I played along, looking away as he came closer. Then, as expected, he tripped when he came near me and fell against my side. One hand went to my shoulder, ostensibly to steady himself, but in reality to distract me from his other hand, which was now in my purse. I kept my eye on the correct hand and watched him remove my wallet. Now more steady, he pushed away from my shoulder and offered a mumbled apology for his clumsiness.
“It’s quite all right,” I assured him. Then I clamped my hands around his wrist and brought it up behind his back. He twisted away from me, his hand still holding my wallet. “Smooth move, Hale,” I whispered in his ear.
He froze for a beat when I spoke his name, then continued his struggle to get free. But I held him tight while I retrieved my wallet and dropped it back in my purse. I also took the opportunity to relieve him of his wallet and wristwatch, just for old time’s sake. Then I let him go, and he stumbled away.
Hale looked up at me, obviously trying to figure out where he’d gone wrong. Was I an undercover cop or just a savvy target who’d gotten the best of him? “Sorry, lady. I meant no harm.”
I laughed. “Don’t you remember me, Hale?” I stood there with a smile on my face, waiting for him to figure it out.
At the sound of my voice, his mask of fear and confusion slipped away, and a huge smile spread across his face. “Dee! I didn’t recognize you. God, how you’ve changed!” He laughed and gave me a hug. “It’s really great to see you. Come on in, let’s talk.”
The pizza shop was nearly deserted, even though it was dinner time. Other than Hale, there was just an older couple up front. We went to our booth, and he gave me the honor of sitting in the power seat. I dropped into it with a flourish.
He slid in next to me. “So, what brings you home?”
“I just came to see the old gang, especially Bea. But I’ve stopped grifting.”
“Oh, yeah?” He grinned. “Then how come you took my watch?”
I laughed and gave it back to him. “I took more than that.” I gave him his wallet, too.
He shook his head with an admiring smile. “You still have the touch, Dee. You were the best pickpocket of us all, and such a good artist that everyone came to you when they needed something forged. Hell,” he chuckled. “You could copy an old masterpiece, down to the brushstrokes. Too bad you’re out of the game.”