He heard the door open. Through the tank, he could see the shapes of two men.

“I’ve been expecting you,” he said as the men came around the tank.

“You have what we want?”

“If you have the payment.”

The man nodded at his partner. The partner stepped forward, took a pouch from his pocket, and emptied it onto the bar. Gems and diamonds glittered in the dim light.

“There. Now where are the sample and seeds?”

He eagerly leaned over the pile on the bar. “Fish tank. Sealed in an airtight container. Under the pirate ship.”

He didn’t looked up but heard quiet noises of annoyance. Then there was a soft splash and a grunt as one of them put his arm into the tank.

He waited another 15 seconds, then reached into his pocket, pulled out his gun, and shot both men in the ankles.

They screamed and fell to the floor, one dripping wet.

He stood up and faced the fish tank.

“Now, if you gentlemen could tell me who sent you, we can keep this from getting even more unpleasant.”