The Con Man
Chapter One : The Letter
It started innocently enough; she came out from brushing her teeth. She almost tripped over her dog in the kitchen making her way to the coffee pot. ‘Move would ya?’ she said to the dog grabbing her coffee cup out of the wrack. Just as she was putting her creamer in she heard the close of her mail box, she thought this was odd because her mail man was the type who was later every day getting the mail to her. Pushing that thought aside she went to get the mail. She sifted through it just more bills, but than she spotted one that looked out of place. Her name & address were written on it but no return address. ‘That’s odd’, she said out loud. She opened it up & a letter fell out. She picked it up off the floor before it became a victim of her dog’s drool. She opened it up & began to read...
Dear Andi, its Neal. I don’t have much time, because as I’m sure by now Peter is there or on his way there. I’m so sorry to put you in the middle of all this, but besides Mozzie you’re the only one I can really truly trust. I don’t know if you’ve heard by now but my commutation hearing didn’t go well, mainly because I fled. Kramer was closing in on me, all because I gave back the painting that I stole. I felt like I had no other choice. So I hopped on a plane & here I am. Mozzie told me not to write to you, but I had too. I need you to know that I’m alright. I’m sure the FBI is already looking for me. If Peter shows up there, which I’m sure he will, please tell him I’m alright, but I won’t be coming back to New York anytime soon. I’m sure your wondering why I’ve written you, well the truth is, I’m very lonely were I’m at. I would love a visitor, Mozzie is nice, but I need someone else to talk to. I know it’s dangerous, but please, come. I’ve left a plane ticket in the envelope for you & when you come I’ll be there to get you. If I don’t see you by 8 o’clock tonight I’ll know your not coming. If you send Peter after me I’ll understand.
Love, Neal
She closed the letter & put in back in the envelope & pulled out the plane ticket. ‘Damn you Neal, why do you always put me in the middle like this?’ She didn’t know what to do. The plane was set to leave Peoria International Airport in just 11 hours. She set the plane ticket down & looked at the dog at her feet. ‘What am I gonna do Scooby?’ She knew the beagle couldn’t answer her. She called her sister; she knew if anyone could help her it would be her. An hour later her older sister was sitting at her kitchen table reading the letter. After she was done she looked up at her little sister & said, ‘Wow! What are you gonna do?’ ‘I don’t know, that’s why I called you.’ ‘I really don’t know what to tell you Andi.’ ‘Maybe I should go. I could talk him into coming back. He may not be in as much trouble as he thinks he’s in.’ Trina looked at her sister & cocked her eye brow. ‘Are you gonna call Peter?’ ‘I don’t know that either. Honestly I’m shocked he hasn’t been here yet. But than again I just got the letter an hour ago.’ ‘I think you should do whatever you think you need to do.’, said Trina. ‘If I go, can you watch Scooby? He’s an indoor outdoor dog so you can keep him in the backyard if you want, if Jacob doesn’t mind.’ ‘Of course we’ll keep him for you.’ ‘Well than that settles it, I’m going.’ said Andi. She started packing her bags. Unfortunately her sister had to leave. 2 hours before her flight a knock came on her door. She already knew who it was, ‘It’s open.’ She heard foot steps & than standing in her kitchen was Agent Peter Burke. ‘Hi Andi.’ ‘Hi Peter. Want some coffee?’ ‘Sure, love some.’ He was so kind, she was glad she was dealing with him, but she would have been just fine dealing with Diane or Jones. ‘Have you heard from him?’ asked Peter. ‘Yes I have.’ She pulled the letter out & gave it to him. He read it & set it down on the table, taking a sip from his coffee cup he looked at her. ‘The letter doesn’t say where he is.’ ‘I realize that’, said Andi. ‘I noticed your bags are packed, your going, aren’t you?’ asked Peter. ‘Yes I am. Are you going to arrest me?’ asked Andi. ‘No.’, replied Peter. ‘I didn’t think so.’ ‘What do you plan to accomplish going to see him?’ ‘My hope is that I can convince Neal to come back with me to New York.’, said Andi. Peter finished his coffee, set his cup in the sink & said ‘I’ll drive.’
