The Revenge Scam

The Tea Shop

It had been a few days since the encounter with the crazy lady, as Charles liked to call her, and for some reason, he couldn't get her off his mind.

No, not her. the case! He chastened himself. He picked up the file for the umpteenth time that day and read the words that he had almost memorised at this point. Somehow, the crazy lady had accidentally given away her whole fortune. It didn't even make sense! The case had so many holes in it including who allowed such an idiot to have control over land, and how was she able to give it all away? For some reason though, he admired her persistence and sure willpower to figure out the case. She probably just wants her money back, he thought. Shaking his head, he placed the file down again and rubbed his hand on his forehead. This job was going to be the death of him.

He called out to Maria telling her he was going out and snatched his coat off the hanger. Swishing it around and putting it on, he strutted out of his office. He went outside, the business in the street hang in the air like a thick fog. Taking a deep breath in, and getting ready to join the crowd, he joined into the bustling zoo of people moving and continued to walk down the street. He liked to stand tall to show he had power and was an important part of society, although it was just a facade for the cowering man inside.

He was going to try and figure out if there were any leads he could find about the people that scammed her and was going to meet someone who knew a bit about them. Charles hoped he could help with the investigation because he was paying him some of his precious money just to meet with him.

In a cafe at the corner of the street, sat a guy with short, chestnut hair flipping through a newspaper. Charles walked up to him and shook his hand.

"I'm the detective who is working on the scam case, and you are the one that can help me?" The guy nodded and gestured his hand for him to sit down.

Breaking the silence that ensued the guy spoke up, "So it appears that this lady has lost her fortune to some type of scam?"

"Yes, that is correct," Charles answered back, stating the obvious. He grabbed the file from his coat pocket and slid it over the table. The corner of the paper got caught in a drop of coffee that had not been cleaned up from the people before. It began to seep into the fibres of it, turning it brown and curling the edges slightly. Steven took it into his hands and opened it up. Crumbs of different foods spilled out from the paper all over the wooden table. His facial expressions darkened and he tried his best to not grimace at the sight. He was more than slightly disgusted at the misuse of the case file.

"It seems that you have taken quite an interest in this case." He spoke with a gently raised eyebrow. Charles choked on his tea, biting back a sharp retort, knowing that he had been criticising him on the dirty file.

"Yes, it is quite different from the other ones I have been working on lately."

Steven took a sip of his tea and nodded slowly. "Okay, well we should start."

As they started talking about the case, Charles couldn't help but feel like he was being watched. His sixth sense was activated and there was a tingle on the back of his neck that he just couldn't place. He felt like something was off.

"I have a feeling like we are being watched," Charles leaned forward and whispered to Steven. He looked around and turned back to Charles, " Don't worry, there is no one listening, it must just be nerves." Charles still felt unsure but ignored it anyway.

"So what do you suggest I do?"

"There have been several reports of the same type of scams in Rome, to understand this type of case better I would head over to Rome. I have connections that could get you a train ride there. I would also consider taking this Duchess along so she can learn a few things as well and because she is connected with the case. Your departure shall be tomorrow at noon if that's all right with you? I will have the tickets mailed to your office." Charles nodded with a happy grin. He hasn't been on a vacation in years, even though this was still for work.

"Thank you so much for helping me, I'm so glad that I came to you." He and Steven got up from their chairs, and Charles placed a bill on the table. He thanked him for his time, shook his hand, and they went their separate ways. While leaving the shop Charles still had the same strange feeling on the back of his neck. He stopped and stood for a bit and started to talk to himself to help implant the thought, "I have nothing to worry about, I'm getting paid quite the amount. I even get to go on a business trip to Rome! This case couldn't be any better," With this thought in mind he happily strode off, back to his office.

In the dark of the alleyway, a small figure chuckled as they watched him walk away. "You're right, this case certainly couldn't be going any better," they whispered to themselves, in answer to what he had said. With those final words, the figure swished their cloak and stalked off into the darkness.