Billy Jacobson was hiding out behind a mound, watching the railroad tracks a stones-throw away. It was almost dark; if James didn't show up soon, they would be too late to catch their ride to the hideout. It was getting irritating, always waiting on James. He had no haste in him. The only good thing about him was that he knew how to grapple the "merchandise," as he liked to call it. Which was no simple thing, Billy had to admit, but it was getting tiresome. Maybe this could be their last job. Together, that is.

A small shadow against the lights of the town caught Billy's attention. It was definitely James, darting from mound to mound along the railroad tracks, trying not to get caught--although, judging by the lack of any alarms coming from town, no one seems to have noticed what happened, yet. He made it to Billy's mound, eventually, but it seemed to Billy that James liked grating his nerves by taking as long as he could.

"Did you at least get it?" Billy asked, irritated that James had that stupid smile again, and after making Billy wait half of the day behind this stupid mound of dirt.

"Of course," James said, pulling the necklace from his pocket. The large orb at the end was clear as crystal, like one of those seeing-crystals those fortune-tellers have. Only Billy knew this one wasn't any scam.

"What took you so long to do it?"

James smirked. "I couldn't help but beat Old Henderson at a game of cards." He pulled out a handful of large bills and threw them on the ground in front of Billy. "I managed to rob him of some money before I robbed him of his prized possession."

James laughed at his own joke. Billy shook his head. "You could have been caught, pulling a stunt like that. Then I would have been caught."

James just shrugged. He turned to grab some water from their bags. Billy saw his chance. He pulled out his gun, took aim at James' back, and pulled the trigger. The necklace fell to the ground, followed by James, blood gushing from his back. The shot was dead center.

Billy walked over and scooped up the necklace. He didn't even bother with James. He was outliving his usefulness, anyway. At least now Billy didn't have to split the money with him.

He held the necklace in front of his face, looking at the face he could see inside it when the light hit it just right. Yep, Old Henderson would pay quite the ransom to get his daughter back. Prized possession, indeed.

All he had to do was figure out how to get her out of the necklace when it came time to make the swap. He looked down at James. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to kill him, after all.