Sledge debated whether or not he should reveal himself. No matter what he said one of the two men was going to be angry with him. Calling Graves out would satisfy Sledge's desire to see the man go down. No amount of flattery could spare Graves from the Brit's ire, for he had made Sledge look like a fool. The loss of money could be coped with, but the pride could not be stolen. "And you're an expert on how England trains the CS?"

Ideally this would not end in a fight. Punches meant that he wouldn't be able to keep running the con. If it did turn to that however, Sledge wasn't going to hold back. He didn't get to be top dog in his gangs by constantly hanging back and letting the others take control. Bruises, bumps, and black eyes were a small price to pay for power. Of all his past "friends" David had come out the worse in most fights, but it wasn't the size of the dog in the fight that mattered. "I'll level with you. First, I'll take me card back, then I want my money. You are no lucky bloke that 'appened to make a good choice."

"Wait wait wait.. just a minute here fellas.. " Glancing ever so slowly between the both of them with narrowed eyes, a look that said something fishy was going on and he'd just figured it out. "You're English? H-uh" As though the accent the card hustler was sporting hadn't immediately given it away. How dense was this patsy they had roped into their shenanigans? "Does this mean any reward I get is going to be in funny colored paper, or will there be real money involved?"

He was really having way too much fun making things worse for these two guys, and the slow smile spreading across his face was proof enough of that fact. "Yes?.. No?" He was his own biggest fan of his humor, after all, making him completely unable to not react to his jokes. "Sorry. You two got things to work out.. I'll just stand over here." Stepping out of the line of fire to lean against one of the alleyway's walls; the look on his face spoke volumes of how completely amused he was with all of this. "All good." Giving them a big thumbs up as he made himself comfortable there.

The Brit was sticking to his story, which was fine for Nate. It was true enough that his experience with British police and card sharks was pretty non-existent, but what reason would there be for an officer from overseas to be monitoring crime on the streets of New York? "Far be it for me to argue."

The West Coaster was funny enough in the situation, taking the entire scene in as a joke. Someone from the regular world, regardless of sense of humor, would not be cranking one-liners out in front of a possible conman. "As for you, aren't you a bit too relaxed for a common man amidst shady company? What's your story?"

Nate pulled out the money he had cheated the card shark out of, along with his Queen. "You caught me fair and square. Here's your money back. My part too, to be fair." He held the prize out; the small sum was not worth a scuffle. "Are we fine now?"

There had been no doubt in Sledge's mind that the one who had the Boston accent was a card man as well. Sledge hadn't even seen the card swap happen in the flip, and he had done the same move himself thousands upon thousands of times. He knew the amount of practice that went into moving the cards so smoothly that movement became impossible to detect. Nobody could have pulled off what Graves did unless they knew what they were doing. However Graves had pointed out the possibility that the man Sledge had used to chase him down wasn't on the level. David hadn't paid much attention to the other man when he first came over. It was why he had always needed at least two people to help out with his card games in Bradford. One to be the bait, another to keep their eyes open for him. It wasn't that he needed to see what he was doing with his hands. They moved on their own. Having his attention elsewhere might come across as shifty, and therefore untrustworthy.

"'old on a minute," he said, pocketing his money and the card quickly before Graves could take it back. Rule number one, there's only so much to go around, take what you can. The amount that he won didn't make a difference. It was what he had earned from the mark. "Are none of us what society would consider upstanding citizens?" He took his hat off, holding onto it with a tightly clenched fist. Things could very well turn sour very quickly now. Sledge spared a glance to the person who so far had only been a spectator. "Never said I was police now did I?"

And it was true. Brody had been acting on the assumption that Sledge was in some sort of law enforcement position. All he had said was that he was doing a private investigation and to question if Graves knew how the British trained the special forces. Nothing that said explicitly "I am a police officer." Besides, if he was one why would he be letting his accent show? What good does a British accent do with running a game of three card?

He held a finger up in a correcting manner at the one man's accusations toward him. "I never said I was a common man. I just saw something interesting going on, saw the events that should have happened get flipped on their head and got pulled in.. all complete hapenstance. Honestly."

He shrugged again, watching the pair of them as the money was returned to its 'rightful' owner. Wondering if he should still press the issue of a fee for helping catch up to the guy.. he did give in pretty easily. Was he the one about to get rolled? That would be a clever ruse to have put together. He'll keep that idea for next time - provided he isn't about to get knifed for his lunch money. "Of course, if you want me to be really honest, I was only coming along to watch you get your ass kicked. A good old fashioned New York beat down? Can't turn down an opportunity like that." As much of a jerk as it made him sound he was atleast being truthful in this instance. The slow easy going smile stayed as he talked on. Talking was always an easy thing for him - getting him to shut up was the trick. "Also really impressed on the switch you made. I was watching almost the whole time and didn't even see it happen. Going to have to remember to try that one."

