Page 30 of The Last Grift
Elton nodded, watching him over the top of his glasses.
“Heidi really never said anything to you?”
“That’s a big fat nope.” Gabriel swallowed a bit of chili. “Am I meeting this aunt—er, great-aunt?”
“Dunno,” Elton said. “I left a message with her nephew while you showered. We’ll see, I guess. Wouldn’t be surprised either way.”
“Are you going to tell me her name? Or is it a state secret?”
Elton’s lips stretched across his face. Gabriel couldn’t decide if the result was a grimace or if the old man was amused by what Gabriel didn’t know about his blood relations. Maybe Elton felt sorry for him, which, if Gabe was being honest, was the worst of the options.
“Not a state secret. They’re… an interesting family. I think can understand why Heidi never said anything to you.”
“You’re ahead of me. There’s so much about Heidi I still don’t understand,” Gabriel replied, shoveling more chili into his mouth and abandoning the subject of his mysterious great-aunt for the time being. “Pretty much everything. She never talked about family, never introduced me to anyone biologically related, never mentioned her past. If she and you were cousins, you’re the first bio family I’ve ever met.”
“Like I said, Heidi is the one who said we were,” Elton reminded him. “I never had reason not to believe her, but I don’t know that it’s factually true. But how about we just go with it, and we can be family. Not that I’m giving you access to my bank accounts,” the old man added with a laugh. “I knew Heidi Karne, and I damn well wasn’t born yesterday.”
“Probably for the best,” Gabriel agreed, letting the idea of “being family” slide for now. He did feel a weird need to defend his mother’s actions or at least try to explain her motivation. What Gabriel understood of it anyway.
“But she wasn’t completely morally reprehensible,” he said.
“Repre-what?” Elton wrinkled his nose.
“Reprehensible—”
“I know what reprehensible means, son, I was just screwing with you. Keep talking.”
Gabe scraped the last of the chili out of his bowl onto his spoon and popped it into his mouth, considering what he wanted to say.
“Mom’s motto was something along the lines of, why not relieve a fool from his money, or jewelry, or bank bonds, or whatever? If she didn’t, someone else would. She was good at it. She never conned someone who couldn’t afford it.” Gabriel took a sip of water.
“She supported herself and me and, ironically, put enough into savings that she was able to retire and live in one of those fancy senior villages. Taught me everything I know, then spenther last years playing penny poker with other senior sharks until she got sick.”
Gabe paused, realizing he’d basically admitted he was also a con man. Had been a con man.
Oh, for Christ’s sake, Chance.
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
Ugh, how could Gabriel explain that he didn’t feel like he’d lost someone close to him? Not without sounding like a sociopath. Heidi hadn’t been a PTSA mom, but she’d been there for him. Mostly. But she’d kept him at arm’s length, even as a child.
Heidi Karne had made sure Gabriel had a roof over his head, food for his stomach, and clothes to wear that didn’t put a nerd mark on his back at school. And she’d brought Gabriel up knowing the con. He was taught early how to spot weaknesses and take advantage. But Heidi had never invited Gabriel to confess his deepest fears to her, not even as a kid. He rarely acknowledged his qualms. Doubts could be used against a person. Fear, hesitation, misgivings, they all made people weak—and that ruined the con.
“Thanks,” he said awkwardly. A massive yawn he’d been suppressing managed to escape from him. He was so tired. And being exhausted made him let his guard down, talk more than he should. Which was not a good thing.
“How about I take care of these dishes?” he said. “Then I think I’ll head to bed if that’s okay with you.” The fatigue had officially stopped creeping up on him and was now leveling a full-on assault; he could hardly keep his eyes open.
“I’ll take care of them tonight, son. There aren’t many. Tomorrow you can do your part.”
Gabriel wanted to argue, but a yawn overtook him again.
“Thanks for dinner and the bed.” There would be plenty oftime to argue tomorrow, and the subject probably wouldn’t only be dishes.
In the bedroom,Gabe undressed and pulled on a clean t-shirt, leaving his clothes in a semi-neat pile on top of his go-bag before he crawled under the covers. Out in the main area, he could hear Elton moving around and doing whatever he did to pass the evening. Maybe he worked on that puzzle. Turning onto his side, Gabe pulled the pillow over his head and shut his eyes.
FIFTEEN
CASEY
