“Decided on the pantsuit?” Jimmy asked as Zoe emerged from the bathroom the next day. She simply nodded as he could see what she was wearing. “Why not the wear the dress you got?”

“Because I would rather Mr Capone take me seriously and not stare at my legs or cleavage,” Zoe replied.

“He’s going to do that anyway. Besides, those pants are pretty tight,” Jimmy said as Zoe walked past him.

“That’s gross Jimmy. You’re my cousin and shouldn’t be looking at my butt.”

“I’m also a heterosexual man who’s not related to you by blood,” her cousin shrugged.

“That doesn’t make it any better!” Zoe exclaimed. Jimmy laughed and Zoe frowned. She was mostly sure he was pulling her chain now. “Butthole.”

“The proper term is asshole,” Jimmy replied grinning at his cousin. “Seriously though, you look great and very professional.”

“Thank you,” Zoe replied.

“No heels?”

“No. As you said, I’m going for professional. High heels would be going for more sexy than professional.”

“That would work.”

“I don’t want to be a dame or mistress. Making a living on my back is not my goal in life.”

“Dames don’t just live on their backs. There are other positions…”

“Jimmy!”

“Just teasing Zoe,” Jimmy replied. He turned serious. “But this is the sort of thing you’ll hear a lot of in the city.”

“I know.”

“Have you given any thought to your business proposal?”

“What do you mean?” Zoe asked.

“What sort of plan do you have to make Nucky agree to loan you money?”

“Doing courier runs for him very cheaply.”

“I don’t know. That might work, but anything else?”

“I did some research last night and found there are a lot of intrusion programs that frames support. I figured I could maybe steal some data for him or something.”

“There is a lot of ICE out there to counter them too. Besides, if the corps or whoever catches you trying to infiltrate their systems…”

“I know. It doesn’t end well. But wouldn’t Mr Capone like having access to networks he shouldn’t?”

“Of course, he would. He pays a slicer or three to do that for him.”

“Oh…”

“But having an attractive, sweet, and innocent looking courier might be more than he can resist too,” Jimmy said. “Especially one he doesn’t have to pay a lot.”

“I’m very sweet,” Zoe replied her grin turning into a genuine smile. “But innocent? No, I’m afraid I’m not that innocent to the ways of the world.”

“Fair enough. Let’s go.”

“Let me get my bag.”

“Hurry up,” Jimmy replied, smacking Zoe’s butt as she walked past him.

“You’ll pay for that!”

“Uh huh.”

“Here, carry this for me,” Zoe said throwing her backpack at her cousin. Jimmy caught it.

“I thought you were getting a purse or something.”

“I did,” Zoe replied waving a small purse in the air.

“Then what do you need this for?”

“It’s got my running gear in it. Since I missed my morning run, I thought I would change and go for one after the meeting with your boss.”

“You know, if you’re going to keep running around the neighborhood, you need some protection,” Jimmy said.

“People have left me alone. Besides, I can’t afford anything until I get a job,” Zoe replied. “Let’s go!”

*

“Tony, why are we going to the kitchen?”

“Nucky enjoys cooking and has been in the mood to do so the last few days,” Tony replied as he led Zoe through the Capones dining room. He stopped before the kitchen door and held up a meaty finger. “Now, remember to be respectful, polite, and most importantly honest.”

“Of course,” Zoe replied nodding.

“Alright kid. Here we go,” Tony said pushing the door open. “Nucky, I have Zoe Blanco here to meet with you about a loan.”

“Thanks Tony. Come here and tell me how the sauce tastes. You too, Zoe,” Nucky Capone ordered.

“Could use some more red wine,” Tony said after tasting the vinaigrette. Zoe stared mystified. The two men noticed her expression.

“What? Thought I would be cooking a pasta sauce? Nucky asked grinning. Zoe blushed.

“Yes.”

“Ha.”