She watched out the window as the city of Peoria disappeared. She had a plan, but she wasn’t sure if that plan would work. She didn’t know if he would listen to her. She’d always been able to talk him out of anything, but this was huge, this was something she wasn’t sure she could talk him out of. Hours later the plane landed, she got her bags & headed for the airport entrance. He was standing against a cab; he looked up at her from under his hat. Walking towards him it felt like an eternity since she’d seen him. She set her bags down & looked into his eyes, ‘Hi Neal.’, she said. ‘Andi.’, he replied back. Than he wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace, ‘I’m glad you came’, he said. She didn’t know what to say to this. She pulled herself away from him, ‘What’s with the disguise’, she asked. ‘You can never be too careful’, he replied back. The drive was a silent one, seemed like an hour before they made it to their destination. But when they arrived her eyes lit up, the place was absolutely beautiful. He got her bags out of the trunk & they walked up to the house. She looked back at the cab wondering why he wasn’t leaving. Than the driver stepped out of the car, she knew that short bald man any where. But before she could say anything he disappeared & it was than that she realized Neal had his arm wrapped around her waist. He pulled her into the house & set her bags down. ‘Are you hungry’, he asked her. ‘No, I’m fine thanks.’ He took the hat off & she watched as he ruffled his hair back into place. ‘It really is beautiful here, don’t you think’, he asked her. ‘Yes, very much so’ She wondered where Mozzie had gone off to. He disappeared with her bags leaving her alone. It was than that he came into the house. ‘Hi Andi,’ ‘Hi Mozzie.’, she replied back. ‘How was your flight’, he asked. ‘It was lovely, thanks for asking. Where are we exactly’, she asked. ‘That I cannot tell you, I assume you have your cell phone with you’, he asked. ‘You assumed wrong. No cell phone, no laptop. I figured there was a reason for your disappearance so I didn’t want anything on me that might help the feds track me.’ She said it in a way that she didn’t even recognize her own voice. ‘You’ll understand if we search your belongings.’ he said. ‘Isn’t that what Neal is doing right now.’ she asked. It was than that Neal came into the main room where they were. ‘She’s clean’, he said. ‘Good to know’, said Mozzie disappearing back outside. He walked up to her & again wrapped his arms around her. ‘Were you that worried’, she asked. He pulled back, not expecting that response. ‘Sorry’, he said. ‘That’s quite alright. But Peter does know.’ ‘Does he know where I am’ asked Neal. ‘No, he doesn’t. I let him read the letter but I did not show him the plane ticket. As a matter of fact when he drove me to the air port he let me out of the car and didn’t even follow me in.’ ‘Are you sure you weren’t followed’, asked Neal. ‘Yes, Peter assured me that I wouldn’t be followed. I know this because he came to my apartment by himself.’ ‘You’ll forgive me if I’m a little bit paranoid.’ ‘Forgiven’, said Andi. He pulled her over to the couch & she planted herself in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist yet again. ‘You can stop that. I’m not going to leave.’ she said. ‘Sorry.’ He took his arms from around her & grabbed hold of her hand. She laced their fingers together. ‘I missed you.’ she said. ‘Me too’ She wasn’t lying, she really had missed him. They sat like that for a long time eventually she found herself next to him, her legs on his lap. ‘So what do you do here’, she asked. ‘Anything, swimming, surfing, watch movies. We can do anything we want’, he replied. She spun herself around & stood up. She walked to the door & let the cool breeze wash over her face. She than turned to look at him, sitting on the couch he looked up at her. ‘What are you doing Neal’, she asked. ‘What do you mean’, he asked. ‘You know what I mean. Do you have a plan? Or are you just going to stay here forever’, she said, knowing very well she wasn’t going to get a straight answer. ‘I can’t go back Andi. Don’t you understand that’, he said. She was right, but it was too soon. He got up & walked over to her. ‘Too much damage has been done there’, said Neal. ‘It’s probably not as bad as you think’, she said. ‘Glad you think so.’ ‘Neal, I can see that you being here is not good for you. You don’t seem happy.’ ‘I’m happier now than I’ve been in a long time’, he said. He reached for her face but she moved away before he could get to her. ‘Don’t do that. You know I hate it when you do that’, she said. ‘Do what? Kiss you?’ ‘No, change the subject. Is this the life you really want’, she asked. ‘Why not? I have everything I need right here. I have air to breathe, a beautiful view and someone I love very dearly right here next to me.’ ‘Because this living on the run, it’s going to catch up to you. Yes, Peter didn’t follow me, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to stop looking for you. He’s caught you before, twice if memory serves right, so what’s not to say he won’t catch you again’, she said. ‘Because this time I didn’t leave a trail.’ ‘Glad you think so’ Just than a door slammed & they turned to see Mozzie standing in the door way. ‘I knew this was a bad idea’, he said. ‘What’s he talking about’, asked Andi. ‘No it’s not Moz, come on, it’s Andi.’ ‘Yea I know and the suit knows she’s here. Were in danger, were going to have to move. I told you not to write her. But did you listen, no you didn’t. Now look at what you’ve done.’ ‘I swear to you Mozzie, Peter did not follow me here. He has no idea where I am’, said Andi. ‘Glad you think so.’ ‘Mozzie, she’s right, everything is fine. I’m not sending her away and were not leaving just because your afraid that Peter might find us’, said Neal. ‘Okay, he may not know where we are but he probably sent her to talk you into coming back.’ said Mozzie looking at Andi. She knew he was right, but would Neal believe him? ‘Your crazy’, said Neal. ‘Whatever’, said Mozzie & than turned & went back outside. ‘Sorry, he’s a bit on edge.’ said Neal turning back to Andi. ‘It’s okay, I understand’, she said. It was than that she knew it would take some time to convince Neal to come back with her. She just didn’t know how much time that would be.
