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nerve to shave her head and eyebrows, but that’s where her imagination had stopped. “I was just leaving Las Vegas and realized I’d never seen the dam or the Grand Canyon. Maybe I ought to.”
    â€œGood idea,” Louise said, and got back to her walking. It was going to be a very long walk, no matter the distance. She was quite slow and couldn’t walk and talk at the same time. If something came to mind she stopped, turned and looked up, spoke, and waited for her answer. “Do you think you’ll stay very long?”
    â€œNo. Maybe a day or two. Or three.” As she said that she looked around. They were passing the park and started up a cracked sidewalk into the quaint neighborhood Jennifer had noticed before. Small town U.S.A. Compared to South Florida it was practically deserted. Much too quiet and ordinary for someone like Nick Noble. This fact recommended it.
    â€œHere we are,” Louise finally said, stopping in front of one of the many tiny houses a couple of short blocks from the park. This one and the ones on either side appeared to have freshly painted trim and were well maintained. Louise trudged toward the door of her house. Alice paused only long enough to pee on the grass before they went inside. “Thank you, Doris. I hope you enjoy your time in Boulder City. It’s a nice little place.” Alice looked over her shoulder at Jennifer; her tail sashayed back and forth a couple of times. They disappeared inside the house.
    Jennifer went back the way she had come, spinning the umbrella over her head. When she got to the Tin Can she saw that there were a few more people in there now, and there was a sign in the window that she was quite sure hadn’t been there before. Help Wanted.
    She took the umbrella to the counter and handed it to Buzz. “She’s all set. Stubborn, huh?”
    â€œShe likes that walk. Claims it keeps her on her feet. I think she’s around eighty now and she’s been getting her breakfast here for thirty years.”
    â€œWhat kind of help are you looking for, exactly?” She surprised herself with the question.
    â€œLittle of everything,” he said with a shrug. “Place isn’t that crowded during the weekday mornings. I can almost handle it myself, but it’s better when I have someone steady. Waiting tables, doing dishes, sweeping up. If we go through a busy spell and I have to ask the other waitresses to come in at the crack of dawn, they get all pissy. Not real flexible. You know wo—you know waitresses.”
    Adolfo popped into view from the grill. “ Sí, we need help for the help.”
    â€œThey’re precious flowers,” Buzz said with a wide grin.
    She looked around, and when comfortable that she wouldn’t be overheard, she asked, “How fussy are you about references?”
    â€œI’m kind of easy there,” he said. “You sound interested.”
    â€œI...ah...didn’t really think I was looking for work. I haven’t waited tables since I was in my teens.”
    â€œIt hasn’t changed much over the years. I pay minimum wage, you bus your own tables, keep your tips, split ’em when you work with the other girls, and can have any meals you show up for, on or off your shift. I could use someone when I open. At 5:00 a.m. Pretty rude hour of the day. Especially for the precious flowers.” Grin.
    â€œI like to get up early.”
    â€œI guess you don’t have ID?”
    â€œI... Ah...” She shook her head. “No.”
    â€œYou have a name?”
    â€œDoris.”
    â€œWell then, Doris. See you at 5:00 a.m. tomorrow?”
    She smiled in spite of herself, but mocked herself inside—what the devil are you smiling about? Nick is probably shredding your Vera Wang nightie while you’re taking minimum wage in a greasy spoon!
    But it was a little honest work and no one would be ogling her. For sure not with her bald head and