When He Sees Me
n front of her. Dressed in pearls and a designer coat
rfe
"I see . . . a conflict in your life," she said softly. "Something weighi
s! It's my husband," she whispered. "He's been dis
up the moment the woman walked in-her th
via said, holding her gaze.
°The phone calls. The late nights at the
inds gave away when they were emotional. "He's under pressure,
y has been struggling for mon
r. "Yes. He's worried about providing for y
, offering a tissue. "Trust me," she said gently. "He
h more intentional questions, more images flashed-a password scribbled on a notepad, a jewelr
since Sylvia started c
tore crystal ball, a cheap scarf tied around her head. People
gift turned it in
ets, their routines. It wasn't just about telling them what th
anny, who had a talent for slipp
back when she was still living in the alley. "You're good at
eir first successful job-a house Sylvia had pic
lvia read her clients, pulling out details about their h
h the woman had given her for the reading. "Her husband's at the office, working la
"You're scary,
mirked.
hip, she had managed to
and a stove that barely worked-but it was hers. She had cl
hing was
chic act and the extra cash from the robberies, Sylvia knew
t Marcus, it f
h. He wasn't much older than her, maybe eighteen, but he carried himsel
ou think," Marcus had said
d. "What are yo
two stalls back. Rookie move, by the way. You should've
laughed. "Relax, kid. I'm not goin
ght her
smug grin and easy confidence. He was a thief, but not like Danny. Wher
he asked one night, leaning a
an eyebrow. "I
library and led her to a c
a treasure trov
IDs, and how to create convincing paper trails. Articles about scam
. How to change her appearance with makeup, wigs, and clothing. How to
," he told her. "You just have to
quick study. She could tell exactly what peopl
done, she had five d
a college student with a bubbly p
ich kids spent their parents' money, boutique stores with distracted clerks, even a
ove a whisper. Sylvia used Emily to gain sympathy, letting pe
lay. She rotated through them like ou
or everything in cash, avoided cameras when she could,
ew how to get things done. One of them was Vic, an older man
nd of work," Vic said when Da
ed. "I'm good
ent, then nodded. "Alright, ki
er how to create IDs that could pass casual inspection, how to
hem a reason to," Vic said, handing her a freshl
ed. "Thanks,
"Don't cal
ne learning from Vic,
ading her fake IDs and documents across the t
ore. She was Claire. Emily. Rachel.
her down. No on
e IDs, a small smil
you can," s