So although I'd never thought of it that way, perhaps Bea was right: I had accidentally perpetrated my biggest con yet. I had managed to convince people to like my art, and I'd become moderately popular. Did that mean I was still a con artist? I hoped not.
In any case, I wasn't about to admit that Bea had a valid point. "You're just jealous because I found a legitimate way to support myself." The idea of earning an honest living was always a big joke when I was little. None of Bea's friends thought much of the idea. So I had to force myself not to smile-she needed to know I was serious.
As expected, she laughed at my way of life. "I'm not jealous of your stupid legitimacy. I'm jealous of your grifting skills. You've got to help me. Besides, you owe me for that last con."
"How about I pay you back and call it even?"
"That's no fun! I've got a great con planned, and you're going to help me do it."
I folded my arms. "No."
"No? Are you sure?" She stood up and leaned close to me, beady eyes drilling deep. "I heard that two bags of cocaine got taken from the police evidence room recently, and someone's fingerprints are all over them. If they suddenly turned up in your car or hotel room, what do you think the police would say?" A shadow of a smile crossed her face.
Her tiny smile punched a hole straight through me. I had picked up those bags of drugs from the floor yesterday and put them on the table. I'd wondered why she threw the contents of the panda so haphazardly all over the room, and now I understood. She was tricking me into touching the bags so she could blackmail me into the game again.
Stupid me-I had been conned, just as Elle said. I needed to be more careful. And that started right now. I'd come here to make peace, but Bea wanted war. So war it was. I returned her little smile. "I'm listening. . ."
Bea sat back in her chair. "We're going to con Alejandro. The man collects guitars like a fiend, and he's made of money. I've got a plan to get some of it."
She had to be kidding. She wanted me to con the most famous, talented, and sexy musician ever? A man whose love songs helped conceive an entire generation? Wrong! I would never con him. Besides, even if I tried, I couldn't pull it off. I doubted I could even be in the same room with Alejandro without becoming incoherent.