Dear Andi, its Neal. I don’t have much time, because as I’m sure by now Peter is there or on his way there. I’m so sorry to put you in the middle of all this, but besides Mozzie you’re the only one I can really truly trust. I don’t know if you’ve heard by now but my commutation hearing didn’t go well, mainly because I fled. Kramer was closing in on me, all because I gave back the painting that I stole. I felt like I had no other choice. So I hopped on a plane & here I am. Mozzie told me not to write to you, but I had too. I need you to know that I’m alright. I’m sure the FBI is already looking for me. If Peter shows up there, which I’m sure he will, please tell him I’m alright, but I won’t be coming back to New York anytime soon. I’m sure your wondering why I’ve written you, well the truth is, I’m very lonely were I’m at. I would love a visitor, Mozzie is nice, but I need someone else to talk to. I know it’s dangerous, but please, come. I’ve left a plane ticket in the envelope for you & when you come I’ll be there to get you. If I don’t see you by 8 o’clock tonight I’ll know your not coming. If you send Peter after me I’ll understand.
Love, Neal
She closed the letter & put in back in the envelope & pulled out the plane ticket. ‘Damn you Neal, why do you always put me in the middle like this?’ She didn’t know what to do. The plane was set to leave Peoria International Airport in just 11 hours. She set the plane ticket down & looked at the dog at her feet. ‘What am I gonna do Scooby?’ She knew the beagle couldn’t answer her. She called her sister; she knew if anyone could help her it would be her. An hour later her older sister was sitting at her kitchen table reading the letter. After she was done she looked up at her little sister & said, ‘Wow! What are you gonna do?’ ‘I don’t know, that’s why I called you.’ ‘I really don’t know what to tell you Andi.’ ‘Maybe I should go. I could talk him into coming back. He may not be in as much trouble as he thinks he’s in.’ Trina looked at her sister & cocked her eye brow. ‘Are you gonna call Peter?’ ‘I don’t know that either. Honestly I’m shocked he hasn’t been here yet. But than again I just got the letter an hour ago.’ ‘I think you should do whatever you think you need to do.’, said Trina. ‘If I go, can you watch Scooby? He’s an indoor outdoor dog so you can keep him in the backyard if you want, if Jacob doesn’t mind.’ ‘Of course we’ll keep him for you.’ ‘Well than that settles it, I’m going.’ said Andi. She started packing her bags. Unfortunately her sister had to leave. 2 hours before her flight a knock came on her door. She already knew who it was, ‘It’s open.’ She heard foot steps & than standing in her kitchen was Agent Peter Burke. ‘Hi Andi.’ ‘Hi Peter. Want some coffee?’ ‘Sure, love some.’ He was so kind, she was glad she was dealing with him, but she would have been just fine dealing with Diane or Jones. ‘Have you heard from him?’ asked Peter. ‘Yes I have.’ She pulled the letter out & gave it to him. He read it & set it down on the table, taking a sip from his coffee cup he looked at her. ‘The letter doesn’t say where he is.’ ‘I realize that’, said Andi. ‘I noticed your bags are packed, your going, aren’t you?’ asked Peter. ‘Yes I am. Are you going to arrest me?’ asked Andi. ‘No.’, replied Peter. ‘I didn’t think so.’ ‘What do you plan to accomplish going to see him?’ ‘My hope is that I can convince Neal to come back with me to New York.’, said Andi. Peter finished his coffee, set his cup in the sink & said ‘I’ll drive.’
