The Love Triangle (GxGxB) [Completed]

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

My gang and I regroup in a hotel, and we have all had successful days. Steve and Nick's part of the con – the research – is complete. My part of the con – the convincer – is complete. Albert's part of the con – the distraction – is ready to begin. Boyles' part of the con – the stake out – is undergoing. Dean's part of the con – the conviction – is planned. We are all ready to go.

Tomorrow morning we will finish the con, and it will all be sorted. Iago will no longer be a problem. Yes, it is a quick con but we don't want to drag it out. Using we are cautious and careful, taking a week or so to do each part. First the research, the then convincer, then the distraction, then the stake out and, finally, the conviction.

But we have to do this one quick, and within forty eight hours. Partly because I am rushing to get back to Cher and Liam, but mostly because Iago is in danger of being moved. He was undetected in the safe house before, but now that we found him, the police will be worried we will find him again. So soon they will move him.

I phone Cher and Liam before I go to bed, and my heart continues to bleed for them. Then my gang and I take turns sleeping and sorting out the con – because there is a lot of admin to do, so we stagger the night. Steve and Nick talk the bulk of it, but I do a large part as well.

"Leila?" Steve questions, at two thirty in the morning, when the three of us are working hard.

"Yeah?" I mutter, eyes on my laptop.

"When Iago is gone, is the gang going to go back to how it was?" he asks. I pause, because the word 'yes' is on my tongue. But it can't go back to how it was, because I will not be there.

"No, guys it won't" I admit. "I'm going straight after this. No more conning for me. I have things going for me, and I can't keep this up". There is a moment, as the twins exchange looks of shock.

"But Leila, you're one of the best in the business. You can't give up" Nick exclaims, and I hush him. We're in a suite, but I don't want him to risk waking the others up.

"You taught us most of what we know" Steve adds in.

I sigh heavily, "I have a family now, boys. I'm not going to screw up the only good thing I have going on in my life. I'll miss conning, of course I will. But I'll happily give it up for my family". Just thinking of Cher and Liam has my lips titling up into a smile. I miss them like crazy.

"Never expected it would be you that quit first, Leila" Steve smiles softly at. "But, I'm happy for you".

"Yeah, we both are" Nick agrees.

"You boys have to promise that you'll look after Albert for me" I say, after a few moments of pause. "I would love for him to return home with me, but I know that won't happen. He lives for the con, and he should spend the rest of his days loving the con. So, just promise me that you'll look out for him".

"Always" Nick and Steve nod together. I smile at the twins. People can say a lot about criminals, especially con artists, but they cannot deny the fact that we look after our own. We cared about one another, and we have each other's back – always.

When six am comes around, it is time for the con to go ahead. I am excited, because soon Iago will be gone and I will have my family back once more. Just thinking of being back in bed with Cher and Liam has butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

We then split up for the con to begin.

Boyles, Dean and I head to the house I went to yesterday – belonging to John Finnegan. He is an old conning partner of Iago, and we plan to use him to get close to Iago once more. So, yesterday, I posed as Iago's temptress of a daughter.

I convinced John that a picture he stole – which he can't sell because the police have been watching him for years – would be secretly be brought from him for a healthy sum. At it would be Jackson Treaker, AKA Iago, who is buying it from his old partner.

Today, I take Boyles and Dean back to John's house. He lets us in, and we all shake his hands. I tell him Boyles and Dean are Art Dealers, and will be dealing with the famous painting. Vermeer's The Concert, is one of the world's most valuable painting. I can't wait to have it in my hands.

We have a briefcase full of money will us. Fifty thousand in US dollars – and it is all real. Unfortunately, when dealing with con artists they can tell fakes a mile away. And this is the convincer – showing John we are trustworthy. We tell him this is a deposit.

He is happy, and smiling, and I flirt a bit with him. We leave his house at seven am, and he promises to meet us at five pm to get the rest of his money, from his old pal Jackson. I smile to myself, as we leave the house; the plan is going exactly how I planned.

At seven thirty, we are back in the hotel room. During both encounters with John, I wore a microphone that recorded everything. I had asked him some closed questions, to guarantee he said exactly what I wanted him to say – and then we recorded it.

Steve and Nick use the recordings of John's voice, to set up a computer program that would change my voice to sound like John. Obviously I can only say certain words, but I had kept John talking enough that we have enough words to hold a decent conversation.

We don't have Iago's phone number, but hacking the police computers Nick found the phone number for the safe house he was staying in. So they set the phone call up, and I put on the microphone so that my voice will go via the computer before into the receiver of the phone.

A police officer answers, and I say I am a friend of Iago. My enemy then gets onto the phone, and I smile easily to myself. I have been studying John Finnegan files, and I know exactly how to become him.

"Jackson, my old friend, it's John" I say in John's voice.

"John Finnegan?" Iago questions hesitantly.

"Of course, old friend. I hate to call you out of the blue like this. Can you meet me today?"

There is a silence, "John what is this about?"

"Do you remember that present we both got, but we couldn't return to the store?" I use code, because that was how John always talks about his painting steals – he is a paranoid man who is convinced the police are always listening.

"Yes, of course I remember, John" Iago replies.

"Turns out I found a manager, who is happy to give us a refund if we bring the gift back today". I stress the word today.

There is a pause. "Why are you telling me this? Why would you not just take the money yourself?"

"Well, my old friend, it seems the man knows the police have been watching us. And he has made us a deal".

"What kind of deal?"

"If we give him ten thousand, along with the present, he'll make sure the police turn their heads. And well, I don't have any cash on hand – because of the police. See my dilemma?"

"I see. So you want me to put the ten up?"

"Yes". I reply. I am a master manipulator, and I know what Iago is like. He likes to see like the hero – just a hero that turns a few bucks. So, I am making him seem like he is in control of the situation here. Allowing him to think he has a choice in the deal.

"And how much will you give me if I do this?" Iago questions slowly – he is interested. Good.

"Half of the money. Which is double than Mikey Pike offered us for it back in the eighties" I reply. I asked John to speak about previous times he tried to sell the picture. After they first brought it, they tried to sell it to Mikey Pike, who wanted to buy it for two million. They said it was too little for the painting. John had regretted after the police clamped down on him.

"And you'll give me half?" Iago says, I can hear the smile in his words. That was always Iago's downfall – his greed. And ultimately, in the end, it will be his demise.

"Yes, old friend, of course I will".

"Then count me in" Iago says, and I see Nick and Steve fist punch the air next to me. I smile to myself, as I tell the Mark exactly where to meet us. We are ready to take him down, once and for all.