Cons and Consequences

You can convince anyone of anything. Everyday Scenes #2

“You can convince anyone of anything.”

The man’s voice was low, rumbling as he deftly twirled the coin over his fingers.

“It’s just a matter of persuasion”

He tossed the coin into the air, gold glinting silver in the moonlight. The woman beside him smirked, casually leaned against the brick wall beside them.

“And if they don’t want to be persuaded?” She scoffed.

The man beside her grinned, body stilling for the first time.

“Everyone wants to be persuaded. Human nature. Call it curiosity.”

“Or stupidity” the woman laughed.

The man startled. It was a loud laugh, entirely out of place in the quiet alleyway. That was… not the reaction he expected. He began to toss the coin again, nervously trying to distract himself.

He was used to doing the startling. In fact, he prided himself on it. He was the misfit, destined to make others uncomfortable. Never at his own expense, nor theirs, mind you. Well, at least not that they knew of.

But the life of a conman is a lonely one.

When the woman approached him with a mission, he’d almost said no. Something about her though, he felt himself giving way to a decision not entirely his own. He didn’t like it, but he wasn’t immune to persuasion himself, no matter how much he wanted to be, or how practiced he was.

She reminded him of a girl he knew once. A girl he loved once. That laugh, that haunting laugh…

No.

He shook his head, forcing the thought out of his mind. She was a distraction. This woman before him, she was his paycheck.

They’d con her ex-boyfriend, scare the git a bit, then move back into the world, not another soul the wiser.

But the conman was getting impatient. Especially with her watching him like that. He suddenly felt self conscious, vulnerable at his momentary lack of focus, especially with a witness.

“Shouldn’t he be here already?” He rubbed a hand along the back of his neck.

The woman chuckled, looking away from him. She crossed her arms, looking up the street.

“Maybe he already is”

“What?” the man wheeled about squinting into the dark. It was no use.

The woman laughed again, this time even louder. The man squirmed. For the first time in his life, he considered giving up on a job.

Her breath on his neck made him jump. She whispered in his ear, sending chills down his spine.

“You can convince anyone of anything. It’s just a matter of persuasion.”