The Identity Thief 2.0

The Identity Thief slipped neatly into the life of Madeline Marchant. Bought an A-Z at the station. Found the Library where Madeline worked. Presented herself for the day and within no time at all was sat behind a counter bored out of her mind.

The small urban library was tucked away in a lonely backstreet. Most of the books stocked on its shelves were dusty backed ancient curiosities and the majority of its very limited clientèle were pretty much the same.

Except for one.

Tall, he wore a dark blue pin stripe suit with a pink silk tie knotted in a perfect Windsor. His hair was dark and floppy. His lips a little pale. His eyes a little grey. He approached the counter behind which the Identity Thief was busy being bored.

"Er herm." He coughed.

She looked up.

"Yes?" She said, "Can I help you?"

"I am researching a book." He said, "And I am lead to believe you might be able to er... help."

"Help?" She said.

"Yes. Help." He said.

"How exactly might I do that?" She said

"Well..." He said, "This is the Leonard Roundswell Early Edition Library?"

"It is quite possible that it is." She admitted.

"And you are..." He paused, "...Madeline?"

"Madeline?" She said.

"Yes, Madeline." He confirmed, "You are Madeline aren't you?" He looked momentarily concerned.

"Yes." She said. "I am Madeline."

"Then err..." He fumbled inside the pocket of his jacket. Pulled out a crumpled $1000 bill and smoothed it out on the counter. "This is I believe the correct amount."

She stared at the $1000 dollar bill. Had she not already found nine others in a neat roll hidden in a very intimate part of Madeline's anatomy, she might have been surprised rather than curious.

"The correct amount?" She said.

"Yes, the correct amount." He confirmed.

"The correct amount for what?" She asked.

"For what?" He looked concerned and leaned forwards, "Is this a test? Surely you know what the money is for? You are Madeline aren't you?"

"Yes." She said, "And of course I know what the money is for, but in order for this to proceed you need to reassure me that you understand what the money is for."

"Oh I see." The Chap said. "Yes yes indeed I understand. So sorry. Silly of me!"

"Don't mention it." The Identity Thief said.

"Yes yes I understand." He said again and leaning further forward whispered a few words of explanation into the ear of the impostor.

The Chap stood back and waited. The identity Thief considered the proposition. The Thousand dollar bill lay on the counter between them and a thousand dollar bill is a thousand dollar bill even if you do have a further nine about your person.

"OK." She said to the chap smoothing the thousand dollar bill with a finger. "Second row on the left. Go to the end. Turn right. Go into the fourth reading booth and wait for me. I will be with you in two minutes."

"Of course." He blushed. "Thank you." He hurried away following her instructions.

The identity thief watched him disappear from sight between the bookshelves.

She rolled the thousand dollar bill into a thin tube and secreted it in her cleavage. Retrieved Madeline's bag from the floor. Walked around the counter and straight out of the library door.

She rushed up the steps outside until her feet touched the pavement and ran as far as Madeline's shoes would carry her away from the Chap and his thousand dollar proposition .