The smile got all the wider as his eyes flitted to the one who had ended up getting cheated while cheating. "Not on you, of course. And no, no you didn't.. but it's fun to pretend, right? Not likely this guy would have stuck around if I'd said 'The man here in the fancy hat wants his money back, or else' .. 'Stop, Police' had as little chance of working, true, but like I said, it's fun to pretend." He took a breath, waiting a beat as his fingers drummed against each other out of sheer impatience. "Soo.. what's the generally accepted etiquette in this situation? We all go our own ways now.. ?"

Questionable actions about in the alleyway, which should not have been a surprise considering it was an alleyway. He had come to his own conclusion that the Brit was not on the level, but it was looking like the west coaster was at the very least interested in the con game. Admittedly, a man who wanted to watch as Nate got his ass handed to him, but he was very honest about that in a way that was almost refreshing. "No worries, if he beat me down, I'm sure it would have been fun to watch. Can't blame you."

The young man brought up a good point; where did they go from here. There seemed to be no harm done now that everyone had a vague idea of what was going on, so could they all go their separate ways.

It was then that an idea came to Nate's mind that might help him transition into a life on the up-and-up. He had to get rid of the remnants of his dirty past, and these two might just be the perfect recipients of some gracious good will. "Well, I might have an offer for you two that I think the both of you would not mind. First though, I have to be sure," he spoke in a low whisper in case anyone passing by the alley could overhear, "I don't care what activities you do outside the parameters of legality, but do any of those activities leave bodies behind?" This was a great opportunity, but he did not want to play benefactor to murderers. Whether they told him the truth or not, he had to at least ask the question.

While the spectator had not admitted to anything other than wanting to watch a fight happen, his outright claim that he wasn’t a conman was suspicious. Sometimes it isn’t what is said that is important, but rather what isn’t said. Sledge had not accused him of being a conman, not even of being a thief. Just that society might frown upon activities that they might participate in. The other man, whom David was certain was a conman, had only pointed out that it was odd for the spectator to be there. “Nobody called you a conman,” David pointed out to the spectator, “So why say that you aren’t?” The odds were now that the spectator was what he claimed he wasn’t.

Graves was asking if the illegal activities that Sledge participated in resulted in bodies being left behind. There were certain things that David had no qualms with. People stupid enough to fall for his cons and not think for themselves deserved to have their money taken from them. Stores often overpriced things that you needed, so why not just take it? Drugs were not something that he felt comfortable handling. That was a serious offense. Murder was another one. “Corpses are terribly inconvenient. They attract more.”

He blinked, rather innocently at the new accusations being thrown at him. Maybe it was all just to poke holes into his story? Did he have a story? He hadn't really said anything about himself that could be construed in much any way shape or form. "Yeah.. I know nobody said I was a conman, that's why I didn't say I was one.. or.. wasn't?" It took him a moment of serious thinking to figure out what it was the previously hatted man was talking about. He even had a 'I'm thinking seriously' look on his face until it finally clicked what it was, and maybe the guy had simply misheard him? "Iiiiii.. said, I never said I was a common man" Was that right? That's what he thought he had said. A far more shrewd look crossed his face as he leaned forward just a touch to look careful at the man's face. "Anybody ever tell you that you're kinda paranoid?" Now his eyes flitting off just to the side of his accusor's should. Repeatedly. Back and forth. Then he just grinned. It was fun messing with people.. until they smacked you in the face. Actually, it was still abit fun then. Not as much though, what with the pain involved. His smile turned again to the other-other man, looking purely honest as he now gives an answer to his all too serious question."None that I can remember."

The Brit and the West-Coaster were quite the Odd Couple pairing, though Nate was of the mind to agree with the card shark; the other guy was too comfortable in this situation, with enough wit and charisma to make it very likely that he had cleverly worked his way in and out of trouble before.

More important, both men more or less agreed that they preferred not to kill people. He was getting out of the game and his dirty money was a reminder of a past he should not cling to, but that did not mean it should go to waste. "Whatever my... 'profession' used to be, I've stumbled into a new life nowadays. The thing is, I've got all some of the benefits of my 'craft' lying around, and... well, let's just say, I would love to know my last act as a shady character was to leave a legacy."

Nate double-checked both alleyway openings, making sure they were alone. "What I guess I'm saying is this: if you are men on the other side of the law, and you don't ask many questions, I could be a one-time financial benefactor..."

