25

"Why did you come here? To gloat?"

"No," he leaned against the door jamb and lit a cigarette. She pulled it out of his mouth, dropped it on the industrial tile and ground it with her heel.

"Why, then?"

He shrugged, "Because I wanted to see you."

Her eyes narrowed, "You've seen me. Now get out." She started to close the dented metal door, but he stopped it with one hand.

"And to offer you a proposition." He pulled out another cigarette and she let him light it.

"Which is what?"

"You can have back some of your old life."

She barked a single laugh and smiled with half her mouth. "Right."

"The money, at least." He smoked. She tried to read him, but couldn't. "You going to let me in?"

"No." She reached for her coat. "But I will come out. You're stinking up my hovel."