Having gotten sick of the uncomfortable silence in the car, I decided it was time to break it, "So, if Jake was just a name you went by back then, what is your real name?"

He remained quiet, pretending to be focusing on the road, but I could tell he was thinking of a response. Finally, after a while, he spoke up, "That name is long gone."

"Long gone? You've forgotten your birth name?" I teased.

"No, I had to burn it," he said solemnly.

I felt like I had brought up a deceased loved one with the way he avoided talking about his real name. "But, ok, officially you may not be that person anymore, but that's no reason you can't use it anymore with your friends. You can literally call yourself anything, as you know."

"Yes, and I choose not to use that name anymore," he stone walled me.

"Ok, fine. What name do you go by now?" I tried to go at it from another direction.

"I don't have a name at the moment," he continued. "Last name I used was Tristan I think."

"Was that for another con?" I frowned.

He tilted his head back and forth, "Yes."

"How many names have you taken?" I questioned.

"Hmm, well, including Jake, maybe 12. It depends what you would consider taking. If I use a name for one night, does that count?"

"And you don't actually identify with any of them?" I wondered out loud.

"No, I've had no reason to adopt a permanent name," he explained.

"Why not?" I pushed.

He looked over at me, then back at the road, "It's kind of pointless to have a name when you're alone. Who is going to use it?"

I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Hearing him say that was just too depressing. "Well I would like to call you something. What do I call you?"

"You can use Jake. I don't mind," he shrugged.

"I want to use a name that means something to you. I don't want to use that name if it was just a throwaway name," I despaired.

He sighed, "It wasn't a throwaway name. It was my grandfather's."

"Oh, that's a very personal name to be using for a con. Was Hannah really just a mark to you?" I questioned.

Jake was quiet again. Eventually he opened his mouth to speak, "Yes and no."

"Are you really her half-brother?" I went on.

"Yes," he responded quietly.

I took a moment to consider his answers. It was clear he wasn't lying, but why did he admit Hannah was a mark? "You first contacted Hannah as a mark to get information. Lilly said she told you some very personal details about where they grew up and went to school. Just like security questions. You were trying to break into her accounts?"

He didn't say anything, just shook his head slightly.

"No? Her father- your father's accounts?" I corrected.

"You have to understand, I was very angry back then. I wanted to screw over the man for leaving my mother with no support," he explained. "But Hannah... it was too easy, messing with her as I did."

"You felt bad?" I asked in disbelief. "The same way you felt bad about me?"

He paused for a bit, "I did what I had to do, given the unusual circumstances."

"What you had to do?" I frowned. "You didn't have to do anything!"

"And how would you have handled it? Huh? Go on. Tell me the right way to handle all of... that!" he said exasperated. "You came out of nowhere, remember? Your part in that chaos was absolutely unknown at the time! Initially l was planning on keeping you at arms length, but then the whole thing with the Man Without a Face started and I needed to know where you stood."

"You thought I was trying to con you?" I laughed.

"You didn't make any sense!" he exclaimed. "I had to know if you were genuine or not."

"But you didn't stop there," I pointed out.

"Well, no, not when the others were making you doubt me. I needed you on my side," he answered honestly, but I could tell there was more to it.

"Needed me to trust you or needed me to act as your agent so you weren't exposed?" I frowned.

Jake sighed, "MC, what does it matter?"

"Well considering this has been such an eye-opening experience, I am trying to get an understanding what really happened. Particularly the part when you disappeared," I explained.

"Do we have to do this now? While I am driving?" he sighed. "It doesn't help our situation now. I need to focus on what I'm doing."

I sighed, "Ok, but this conversation isn't over, Jake."

Jake exited the motorway and navigated through some very rundown sections of the city. Occasionally I'd catch him glancing over at me and he'd quickly look back at the road. I watched him, struggling to understand his behaviour. How could he be so soft at times and then block me out completely during others. I thought back on our old conversations and remembered how he would log out conveniently when he wanted to avoid a conversation. I supposed that never changed.

My train of thought was broken by Jake suddenly pulling into a disused parking lot and stopped the car in the open.

"Grab everything, we are going by foot from here," he said stoically.

I nodded and grabbed the bags. Cautiously I took a good look around neighbourhood as I exited the sedan. I thought maybe Jake had planned to hole up in one of the vacancies, though it did seem strange to do so that close to the abandoned car. Instead, Jake headed off down the alley between buildings. I followed him through a maze of back streets, until we came out beside a service station. Being well into the night and considering it was the only thing still open in the area, the station was unbearably bright. Considering they tend to have a lot of CCTV, I was surprised to see Jake head into it, but I did notice he kept his head down to avoid being seen by the cameras. I waited for him by the street. After a brief minute, he stepped out and waved for me to come over as he walked along to the side where the unisex toilet was. He unlocked it with the service station key and motioned for me to go in.

"I'm good," I commented.

"Please trust me," he sighed. "It's late, we're both tired, but there is something we must do before we can continue on."

I eyed him out of confusion. What the hell was so important that it had to be done right now in a service station toilet? Shrugging, I went inside with Jake close behind. The sound of the door locking was alarming, to say the least.

"Ok, what is it?" I questioned.

He avoided eye contact with me as he put his backpack down and reached into it. "I want you to understand that what I am about to do brings me no pleasure, but it is for your own safety."

"Jake, that is the least bit reassuring. What the hell are you doing?" I asked now out of great concern for my wellbeing.

Jake pulled out an electric razor from his bag. Even as he looked at me with regretful eyes, I didn't want to acknowledge what he was implying.

"Please, kneel on the floor. You can use my bag to cushion your knees," he gestured to the space in front of the mirror.

"Jake, no, come on. Let's consider an alternative solution," I pleaded.

"I am sorry, MC, but if you are to travel without being recognised, it all has to go," he was sincerely apologetic.

He reached into his backpack again, pulled out black hair dye, and placed it beside the sink. Considering his hair was already black, I knew he meant it was for me. I lowered my head in despair. I knew logically he was right - I needed to disguise myself by all means necessary since my photo was the only one being distributed. Jake's vague police sketch made it was easier for him to fly under the radar. It still was a very hard truth to swallow.

I pulled the bag full of Jake's clothes off my shoulder and laid it down on the disgusting gas station bathroom floor. Trembling I knelt down on it in front of him.

"Let's do this quickly before reality sinks in," I pleaded.

Jake shifted behind me and looked at me through the reflection of the mirror. "Close your eyes. It'll be easier for you if you don't watch."