It was at this point in his plan when his partner in crime started to worry, and wanted to go over the plan again and again without realising that they too were a pawn in the game. It was good that Richard left before James woke up; he wouldn’t have to go over the plan to soothe his conscience. Occasionally though, James pined for the affection that he could have if he were to let his victims in. Richard made it particularly taxing. James often found himself dreaming of a life other than hustling, a life in which Richard featured heavily. When he woke he scolded himself, and reminded himself of everything he had to lose if he were to let someone in. He had to be hard for the deal to go through. A warm bed and a happy heart wouldn’t earn him money. He had made his empty bed – now he had to lie in it and think of the reward.

James shut himself in the bathroom and stood beneath the showerhead until Richard’s touch and scent were washed away. Knowing that Amber was practically next door excited him. He had never played someone so close to home before. It was exhilarating, but made him more paranoid than he ever had been on a job. But he was prepared. He had another house waiting for him in another town, and a tenant ready to move in to his current place at the end of the month. By the time the deal was made, he would be living in another county with a new name, searching for his next victim.

James lathered the shower gel over his body and winced as it stung the bite marks Richard had left. But every wound would be worth it, when Neena’s family handed over the money.

James enjoyed living in a multi cultural society. It made it far easier for him to exploit others. In all the years he had been conning people out of money, it had become clear that married men and people from deeply religious backgrounds made for the most willing participants when it came to handing over their money to keep their secrets in the dark. Married men wanted to hide their true identity from their work and home lives, and religious people from tight-knit communities would do anything to remain. He had been in the business for six years, after his first opportunity to blackmail a married man for his money revealed itself, and learned to make sure that those he swindled never found out about his plan until it was too late: when he was gone, and so was their money.