“Why?”
“He’s afraid you’re going to ask for your money.”
“And?”
“He doesn’t have it.”
I shrug. “No big deal.”
“No?”
“I don’t need the money.”
We walk out the back door, lock it behind us, and get in my car.
After settling into the passenger seat, Gwen looks at me with curiosity. “If you don’t need the money, why’d you take the job?”
“Honestly? I wanted to get to know you.”
I glance at Gwen’s face while I start the car. She looks surprised. I drive us down the driveway, wave at the gate goons, and turn right. It’s hot out, and in the distance I can see wavy heat lines coming off the asphalt.
The lots are nice in this area, with oversized houses, and massive iron gates designed to make honest people feel safe.
But they’re not safe.
Each of these homes is a cracker box to guys like me.
“Why were you interested in knowing me?” Gwen says.
“Specifically, I wanted to determine if you were the type of woman who could look me in the face and lie, even when the truth would serve you better.”
She laughs. “And what have you decided?”
“You are.”
She scrunches her nose. “Well, that’s not very flattering.”
“Do you deny it?”
She leans over and kisses me on the cheek. “No. But let me say this: I only lie to level the playing field.”
“That’s well put,” I say. Then ask, “What’s the second reason?”
“For what?”
“Back at the house you said there were two reasons why Lucky would stay locked up in his command center till eight-fifteen. The first is he’s avoiding me. What’s the second reason?”
She turns away and looks out the window.
I try again: “What happens at eight-fifteen?”
“That’s when he comes out for his shower.”
“And why’s there a timetable for that?”
“Because Maddie’s coming.”
“Wait. Tonight?”
“At nine.”
“Maddie, as in threesome Maddie?”
“It’s not a threesome. Lucky doesn’t participate.”
“No?”
“He watches.”
We come to the first light just as it turns red. It turns out to be a long light, considering how little traffic there is out here.
I look at her and say, “Do you enjoy being with Maddie?”
She scrunches her nose again. “It’s not really my thing. I mean, I’m a willing participant. If I’m in the mood.”
“Really?”
“You’re giving me that old guy look again,” she says.
“Oh. Sorry. I don’t mean to.”
“What then?”
“The thing you said about being with Maddie.”
“What about it?”
“I like it. I think. I’m just trying to understand.”
“Maddie’s one of a kind. Teeny Tiny, but a sexual rock star. So when she comes over, it’s like an event. Between the X, the booze, the music, and the sheer force of Maddie’s sexuality, I can get caught up in it.”