“Answers like that are what Nucky appreciates,” Tony said giving her a thumbs up. “Now, try the vinaigrette.”

Zoe did as she was ordered. “Tastes ok to me.”

“We need to make sure this girl eats right if she’s going to live in this city,” Nucky said shaking his head. “Tony is correct. It needs some more wine.”

“Too true,” Tony agreed sitting on a bar stool next to his boss. “On both counts.”

Nucky and Zoe laughed.

“So, Zoe, tell me why you want to be a courier,” Nucky said.

“I don’t, but…”

“You need a job,” Nucky concluded.

“Yes sir.”

“Sir?” Nucky asked. “Tony, did you give her the be respectful speech?”

“Of course.”

“Cliched though it may be, it’s always good to pay respect to your elders,” Capone advised Zoe. She nodded in agreement. “Anyway, why should I loan you the credits?”

“I’ll make your deliveries on time very cheapy for a year, keep my head down, and my eyes open for opportunities you could benefit from,” Zoe answered.

“Nice answer,” Tony said pouring himself a glass of wine. He held up the bottle. “Boss?”

“Thanks,” Capone replied nodding his head. “Your cousin mentioned you have some experience as a slicer. Tell me about that.”

“I should wring Jimmy’s neck,” Zoe muttered.

“Now, now. Jimmy’s a good kid and did only what was needed and expected of him as our associate. Don’t be mad,” Tony admonished Zoe.

“I won’t,” Zoe replied. She turned her attention to the mob boss. Zoe explained to them a little about what she had done for the purity church. “I thought I could easily slice into the network while I transmitted data since the ports would be open and the data already scanned for viruses and such.”

“Out of the mouth of babes,” Tony muttered. He met Zoe’s eyes as she frowned. “I don’t mean your sex even if you’re a good-looking girl, I mean your age.”

“It’s so simple it would work too,” Nucky said before taking a sip of his wine. “This would require a heavily modified frame or extremely expensive one,” Nucky continued. “Or both.”

“Why hasn’t anyone done it before?” Tony asked.

“Fear,” Nucky replied. “But it’s probably something the corps do from time to time.”

“Fear of what?” Zoe asked.

“Of getting caught and couriers not being considered neutral and untouchable any longer,” Nucky answered. Tony nodded in agreement. “The corporations come down hard on anyone attempting to slice into their systems. Most caught doing so are killed immediately.”

“Really? How do they do that?” Zoe asked.

“You haven’t lived life with a frame or cybernetic implants. People fear getting sliced even if ICE prevents it in 99.9% of cases,” Tony said. “Having body parts that do not work or even your own hand choking you to death is a legit fear since it has been done before.”

“Or your legs walking you up to the roof of skyscraper and walking off,” Nucky added.

“That can happen?” Zoe asked as the two men made her imagination run wild.

“To some extent,” Tony answered. “The last time I heard about anything like that happening was over twenty years ago when one of the smaller corporations last tried to have their own couriers. They got caught slicing into systems they shouldn’t have.”

“Couriers wouldn’t work for people, corps, or gangs that kill them,” Nucky said moving the conversation along. “And the good ones are too important to risk offending.”

“That’s true,” Tony added. “Still, being a courier is dangerous. You never know what you’re truly carrying. Plus, there are traffic accidents, gang shootings, hijackings, robberies…”

“Ok…” Zoe replied.

“Zoe, are you willing to risk being a courier?” Nucky asked. “And are you willing to slice into places for me on occasion?”

“If it’ll let me make a living in this city, then yes.”

“There are other ways to make a living,” Nucky said.

“Not without being a dame, dancer, or someone’s mistress,” Zoe shot back. “Which I won’t do.”

“True,” Tony replied as Nucky toasted Zoe with his wine.

“Take a seat and tell me a little more about yourself. We’ll discuss this plan some more too,” Nucky said. “It might be better for me to invest in you instead of just loaning you some credits.”