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She stopped. “That’s a first.”
Nox frowned.
The old woman snorted. “Look, I may be old enough to be your great-grandmother, but I’m not stupid. I know what kind of shit-hole this place is.”
“And you can’t fix the place up because of Mr. Warren,” Nox said.
“That and a shortage of presidential portraits.” She dropped the cash back into the box and closed it. “My husband was excellent in bed but horrible at poker. After he died, I paid off his debts by selling everything we owned except this place. It ain’t much, but it’s all I got, and Mr. Warren is making it very hard for me to keep it from falling in.” She dusted off her hands. “Now, what can I do for a strapping young man like yourself?”
“I was hoping to get another week.”
The old woman smiled so wide her gums showed. “Just tell me how long—”
“But I’ve got some money problems of my own.”
She dropped her shoulders. “Seems to be the way of things as of late.” The old woman put the cash box back into the filing cabinet. “I can give you two nights, but you’ll have to make sure you clean the room. I’ve got a vacuum. It isn’t great, but it works. And there’s cleaner in the supply closet. Mostly bleach, so make sure you run the vent in the bathroom.”
“Actually, I was hoping we could trade.”
She arched an eyebrow at him. “I’m flattered, but I prefer my men a lot shorter and with a bit more mileage.”
“Uh, no, that’s not what I meant.”
“And I’m too old for drugs.”
“I’m not offering drugs.”
“Well, if you aren’t offering either of those, then what’s left?”
“Labor.” He nodded at the row of bowls collecting. “I figured I could start with patching your roof.”
She laughed until her cheeks reddened and tears made rivers out of the wrinkles around her eyes, yet there was no humor in the sound.
The old woman pulled out the metal folding chair and sat. “I’m sorry.” She wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt. “I don’t really think what you said was funny.”
“Better to laugh than cry?”
She nodded. “Yeah. Not because I don’t want to, it’s just crying hasn’t done a lot of good, and it sure as hell hasn’t changed things.” Her smile trembled. “I’d love more than anything to have someone patch this place up, but it’s going to take way more than a week’s work, especially for one man.”
“Then will you let me fix what I can while I’m here? I’ll make sure to put in at least four hours labor for every night’s stay.”
She wiped more tears from her eyes, but Nox didn’t think they were from the laughter. “I know you mean well and all, but Warren has run off every workman I’ve hired. Sometimes fast enough, they didn’t even bother to collect their stuff.”
“He ran them off or threatened them?”
“Pretty sure he waved a gun in their face. I called a few to see what happened. They wouldn’t talk, but what they didn’t say suggested it was more than words. The others wouldn’t even answer the phone or return my calls.” She shrugged. “I’d love for you to help, but I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I promise, I won’t.” But Nox wouldn’t make the same promise about Mr. Warren.
