Chapter Three

A Conman's Hope

Bella felt like her stomach dropped out of her body. Completely shocked, she was frozen on Carlisle's doorstep for a long moment before regaining her senses and retreating to her car.

As she scrambled to make some sense of what just happened, she drove to the police station again, hoping Emmett was there. She knew no one else would take her seriously, and while she was embarrassed that she'd done almost exactly what Emmett warned her not to, Emmett was her only hope at getting her money back.

She must have had a shred of luck left, because the man she wanted to see was sitting at the main desk.

"Emmett, thank goodness," she said, collapsing dramatically over the desk in front of him.

"Hello to you, too, Bells." His eyebrows went up. "What's up?"

She straightened and looked at him pitifully. "Remember yesterday when you told me not to trust anyone?"

"Don't tell me…" he trailed off with a groan.

"I'm sorry!" She cried, "It was Dr. Cullen!"

"You better start at the beginning and tell me what happened," he said wearily.

The story spilled out of Bella, and it sounded pathetic even to her own ears. "And then when I heard him talking on the phone, it was obvious he was talking about how he tricked me. I don't have that much money to pay back, Emmett. What am I gonna do?"

"I don't know what to tell you, Bells, other than what I already told you." He sighed. "Since you more or less 'agreed' to play, my hands are tied. However," he hesitated, his eyes flickering to his computer screen, "There might be someone who can help you."

"Really?"

She looked so hopeful that Emmett couldn't help but tell her what he was almost certain was a bad idea. "Ok, I really shouldn't be telling you this, but it might be your only hope. Tomorrow, a conman is being released from prison. He's supposedly some kind of genius – he's still pretty young, probably around our age. He was caught three years ago, I'm not sure why."

"A genius conman?" Bella murmured, her mind spinning.

"I really shouldn't tell you any more," he said nervously. "I don't like sending you to him, but I don't like the idea of you a hundred thousand dollars in debt more."

"I'll be okay. I mean, how much worse could it get?"

"Famous last words, Bella. Famous last words."

Back at her apartment, Bella turned to the internet to try to find out what she could about this conman. Before too long, she was confident she found the right man.

Edward Masen. Sentenced to up to five years prison on a Class C felony charge. Drove a major multi-level marketing company to bankruptcy.

It was sketchy on the details, but that wasn't what Bella was interested in. She needed a picture, and she needed to know where he was being released from.

Her shred of luck seemed to be holding out and she somehow found both. The first article she found told her he was being held at the Washington State Prison in Seattle, and another article covering the trial featured a small picture of the accused.

"Holy crow," she muttered. "He would be gorgeous, wouldn't he? I'd give him my right arm if he asked me."

Even though the tiny picture was grainy, it was clear Edward Masen was ridiculously blessed in the looks department. Strong jaw, charming smile, and intelligent eyes, this man was dangerous to anyone with two X chromosomes.

She went over to the prison's website, but couldn't find any information about releases and decided to just google it. She still couldn't nail down any specifics, and decided to drive to the prison and wait outside. It wasn't a great plan, but it was all her frazzled brain could come up with. The hundred thousand dollar debt was like a ball and chain, weighing heavily on her and dragging her down.

Bright and early the next morning, she called in a favor at work and begged a coworker to cover her shift. There was no way Bella was going to have time to go in today, and she didn't want to put her job in jeopardy on top of everything else.

"Thanks a million, I really owe you one," Bella said. Hanging up, she fished in her purse for her keys and gave herself one last glance in the mirror. She'd gone casual, having no idea what one wore to pick up an ex-convict to beg his help.

She was anxious the drive over, trying to figure out what to say to this perfect stranger that would convince him to help. By the time she pulled into the parking lot in front of what she hoped was the right building, she still had no idea what to say. She also didn't know how long she had to wait, so all her energy was spent on searching the faces of those leaving the office looking for the one she needed instead of figuring out her plan of attack.

So when that handsome man with the small black bag pushed the doors open, Bella flew out of her car and called out his name.

"Edward Masen! Please wait!"

He turned toward her, raising one eyebrow in surprise as she stumbled to a stop in front of him. "Do I know you?" He asked, looking far more handsome than should be allowed for a man just released from prison.

"No, um no, sorry," she mumbled, faltering under his direct attention. "But I need your help. I was cheated out of a lot of money and I need to get it back. Please, say you'll help me," she pleaded.

He gave her a long, cool look, seemingly unmoved. "If you're in trouble, go to the police or a lawyer. I can't help you."

"Please, I'm begging you! I can't go to the police, they said they can't help me."

He narrowed his eyes. "Who are you, anyway?"

"My name is Bella Swan."

"Well, Bella Swan, in case you haven't noticed, I just got out of prison. Do you realize what you're asking me?"

She didn't have an answer for him.

"That's what I thought. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a bus to catch."

He turned to go, but Bella couldn't bear to let him go. "Where are you going?"

He glanced back at her. "Not that it's any of your business, but where would you go on you first day of freedom in three years?"

Opening her mouth to reply, she found she once again didn't have an answer for him, and closed it. She'd never thought of it before.

Edward simply grinned wolfishly at her. "I'm going to get a fat, juicy steak."

She couldn't help it - she laughed in spite of herself.

"Have you ever had prison food?" He asked rhetorically. "It's awful and I'm hungry. So unless you're willing to treat me, we'll have to part ways here."

