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This again, Grey thought But as long as he’d decided to play along, he saw no reason to disabuse her of the notion that he knehat he was doing

"Do you need anything else before you get started?"

"I guess not," Grey ed

She yawned into her hand A sudden weariness see balloon "Then I suppose I’ll leave you to it I’et off my feet for a bit"

With these words, she left hi down the hall Well, wasn’t this the da a baby’s roo he’d i when he’d woken up at the Red Roof He listened forMaybe the funniest thing of all was that Grey didn’t mind, not really The woman was as nutty as they came, and not a little bossy But it wasn’t as if he’d deceived her about who he was, since she’d never even asked It felt good to be trusted by someone, even if he didn’t deserve it

He retrieved his supplies fro he’d ever done much of, but it was hardly rocket science, and he quickly settled into its rhythet about waking up at the Red Roof, and Zero and Richards and the Chalet and all the rest An hour passed, and then another; he was cutting in the edges along the ceiling when Lila appeared in the doorway, bearing a tray with a sandwich and a glass of water She had changed into a high-waisted denim maternity dress that, despite its roonant

"I hope you like tuna"

He climbed off the ladder to receive the tray The bread was covered with furry green mold; there was a smell of rancid mayonnaise Grey’s stomach flipped

"Maybe later," he stammered "I want to do a second coat first"

Lila said nothingback to look around the room "I have to say, this really looks better So much better I don’t knohy I didn’t think of white before" She pointed her eyes at Grey again "I hope you don’t think me too forward, Lawrence, and I don’t want to assu, but you don’t by chance need a place to stay the night?"

Grey was caught short; he hadn’t thought that far ahead He hadn’t thought ahead at all, as if the woious But of course she’d want him to stay After so et loose now-keeping hio?

"Good It’s settled then" She gave a nervous laugh "I have to say, I’ you into this, never even asking if you have someplace else to be And after you’ve been so helpful"

"It’s okay," Grey said "I lad to stay"

"Don’t mention it" The conversation see her nose with distaste "Sorry about the sandwich I know it probably isn’t very appetizing I keep et out to the market But I’ll h the afternoon, co in the s He had to say, the room didn’t look half bad He deposited his brushes and rollers in the tray, descended the stairs, and followed the central hallway back to the kitchen Like the rest of the house, the rooranite countertops, and appliances of gleas that were piled everywhere, reeking of old food Lila was standing at the stove-the gas appeared to be working-and stirring a saucepan by candlelight The table was set with china, napkins, and silverware, even a tablecloth

"I hope you like to at him

Lila directed him to a small room behind the kitchen with a utility sink There was no water to wash the brushes, so Grey left the to clean his hands as best he could The idea of to job of trying to eat-there was simply no way to avoid it By the ti soup into a pair of bowls These she carried to the table with a plate of Ritz crackers

"Bon appetit"

The first spoonful nearly ainst every instinct, he ed to s Lila appeared to take no notice of his distress, breaking the crackers into her soup and spooning it into her mouth By sheer force of will, Grey took another spoonful, then a third He could feel the soup lodging at the base of his gut, an inertviselike cla not to run, he retreated to the utility roo at the sink in the nick of time Usually he made a racket when he puked, but not now: the soup seemed to fly effortlessly out of his body Christ, as the matter with him? He wiped his mouth, took a moment to steady hi at hierly

He couldn’t even look at the stuff He wondered if she could sed "I’uess"

The answer appeared to satisfy her She regarded hiain "I hope you don’tfor work?"

"More painting, you s, too Because I have the i to conclusions, that you may be a little bitat loose ends Which is fine Don’t get s happen to people" She squinted across the table "But you don’t really work at Hoht so! Really, you had ardless, you’ve done a beautiful job A beautiful job Which only provesBecause I’d like to help you get back on your feet You’ve been so helpful, I’d like to return the favor God knows there’s plenty that needs doing around here There’s putting up the border, and of course the problems with the AC, and the yard, well you’ve seen the yard "

If he didn’t stop her now, Grey knew, he’d never get her out of here "Lady-"

"Please" Holding up a hand, she gave him a warm smile "It’s Lila"

"Lila, okay" Grey drew a breath "Have you noticed anythingstrange?"

A puzzled frown "I don’t knohat you ht "Like, take the electricity, for instance"

"Oh that," she said, and waved a hand dismissively "You already mentioned that, at the store"

"But doesn’t it seem odd that it’s still out? Don’t you think they would have fixed it by now?"

A vague disturbance iest Honestly, I don’t see where you’re going with this"

"And David, you said he hasn’t called How long has it been?"

"Well, he’s a busy man A very busy man"

"I don’t think that’s the reason he hasn’t called"

Her voice was absolutely flat "You don’t"

"No"

Lila’s eyes narrowed suspiciously "Lawrence, do you know so me? Because if you’re a friend of David’s, I hope you would have the decency to tell ht just as well have tried to snatch a fly out of the air "No, he’s not a friend ofto do but just come out with it "Have you noticed there aren’t any people?"

Lila was staring at hinant belly Her eyes held a look of barely contained rage She rose abruptly, snatched her bowl from the table, and carried it to the sink

"Lila-"