The pungent odor of old whiskey and fresh piss drifted past me as I walked further down the alley way.  I stopped a moment to check the GPS on my phone.  "Well," I thought to myself, "It's supposed to be right here.  Shit."  I didn't see any signs that this forgotten stretch of pavement was inhabited by anyone other than myself.

"Just another goose chase.  At least this time I didn't get robbed."  My group therapy, led by noted psychologist Dr. R. Eddit, told me to look on the bright side of things, but this was the best attempt I was capable of.  God only knew how much trouble I'd be in if my wife woke up to find me gone.  I don't think I could've taken that conversation again.  And the worst part was...she was dead on right.  Hell, there I stood.  In a dark corner where complete strangers in my group counseling told me to go.  They said this guy was more reliable than my old go-to, "Uni".  Uni, (an unfortunate nickname resulting from a waist-high weedwhacker incident a few years past), was getting a little too big for his own ego in my opinion.  Don't get me wrong, as far as Coin sharks go, he was always my favorite.  Hell, I didn't even want to find a new exchanger.  But what I had...I needed exchanging.  And Uni was too big for something like this.  Too much attention on his books.

Just as I turned and began to walk back towards the busy sidewalk, I heard a voice from what I had believed to be a dirty pile of trash.

"Ey yo.  Got your wallet on ya?"

Damnit.

I raised my arms slowly and turned around.  I knew the drill by now.  Just last week, another Exchanger told me he was 'just going to go pick it up real quick' then actually convinced me to give him gas money.  Needless to say, he took my gas money and left me with none of the good stuff.

"Ey yoooo.  I'm talkin to ya."

I turned around, slowly as to not cause any reaction from my caller.  "Look man, I don't have any money."

The gruff voice gave a half-cough, half-laugh that made me wince, then responded "I didn't ask you for money.  I asked to see your wallet.  See, I'ma here cause I'm supposed ta meet with some guy with an orange fox on his wallet.  That you?"

The blood rushed to my head and my eyes flew open.  This was him?  This guy was supposed to replace Uni?  This must be some kind of a joke.  But a glance at my watch told me that I only had a few minutes left before all my analysis said I'd be in a world of hurt.  The wallet came out it's well formed back pocket.  The initials "MM" etched under the picture of an Orange fox head marked it readily as my identity in this world as much as even my name.

"Thanks."  The pile of garbage continued, "KYC my man.  Gotta know yo' customer."  

"No problem"

"So, watcha got in mind?  heard you were lookin' for a bit of this, a bit of that?  Some short, some long?  Somethin' like that?"

"Yeah."  I was beyond uncomfortable.  He knew too much about me already.  I didn't like it, but I was in too deep already.  "Here's the slip...slips" I corrected myself.

Taking the crumbled piece of paper from my outstretched hand, the stranger let out a whistle.  "Crash get you too, huh?  These are some bold moves, my friend.  Bold indeed."

"I know.  I just need to get back to even and I'll stop.  Maybe...maybe a little higher than even.  But that's it.  Cold turkey."  I don't know why I was defending myself.  Stupid nerves, I guess.

"Look buddy, not to be rude but I was told you could get this done.  Fast."  I added "And cheap" as an afterthought.  "I just need to get rid of these coins.  And quick.  And I need those," I tapped the paper he now held "As many as the other ones will get me.

"And the leverage?" The man asked with crooked smile that would make the Grinch cringe, creeping into his face.

"10 on ATOM.  5 on the rest."

"Sure about that?  Big gains, but bigger losses."

"Look man. I know what I'm doing.  I've been in this game for almost a month now.  I just need to get back on my feet a little.  One good bump."

Apparently satisfied with my answer, the man nodded and lifted the tarp he had originally been camouflaged behind.  My heart raced.  He had them.  And the price tag written in front of them...it was true.  It was all true.

I confirmed the numbers and the Exchanger took the info from me, tallied some numbers in his head then proceeded to hand them to me.  Sweat poured down my face as the anticipation became reality.  All those Internet Computers...this guy had them for a third of what I paid just last month.

"How...How did you get them so cheap?"  My mouth felt full of sand.  I could practically taste the words as they came out.  The man didn't say a word now, just arched one eyebrow as if to ask if I really wanted to know.  I responded with a silence of my own, afraid to blurt out something that would insult him or delay the exchange any longer.  A fear of missing out was brewing in my mind.  But the exchange happened.  Quick, cheap, and efficient.  I couldn't have been more pleasantly surprised with how this went.

"Thanks man," I started, feeling foolish now at my original concern.  "I'd say that I'd come back to deal with you again, but like I said.  This is my last exchange.  I'm going straight after this.  Just needed this last move."

The man smiled knowingly and responded "Sure guy.  Whatever you say."

With a final thought, I realized that I didn't even know this person's name.  I asked and he laughed.  A laugh brimming with confidence built up over more crashes than I'd ever like to see.

"Name's 1-inch.  Got the nickname from a waist-high weedwhacker incident...don't ask."

I didn't.

"See ya in a couple hours" he said.

...He did.