"I'll do it!" She pounced on the opportunity. "Whatever you want, it's on me."

He eyed her speculatively, and said, "No wonder you lost your money. An open offer like that? It's entirely too easy to take advantage of."

Bella blushed, but was too desperate to rescind her offer. "Well?"

"What kind of man would I be to turn down free steak with a pretty girl?" He winked. "Lead the way."

"That had to have been the stupidest thing I've ever done," Bella moaned as she recalled all that happened to her once again.

"I don't know, you did pick up a conman fresh out of prison," Edward said cheekily, taking another big bite of sirloin. He moaned in pleasure, "Although I really shouldn't be giving you a hard time about that. This is the best steak I've ever had. You sure you don't want any?"

Bella shook her head, taking a sip of her water. Watching him eat made her mouth strangely dry. "Most people don't have steak at ten in the morning. I'm still amazed you knew a place that served it this time of day."

He shrugged. "I know you did some research on me; they don't call me a genius for nothing."

Bella simply gawked as he moans over another bite. "Are you sure you don't want anything?"

"I'm sure," she managed to say. "Do you think you can help me?"

He chewed thoughtfully. "Do you want to win?"

"I don't care if I win or not. I just don't want to be in debt."

"So the money doesn't mean anything to you?"

"No. I wouldn't want Carlisle to be in debt either."

That surprised him. "Even after he tricked you?"

"Even then." Bella was firm.

Edward stared at her thoughtfully, actually putting down his fork. "Alright."

"Alright?" Bella's eyes lit up.

"Alright. I'll do it. Let's go visit your friend."

"You want me to give you your money back?" Carlisle asked from his doorstep, confused.

"Yes." Bella said nervously.

"This is very sudden," he frowned. "The money is already in the deposit box, like I said."

"Can we go to the bank now?"

"It's nearly five, the bank will be closed by the time we get there," he said. "It's only open on weekdays until five. Obviously we can't get the money out after it's closed. That was the whole point of depositing it, wasn't it? Besides, it would be safest to keep the money there until the final day, I think."

"Carlisle," Bella finally interrupted firmly. "I heard you. On the phone, yesterday. I head you say you cheated me out of my money. "

Carlisle drew back in surprise. "What?"

"Let's keep this short," Edward interrupted casually from behind Bella. "Are you going to return her money, or are you going to keep it? If you don't turn it over by tomorrow, we'll turn you over to the police."

"Now calm down," Carlisle said, stepping out to meet Edward, "There's no reason to get the police involved. This is a game, remember? It's all in the rules. Taking your opponent's money is not a criminal act!"

Edward chuckled. "You just admitted it."

"What?"

"That you took the money. You deceived her and stole her money. You were playing the game from the start."

Carlisle saw that he had nowhere to go and owned up to it. "That's right," he sighed. "I took her money. This is a game! If I didn't play it, who's to say she wouldn't take mine?"

"I never would have-" Bella spoke up.

"Never would have what, Bella?" Carlisle turned his gaze on her. "I know you have just as many financial troubles as I do. You're just as desperate as me. I got fired from the school, did you know that? My wife left me. Said I spent too much time at the school and not enough time at home. I fell apart after that. I couldn't work anymore and lost everything. I'm broke and alone, Bella. Then this game just appeared and offered a solution. What did you want me to do?"

"Carlise…"

"I have to win this. I don't have a choice."

"You're not the only one with problems," Bella said quietly. "My dad's in the hospital, and I don't have the money to pay the bills. He's already got heart problems, if he knew I had such a huge debt, I'm afraid it would kill him. Please…"

Edward was quiet, hearing this part of her story for the first time. Carlisle, on the other hand, was visibly upset. "I can't help you, Bella. Please don't ask me to."

He retreated back inside his house and slammed the door.

Edward glanced over at Bella, who looked like she was about to burst into tears. "Don't go making a face like that," he scolded gently.

"I trusted him. He was my teacher and I trusted him, and he goes and puts a hundred thousand dollar debt on me."

"The game's not over yet," he pointed out.

"Don't go giving me false hope," she said. "I can't take it. The money is in a bank, with no way for me to get to it."

"Don't be silly. Don't you see the flaw in his plan?"

"Flaw?" Bella asked in a small voice.

"Ironically, he's the one who revealed it. When does the game end?"

Bella pulled out her planner. "The game began four days ago. That means it ends on the… " she gasped.

"Do you see now?"

"The thirtieth! That's a Sunday! So-"

"So he'll have to withdraw the money early. It needs to be in his hands when the game ends, or he'll lose, too. Exactly," Edward said smugly. "So don't give up hope just yet."

"But even when it's out of the safe," Bella began, "it won't be easy to get to."

"I've got a plan for that, too. Don't worry."

"Already?"

"Already. Genius, remember?" He tapped his forehead, grinning. "But as for my services, I'll need $50,000 in payment."

"Half? But I can't do that," she protested. "When I get my $100,000 back, I have to return it all to the Dealer at the end of the game."

"With Dr. Cullen's money, it'll be $200,000. Return $100,000. Keep $50,000. Pay $50,000. He said himself it's a game to him. So that means it's business for me. And I won't work for free. So what do you say?"

Bella chewed on her bottom lip, thinking carefully for a long moment. Finally, she decided.

"I'm in."