Boarding a train without a ticket isn’t uncommon, especially for those short on cash and needing to travel. For me, though, it was different, I had to skip town fast after the cops caught on. As a con man, I'm not exempt from life's rules; sometimes you take what you need. Earlier, I'd dodged the conductor and two officers searching for me. Maybe stealing the mayor's watch wasn't wise, but shiny things beckon. My life's a mix of survival and the thrill of the game. Seated in the dining car, I faced a young woman with striking green eyes over wire-rimmed glasses. She sipped her tea, then calmly asked, “Why have you been running from the police like your life depends on it?”