“Iffin you’re going to lie at least do it proper,” Sledge complained to spectator. There were some common tells for when someone lies to you and the self proclaimed common man was exhibiting several of them, even over exaggerating them. It was behavior like that that landed you in the boiling pot with Sledge in his gangs. Begging off, failing to do your job, or being less than professional in any form resulted in punishment, ranging from not receiving your cut to a thrashing. Lying was perfectly acceptable behavior in his mind. Everyone lied. What wasn’t acceptable was lying in such an obvious manner. “You aren’t fooling either one of us.”

Of course Sledge could not be certain of what went through the other conman’s mind. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut instincts, and his was telling him that Graves couldn’t possibly be stupid enough to fall for the spectator’s act. Unless you were up on a stage there was no need for the exaggerated faces. The conman must have known a little about how to lie convincingly. Until Graves had moved to flip the card Sledge had thought that he was dealing with a tourist. You can’t lie convincingly if you don’t know what not to do.

“One time financial benefactor.” Not a question, for a question means not understanding a point. David got the idea. There were plenty of people in the world that didn’t like to, or couldn’t, get their hands dirty but required talent like David’s. Rarely had he gotten involved in such a situation. If anyone was to benefit from his scams it should be him. David’s statement wasn’t a question because he doubted Graves. You can’t simply turn over a new leaf and leave behind this sort of life. Just look how Graves had caved in and played along with the card game. Once you got into the business of swindling people you can never really get out.

"Don't think I've straight out lied to anybody here yet.. except for you being a cop, but that was just me playing along with the bulls#$t you were slinging around. Besides that, I just haven't given any direct answers, but I haven't lied." Holding up his fingers in a peace-sign, wiggling them back and forth infront of himself. "Two completely different things."

That all in itself was a lie. His entire demeanor and attitude was a front to keep others at bay and offkilter, because when you act like a complete ass people find it harder to pick up on how to manipulate you. Not like when you're all seriousness like the Brit was, with his complaints and accusations - he was the kind of no nonsense guy who liked to be in charge, telling people what to do and how to do it. An Alpha dog. And if Brody kept pushing his buttons he could probably get the guy to snap at him.. as much fun as that would be..

The smirk picked back up as he decided to quit poking at Mr. Grumpy, giving an answer to the other man's offer. "I'm always game for unlawful shenanigans. You guys wanna go get some pizza? This is" Gesturing around to the alleyway they had been standing around in. "getting a little old. And a bit cliche for.. back alley dealings.. Ya know?"

The Brit and the Westcoaster should work together at least once. Those two had all the makings of a prime-time buddy-thief comedy. It was apparent neither man trusted the other, but when did that ever make a difference between conmen?

Nate had to be clear with his intentions, however. The way he phrased his idea could be construed as hiring the two for a job, which was not his plan. As for the second man's offer to get food, the idea went against his entire goal of breaking away from the shady social world of crime. He shook his head, pulling out two of the checks he kept in a pocket-compartment, along with a pen. "As much as the offer sounds like a fun time, I have to get back to what is turning into an almost legitimate, crime-free life. And it'll be easier to do that," he finished jotting down two equal sums on the checks, given from two fake names, "with this dirty money in good hands."

He offered a check to each man. "I give you each some no-strings-attached supplemental income, I walk away to a new life, you both go do whatever you please, and we all end up better for this meeting. Savvy?"

"You're blinking too much, back peddling on what you say, eyes shifting up and to the right, grinning like the cat that ate the canary," Sledge started listing off each tell that the amateur had shown. Get caught doing any one of those things in his gang and you were raked over the coals. Sledge took his cons very seriously and expected those he worked with to do the same. It wasn't a job in the traditional sense. There was no steady paycheck, no medical or dental benefits (quite the opposite really, Sledge had had to have more stitches than he was able to count), and it certainly wasn't something you spoke about at church. They still were professionals though, and professionals do not make sloppy mistakes like that. Mistakes landed you in jail. "You denied being a conman by saying common man. I know a lie when I see one."

The mention of pizza as a meal to chat over didn't particularly appeal to the Brit, even if he did believe negotiations went better over a full stomach. He hadn't been in the States long enough to find a home for himself, only places where he could spend a night, on a couch if necessary. Take out food was becoming a staple part of his diet and it left him with a heavy feeling in his gut. When Graves repeated his desire for a life free of crime, Sledge was was grateful for the chance to get away from the greasy food, even if he doubted the man could live such a life.

A cheque was handed to him and Sledge eyed both it and the one who filled it out skeptically. Who carries cheque around these days anyways? "I'm sure you'll understand, but I don't take cheques from those on my side of the law, no matter how honest of a life they claim they want. Cash only, up front, and I count it."