An amateur's guide to conning a conman

Chapter 7

The next morning. Jack had barred me from leaving the house, in case I would get caught by the guards.

The chances were low, they didn't have my name and only a handful of guards knew my face. But Jack said I shouldn't risk it, I wouldn't be as lucky as last time.

I was helping Lin clean his burns. They were healing well, and maybe in two to three days, he could get back to playing.

My own hand had stopped throbbing and gradually faded to an ugly yellow-greenish color. For such a big wound, it was healing rather quickly.

I heard a loud crash coming from the front of the house like someone had broken in.

" What was that?" Lin asked, standing up.

As if this week could not get any worse.

" Did Jack take his knife with him today?" I asked, my voice lowering to a hush. Jack's room was much closer to us than the kitchen was.

" Yeah." Lin breathed.

Then there was a voice, " You home sweetheart?"

I relaxed, not a thief just a sweetliar. Not like it was any better. I stepped into the living room to greet him despite Lin's protest.

The door had been opened but I swore I had locked it.

" I thought you were coming in three days?"

Titus shrugged, " Things changed, speaking of change. Would you mind?" He pointed to his temple.

He followed me to the now unoccupied bathroom, Lin had disappeared somewhere. Titus pulled himself up to sit on the counter.

His wound was healing so that was a good sign. I disaffected and place a clean cotton bandage over his temple.

I moved on to his hand, " Why are you here?"

" The auction's been moved up to tomorrow."

I blinked quickly, looking down to see his expression but he wasn't joking.

" What why?"

He shrugged, " Don't know. My best guess would be that if our mystery man is selling the necklace, the coordinators want a quick transaction."

" So it's confirmed, he's going to be there."

" No, but there's a better chance than before."

I finished, my eyes lingered on his tattoo. He was wearing a teeshirt today, exposing more of the intricate design.

He noticed, " You've never seen a sweetliar's tattoo before?"

I have twice. But they looked nothing like the one he had.

But instead, I said, " Not up close no."

He pulled his collar down, exposing smooth skin. The tattoo was rather large, creeping up to his neck. It was some kind of symbol, a rose, and a playing card. An ace to be precise. Two thick circles surrounded the items, between them were characters written in a language I didn't recognize.

" A sweetliar gets their tattoos when they turn eighteen." He explained.

I leaned forward, there was something else in the corner of the playing card. The letters C.M were written neatly.