Page 42 of Catching a Con Man

I didn’t like where this was going. Not one bit. But Addison wasn’t done.

“You won’t go to my son. He really doesn’t need the embarrassment of you clinging to him as they drag you away. There’s enough in that folder to convict you. Not for long, maybe. A couple of years, even community service. But hopefully enough to get my son to take a step back from you for a little while. That last instance of fraud is fantastic, really. It provides enough evidence to convict you for the petty thefts from before you met my son.”

My heart had dropped into my stomach, like I had just gone over the hump of a rollercoaster and I was in freefall.

“There is a car outside. You will be arrested. You will not make a fuss. You will not bother us again.”

“But…” I didn’t know what I was going to say. Should I have run to Ade’s room and woken him up? Or just screamed and hoped that someone sympathetic would hear me? But what could they do? I was at the mercy of a man who had more money, more power than I could fathom. And there was the evidence of every bad thing I’d ever done, right in front of me.

“Time’s up,” said Addison. He wasn’t smiling now. His face was grim, and I could see the darkness underneath. He took my arm and led me through the dark foyer to the front door, the dossier of evidence forgotten on the armchair.

Outside, in the darkness, there was a policeman leaning up against a police car. He gave a grim nod and spoke quietly. “I don’t need to put cuffs on you, do I?”

“N-no,” I stammered. This all felt like some crazy dream. It had taken me this long to realise what Ade and I had was real, that it wasn’t some crazy fantasy. But here it was, being snatched away.

“Good lad. If you’ll just get into the back of the car…” I was led, gently, to the police car and the police officer opened the back door for me. It wasn’t an unfamiliar sight for me, but I’d hoped never to see it again. And this time, I wasn’t getting away. “You’re being arrested on suspicion of identity fraud, multiple counts of theft and public nuisance. You do not have to say anything. But, it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court…”

I felt the tears start to flow.

* * *

I lay on the bunk in my little cell at the police station, just waiting on the request I’d made. There were exactly thirty-three cracks in the ceiling, though a couple had combined so I wasn’t sure if I should count them, and one corner furthest from the little window was shrouded too much in darkness to see. It was keeping me sane, anyway. The room was about six feet by six feet, just enough space for the cot I was lying on, and the stainless steel sink and toilet combo. I was conscious of the little red camera light blinking in the corner.

There came a knock at the door. “Your call is waiting,” said the police officer, who had been kind since I had got there. My fingerprints and name had been taken, but I hadn’t been questioned.

I stood up and waited for the door to open, then walked down the hallway to where a phone was waiting. I had asked to call the only number I knew off the top of my head.

“Amanda?” I asked as soon as I picked up.

“Here, honey. What’s up? Why are you in jail?”

“I’m at thestation,” I said. “Anyway, it’s not important why. I just need you to go into my room. I should have a business card from Ade with his number on it. I need you to call him and tell him where I am, and that his father put me here. OK?”

“Is he really going to come and help you against his father’s will?”

“I can only hope, Am. Love you.”

“Love you too. Don’t spend too long in the slammer. I’m relying on you for my rent. I’ll call him right away.”

And then she was gone, and I was alone again. Ade had spent so long convincing me I was worthy of him. I just had to hope that he would stick to his word.

Ade

Iwoke up feeling more rested than I had in a long time. The light was struggling to break through the curtains, the bed felt fluffy and warm, and Tyler…was gone. I frowned, checking the sheets for a note, but there was none. One of the dressing gowns on the back of the door was missing, so I got up and put the other one on. I could hear voices coming from the kitchen, and laughter.

I smiled. Tyler had fit in unbelievably well with the family, and it seemed he was already up without me. I knew it had been the right thing to introduce him to them. My mother adored him, and my father had been surprisingly well-tempered.

I slipped on a comfy pair of slippers and trod out into the hallway, relishing in the sound of laughter and the smell of Katarina’s Monday Croissants. I pushed open the door to the kitchen. Mum and Cam were both leaning up against the island, croissants in hand. Katarina was polishing the worktop, and the espresso machine was humming. I grinned. Life wasgood.

“Morning, sleepyhead. Is Tyler still in bed?” asked my mother. My good mood evaporated instantly.

“I thought he was already awake,” I said.

“I’ve been up an hour, and I’ve not seen him,” she said.

I checked my watch again. It was work time, technically. “Did he leave to go to work?” I asked Cam.

“Already on it,” Cam said, phone in hand. “Nope. His badge hasn’t been used to enter the building today.”

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