Chapter 6-3: Devil's Deal
Timing was critical. Planning was crucial. Things were now a jigsaw puzzle, and it was time to start putting the pieces in place. If the plan was to succeed, it depended on a lot of variables. He spotted an
/ad, that was one of the perfect pieces.
Yeah, I've got sequentially numbered containers, the female voice replied over the phone without asking any further questions.
Good. I'll take 10, he responded. After a quick drive down to Los Santos into the Willowfield area, he soon found the
LCL Logistics warehouse. It wasn't much to look at, but
V knew all too well that things aren't always what they seem on the outside.
He glanced around the room, as
Lucille Marquez started the paperwork. After a few signatures, they headed back outside where she pointed to the stack of cargo containers he'd just purchased. Inwardly, he smiled as he imagined the impact the containers would have. Offering his card, they parted ways, with
V heading back to Fort Carson for his
RoadTrain and
Lucy heading inside with another customer.
The afternoon rolled by, and the old, beaten up
RoadTrain long past its prime roared to life; another testament of the deception of outward appearances. It lurched forwards, with a deep suction through its intake, shuddered and shifted; pouring black smoke out of the exhaust.
Arriving back in Willowfield,
V hooked the first container of ten up.
It was going to be a long night, he thought.
And these containers aren't even packed yet.
Duke had done plenty to help the
Nomads, and it was time for some
quid pro quo. The two sat together on the wings of a stunt plane and discussed the
Angel's needs to continue operations.
Duke's south-of-the-border buyer was ready for another shipment.
Looking across the airfield, two plumes of dust could be seen fast approaching.
Yours? was all
V asked.
Duke nodded as the pair came into sight. Before
Duke could make introductions,
V hopped off the wing and smiled at the female dismounting the bike.
Nice to see ya again, he casually said to
Lucy.
No time for chitchat, it seemed. The group split up and started searching high and low for dealers looking to make some quick cash. Wasn't long before all their trunks were full.
Just waiting on delivery, V radioed in at the last location.
Alright, on my way to collect, Duke instructed.
Glancing down off the bridge, he couldn't help but to shudder. Even with water below him, he hated heights. But he waited, until he saw
Duke rolling up.
They made it back to the airport and started packing the plane.
Duke took a phone call, and it seemed that the last load was en route.
V spotted another dust plume heading towards them and nudged
Duke. He instantly recognized the car as that of one of the
Hawk brothers. As they shook hands,
V nudged
Duke again.
Not mine, Duke said as he reached around his back, readying his
Deagle.
It was a sports car, carelessly driving across the runway. As the driver hopped out,
Duke shouted,
'EY! Runways are for PLANES, not CARS! The three of them approached the driver, who began apologizing.
Don't let it happen again, Duke demanded before the driver headed off for his
Maverick rental and flew off.
Alone again, the three started pulling cases of their trunks, and loading them onto
Duke's plane.
Duke fired up the propeller as
V knocked hard twice on the chassis, followed by a thumbs up signaling the cargo was secured.
As the plane pulled forwards, smoke began billowing out of it.
V thought for a moment as he watched the smoke...it looked strangely similar to the smoke produced while cooking a batch of
meth.That's it, he thought, watching the smoke dissipate into the air.
That's the missing piece.