Freeport 11: The Flying Dutchman, now open for everyone!

[Rickard Steiner]

Having disembarked from his ship only minutes ago, Rodrigo Valdez entered the Flying Dutchman. He is a man past his prime, lean but with greying head of hair and worn stare, wearing the base uniform of a Maltese Naval officer but none of the insignia.

The Outcast ordered a glass of Bajtra quietly, exchanging the credits with a nod of appreciation to the bartender and turns about to survey the room. He was supposed to be meeting somebody here.

Across the room Rodrigo spied somebody waving in his direction, a young woman sat in a booth near the far side of the Dutchman. That could be her. Though he had no idea based in fact as to what his prospective employer might look like, the woman appeared as he had imagined her to appear following their brief call to arrange the meeting, and even if he would not recognise her by sight, she probably would; the portfolio that Rodrigo had submitted had included a photo of himself. Carefully he wove his way from the bar to her table.

"Ms Farrugia?" he began, his voice characteristically soft.

"Captain Valdez, it's nice to finally meet you!" Mia replied, gesturing for him to sit opposite her, which Rodrigo duly did, unsmiling.

"Do you mind?" he asked, pulling a cigarette out of his pocket and showing it to her.

"No, not at all! Whatever makes you comfortable." Pulling out a silver-plated lighter, Rodrigo lit up and took an indulgent drag on the cigarette.

"So, to business?"

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