San Pedro, California
Same Day
The man stared at the battered suitcase on the yellow Formica table and considered what else to pack. He stroked the large protrusion that was his stomach and tried to control his wheezing. After he threw the thumb drive on top of his clothes, he locked the suitcase, checking the lock several times. When he finally sat down to rest, the faded velveteen sofa groaned under his weight.
He glanced at the table to make sure he had his remote control, his Spaghettios, a can opener, and a cold beer. He planned to eat and rest a bit, and then he"d head over the bridge to Long Beach. If all went well, he would make a lot of money fast so he could be shooting craps in Vegas before sundown the next day. Maybe he would pick up a juicy young girl to entertain him on th