She watched out the window as the city of Peoria disappeared. She had a plan, but she wasn’t sure if that plan would work. She didn’t know if he would listen to her. She’d always been able to talk him out of anything, but this was huge, this was something she wasn’t sure she could talk him out of. Hours later the plane landed, she got her bags & headed for the airport entrance. He was standing against a cab; he looked up at her from under his hat. Walking towards him it felt like an eternity since she’d seen him. She set her bags down & looked into his eyes, ‘Hi Neal.’, she said. ‘Andi.’, he replied back. Than he wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace, ‘I’m glad you came’, he said. She didn’t know what to say to this. She pulled herself away from him, ‘What’s with the disguise’, she asked. ‘You can never be too careful’, he replied back. The drive was a silent one, seemed like an hour before they made it to their destination. But when they arrived her eyes lit up, the place was absolutely beautiful. He got her bags out of the trunk & they walked up to the house. She looked back at the cab wondering why he wasn’t leaving. Than the driver stepped out of the car, she knew that short bald man any where. But before she could say anything he disappeared & it was than that she realized Neal had his arm wrapped around her waist. He pulled her into the house & set her bags down. ‘Are you hungry’, he asked her. ‘No, I’m fine thanks.’ He took the hat off & she watched as he ruffled his hair back into place. ‘It really is beautiful here, don’t you think’, he asked her. ‘Yes, very much so’ She wondered where Mozzie had gone off to. He disappeared with her bags leaving her alone. It was than that he came into the house. ‘Hi Andi,’ ‘Hi Mozzie.’, she replied back. ‘How was your flight’, he asked. ‘It was lovely, thanks for asking. Where are we exactly’, she asked. ‘That I cannot tell you, I assume you have your cell phone with you’, he asked. ‘You assumed wrong. No cell phone, no laptop. I figured there was a reason for your disappearance so I didn’t want anything on me that might help the feds track me.’ She said it in a way that she didn’t even recognize her own voice. ‘You’ll understand if we search your belongings.’ he said. ‘Isn’t that what Neal is doing right now.’ she asked. It was than that Neal came into the main room where they were. ‘She’s clean’, he said. ‘Good to know’, said Mozzie disappearing back outside. He walked up to her & again wrapped his arms around her. ‘Were you that worried’, she asked. He pulled back, not expecting that response. ‘Sorry’, he said. ‘That’s quite alright. But Peter does know.’ ‘Does he know where I am’ asked Neal. ‘No, he doesn’t. I let him read the letter but I did not show him the plane ticket. As a matter of fact when he drove me to the air port he let me out of the car and didn’t even follow me in.’ ‘Are you sure you weren’t followed’, asked Neal. ‘Yes, Peter assured me that I wouldn’t be followed. I know this because he came to my apartment by himself.’ ‘You’ll forgive me if I’m a little bit paranoid.’ ‘Forgiven’, said Andi. He pulled her over to the couch & she planted herself in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist yet again. ‘You can stop that. I’m not going to leave.’ she said. ‘Sorry.’ He took his arms from around her & grabbed hold of her hand. She laced their fingers together. ‘I missed you.’ she said. ‘Me too’ She wasn’t lying, she really had missed him. They sat like that for a long time eventually she found herself next to him, her legs on his lap. ‘So what do you do here’, she asked. ‘Anything, swimming, surfing, watch movies. We can do anything we want’, he replied. She spun herself around & stood up. She walked to the door & let the cool breeze wash over her face. She than turned to look at him, sitting on the couch he looked up at her. ‘What are you doing Neal’, she asked. ‘What do you mean’, he asked. ‘You know what I mean. Do you have a plan? Or are you just going to stay here forever’, she said, knowing very well she wasn’t going to get a straight answer. ‘I can’t go back Andi. Don’t you understand that’, he said. She was right, but it was too soon. He got up & walked over to her. ‘Too much damage has been done there’, said Neal. ‘It’s probably not as bad as you think’, she said. ‘Glad you think so.’ ‘Neal, I can see that you being here is not good for you. You don’t seem happy.’ ‘I’m happier now than I’ve been in a long time’, he said. He reached for her face but she moved away before he could get to her. ‘Don’t do that. You know I hate it when you do that’, she said. ‘Do what? Kiss you?’ ‘No, change the subject. Is this the life you really want’, she asked. ‘Why not? I have everything I need right here. I have air to breathe, a beautiful view and someone I love very dearly right here next to me.’ ‘Because this living on the run, it’s going to catch up to you. Yes, Peter didn’t follow me, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to stop looking for you. He’s caught you before, twice if memory serves right, so what’s not to say he won’t catch you again’, she said. ‘Because this time I didn’t leave a trail.’ ‘Glad you think so’ Just than a door slammed & they turned to see Mozzie standing in the door way. ‘I knew this was a bad idea’, he said. ‘What’s he talking about’, asked Andi. ‘No it’s not Moz, come on, it’s Andi.’ ‘Yea I know and the suit knows she’s here. Were in danger, were going to have to move. I told you not to write her. But did you listen, no you didn’t. Now look at what you’ve done.’ ‘I swear to you Mozzie, Peter did not follow me here. He has no idea where I am’, said Andi. ‘Glad you think so.’ ‘Mozzie, she’s right, everything is fine. I’m not sending her away and were not leaving just because your afraid that Peter might find us’, said Neal. ‘Okay, he may not know where we are but he probably sent her to talk you into coming back.’ said Mozzie looking at Andi. She knew he was right, but would Neal believe him? ‘Your crazy’, said Neal. ‘Whatever’, said Mozzie & than turned & went back outside. ‘Sorry, he’s a bit on edge.’ said Neal turning back to Andi. ‘It’s okay, I understand’, she said. It was than that she knew it would take some time to convince Neal to come back with her. She just didn’t know how much time that would be.