Disclaimer not mine More T rated stuff.

The Con is On

"Roath Park?" Sean watched as Albert nodded. The elderly American sat next to Sean as he spoke.

"Yeah, Roath Park" Albert nodded "One of the most beautiful parts of the city. You see Sean Cardiff is the capital city of Wales but it is also full of beautiful scenary" He watched as Ash rolled his eyes.

"Roath Park is nothing Sean" Ash started "He really wanted to sell Cardiff Castle"

Mickey and Sean glanced at each other and rolled their eyes.

"Hey don't look like that. How many times have we sold The Ritz this year?" Albert looked as his younger companions. Emma smiled.

"More times than is polite" Ash smirked as he answered.

"But Roath Park? That's something else altogether. Why would he want a park anyway?" Emma asked.

"Not the park itself. The conservatory in the park. I think we should sell the conservatory" Albert watched as Mickey smiled. It was a new twist on a classic con. Emma and Sean frowned.

"Who really owns the park anyway?" Sean asked

"The City Council, Parks Section" Mickey answered. "It was donated to the city of Cardiff by the then Marquess of Bute in 1877. It was created from Marshlands" Mickey had clearly found time to read tourist information. Ash held his side as he tried not to laugh.

"This is so bloody stupid it could actually work" He laughed

"He could find out the park is publicly owned. That the Council own it. There is a chance he'll work it all out on his own. From what I saw" Emma stared at the bedsheet Ash laid on. "He is far from stupid"

"But he is greedy" Albert answered "Look, yes he could nip in to town, go to the public library if he wants to. We can't prevent him from doing so. But there is a friend of mine Myfanwy Evans. She works at the library, has done since she came out of prison 23 years ago" Albert smiled as he remembered the tiny welsh woman he had befriended.

"Why was she in prison Albert?" Sean asked.

"Same reason Mickey was" Albert sighed "Other than that I don't ask. A lady has to have her privacy" He looked at Emma as she met his gaze. She smiled, relieved. It seemed Albert had given the other men a silent warning that she was not to be questioned any further over what had happened when the con had gone wrong.

"So how will this work?" Sean glanced at Mickey before glancing back at Emma. He still didn't like the idea of Mickey with his sister but he had to admit that they had known Mickey long enough to trust him. He glared at the floor, if I hadn't been such a brat when we met Mickey and Ash maybe Emma would have been safer. She would certainly have been happier than she has been. She's 29 she aint a kid anymore. Let her be happy, if that's with Mickey then so be it. He turned his attention back to Mickey as he realised his friend was speaking.

"Albert and I will meet him the day after tomorrow"

"But" Emma glanced at him.

"He's a racist. I know, but he is also increadibly greedy and we can use that to our advantage. I also know he is staying at the big hotel in the centre of the city. Sean, you are to plant a camera in his room. Do it when we are at the meeting. Eddie can help you" Mickey tried not to look at Emma.

"What about me? Ash is stuck here I know that but there has to be something I can do" Emma was terrifed but it had been her that had convinced Mickey to take the mark, she had to be a part of it.

"This isn't going to be easy" Mickey held her gaze. For a moment it felt like there was no one else in the room "You have to stay away from the park. Keep out of sight"

"Mickey"

"Look, he can't know you and Ash are still alive" Albert explained. "Not yet"

"But" Ash narrowed his eyes. He hadn't known about this part of the plan.

"You will both be needed for the take down at the end. That is if you are both up to it." Mickey was still talking directly to Emma.

"Oh I'm up to it alright" Ash glared. The bleeping monitor and the chest drain in his lung begged to differ.

"If you say so" Sean replied. Ash narrowed his eyes.

"Yeah" Emma could feel herself getting angry. "I say so"

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Sean glanced out of the hotel window admiring the Cardiff sunrise. He could see the train station in the distance and the city beginning to come to life. If he were there for any other reason he guessed it would be a great place to just visit. But he was there to work. Smiling he realised he had never stayed in a different hotel to his sister. He just hoped Mickey was looking after her. He closed the curtains and picked up his mobile.

"Albert"

"Sean"

"You ready for this?"

"Yes Sean, you know what to do"

Sean smiled as he walked in to the bathroom. He had two hours to shower and get ready. Then he just had to sweet talk the pretty young woman on reception into letting him in to the hotel room opposite. He smiled as the hot water hit him. He had already learnt her name was Leanne and she lived in the Rhondda. He had also learnt she was gullible and very easy to charm. He smiled as he thought of the young brunette. She really was gorgeous, he was going to enjoy himself.

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Mickey woke to find himself alone in the bed. He paused for a moment, certain that Emma had run again. It was only when he rolled onto his side that he saw her staring out of the window.

"Emma?" He watched as she dipped her hair so that her face was obscured by her long blonde hair. He was immediately worried. She didn't answer him, only stood staring over the backstreets of the city with her back to him. He swung his legs from the bed as he realised she was crying.

"Hey" He stood behind her and rested his hands on her arms. "You don't have to do this"

She shook her head before turning to face him. He stepped back, immediately worried about what he saw in her face. She looked utterly defeated.

"I do"

"Emma"

"It hasn't occured to you has it?" Emma watched as Mickey dropped his hands from her sides.

"What?"

"Two years ago. I made a play for you. Made it completely bloody obvious I liked you yet it takes this happening to me and Ash to make you act on it. I'm right aren't I? You liked me as more than a friend even then. If Sean hadn't thrown his dummy out the pram you wouldn't have turned me down. It's guilt that made you follow me here and it's guilt that is keeping you here" Emma watched as Mickey stepped back. He looked as if she had slapped him.

"You are unbelievable" Mickey almost whispered the words.

"I'm right though"

"Partly yeah" Mickey stepped right up to her "Yes if Sean hadn't thrown his dummy out the pram as you put it we may have been together then. Only thing is we wouldn't have been together now. I fancied you, of course I did"

"So?" Emma narrowed her eyes

"But I didn't know you" Mickey was so close she could practically feel the heat from his body "It would have been a fling. I never wanted just a fling, not with you. And yes I did follow you to Cardiff because I felt guilty. I told Sean when we met I would look out for you, that I would behave honourably towards you"

"What?" Emma was annoyed that she had been reduced to one word sentances.

"I felt guilty because I should have been in that room sooner. I felt something had gone wrong but I didn't act on it. I felt guilty because you ran away from us. You should have been able to come to me, I , er us with anything. It seemed like we had all let you down" Mickey was on the verge of tears. He really didn't want to loose Emma, not when they were so close to actually being something. Emma shook her head as she listened to him. She had never thought about it from his side before.

"Oh God" Emma buried her face in her hands.

"I've been married before" He rested his hands on hers and began trying to pry her hands from her face "You know how that worked out. I don't want you to end up hating me like she does"

"I dont hate you Mickey"

"Not yet" He smiled. "But I seem to have that affect on women"

"Oh no you don't" She smiled "You don't get to turn the puppy dog eyes on me"

"Puppy dog eyes?" Mickey smiled back "Emma what do you take me for?"

"A Grifter Michael Stone, a grifter" She let him hold her wrists as he pulled her towards him and hugged her.

"Yeah well that makes two of us" He whispered into her hair. "It was all my fault Em, I am so sorry" He closed his eyes as she hugged him back.

"No it wasn't. It was Boreshinov's fault." She pulled back and kissed him chastely on the lips "What time are you meeting Albert?"

"Oh there's a while yet" He smiled as he pulled her back into his arms and kissed her hair as she hugged him back.

A/N OK is anyone reading this? Next chapter Albert and Mickey meet the Russian.