard the line snap and the crate came falling and on instinct, he caught it lest he lose the precious spirits. He set the box down as he saw the large man on the Yacht see it all despite the darkness.
Roman's face became grim as the man gestured silence and went back to his party as they fished his man that had fallen back to the Yacht. A man looked over the cargo ship after the crate had fallen - the captain of the ship.
"Are you okay, Joven?" Captain Alvarez yelled over the side, using the Spanish word for youngster.
"I am alright - it landed on some netting down here", Roman yelled back as he opened the crate to see if there was any damage to the bottles. As he scrutinized the contents, he saw a discrepancy.
"I asked for 50 bottles of Canadian whisky", Roman yelled up. "There are only 20 here."
"Im sorry - price went up for those - but i gave you an extra rum to cover the loss", Alvarez yelled back.
Roman saw it coming - demand for Rum was starting to decline as drinkers started to like the spirits from the north of the border causing rum to decrease in demand and price - he would have to adjust accordingly.
A basket with a rope was lowered to Roman and he placed the payment for the spirits in it. In the time they had done business, Alvarez gave him the merchandise first before asking for payment - a rare gesture he accorded only to his most valued clients - but his men stilled manned the machine guns targeting his boat should Cpt. Alvarez's kindness be viewed as weakness.
"Until next time, Capitan", Roman said waving and went to the Oracle's wheel.
"Adios Joven - always a pleasure doing business with one of my best customer", Alvarez yelled back and gestured for the next Rum Runner in line to approach.
Roman steered Oracle away from the Cuervo de Tempestad and giving one last glace to that Yacht with the large man, headed back to the East River, a slow, lightless journey only using the lights of the stars and the glow of the city ahead to guide him. Now he would have to watch for coast guard and New York City patrol boats.
It was bound to happen, he thought to himself on the large man seeing him catch the crate.
Would anyone believe him?