"Yeah, it helps when you get in a long line of people who are abusing the poor clerk behind the counter and you're the first person who treats him like a human being."

"Catching flies with honey?"

"That's right. Listen, she's going to be a lot more pleasant after a nap. Then I guess we should go look in on the puppies for a few minutes. Did you decide where you needed to go?"

"No. Without a phone book or anything, I couldn't even guess. How would you feel about just riding around a little and seeing what we find?"

"That's okay. But I need to take her somewhere to play for a while. Waiting in that line for three hours was torture."

"Sure. Maybe we'll see a park or something."

Ruth looked at Spencer with gratitude. "Thanks for understanding."

"Not a problem. It's taken thirty-three years, but I've learned that life isn't all about what I want," she grinned.

Viv was pleased to see the pair standing inside the porch at the back door. It was nice to have these two as tenants, and she loved seeing the pure joy on Megan's face each time she peeked in on the puppies.

"Come on in. They've missed you today."

The excited child made a beeline for the room off the kitchen where Maggie and her pups had settled.

"This is the highlight of her day," Ruth said.

"Then you should bring her over more often. Or she could stay here if you had to run out for something."

"That's very kind. We don't want to be any trouble."

"I wouldn't have offered if it was any trouble. Say, I've got your laundry back here."

"Oh my goodness! I forgot all about it. I'm so sorry."

"That's okay." Viv handed over a small basket of folded clothes and the blanket. "Those were some awfully long jeans in there," she remarked casually.

"Uh, yeah...I sometimes wear them long because I like to roll 'em up. You know, cuffs."

"Uh-huh," she said skeptically. "Look, Karen. I know you got somebody else staying over there. I heard the toilet flush after you and Megan left."

Ruth could feel her face redden.

"Now I don't really understand why you haven't said anything about her, but I guess you had your reasons. It's your business. But you don't have to be sneaky about it. Makes me think you've got something to hide."

Ruth stared at the floor, ashamed to meet her landlady's accusing look. If she only knew.

"She's just going to stay a few nights. I'm sorry I didn't say anything."

"You don't have to be sorry. It's your home and you can have company stay whenever you want. You don't need my permission. But this sneaking in and out isn't necessary. You should go get her and bring her over. "

"Okay." Ruth started out the back door, but stopped. "Viv, how did you know it was a she?"

The gray-haired woman chuckled. "No boxers. No briefs."

Ruth hauled the laundry basket up the steps, balancing it on her hip to open the door. "My landlady knows you're here, and she wants to meet you."

"How?"

"I forgot the laundry and she found a pair of jeans that were about two feet too long for me. And she heard the toilet flush when Megan and I weren't here."

"Great. Are you in trouble?"

"No, but she wants to meet you, so come on."

"Fuck!"

"What?"

"What if she's seen me on TV?"

"Pull your hair back or something."

"Oh yeah, that'll do it," she said sarcastically. "I'll look like a whole different person. Who did you tell her I was?"

"I didn't tell her anything. I just said you were staying here a few days. She's a little put out that I didn't mention anything."

"So, what? Am I a friend of yours from Maine? A relative? Help me out here."

"You can be a friend from Maine, but you're living here now and you lost your job. I didn't tell her much, so you get to make up whatever you want. Just remember that Megan may get curious and start asking questions, so you better keep it simple."

With Ruth in the lead, Spencer nervously walked in through the back door of the house. To her infinite embarrassment, the blonde woman introduced her as Dolly Rollins, which brought a snicker from the little girl, and a renewed threat of tickling from Spencer.

Viv asked worriedly about the black eye and Spencer explained that she'd been in an accident, but that it wasn't serious. She wished later that she'd been more forthcoming about her bruises and injured arm, as that might have staved off the landlady's next request.

"To tell you the truth, I'm glad there are two of you over there. I could use some extra hands with the storm windows now that it's turning cold."

Their plans for looking for Internet access were scuttled when Viv directed them to the shed where the windows were kept, showing them where to find the glass cleaner and the ladder. For the back porch, she had gotten a roll of heavy plastic, which had to be measured, cut, and stapled all around.

"Don't worry about Megan," Viv said. "I'll keep an eye on her. We'll watch the puppies, and maybe play around a little on the computer."

Computer?

CHAPTER 16.

"WOULD ICE HELP?".

Spencer shook her head. Her ribcage was screaming at her from all the activity with the storm windows yesterday afternoon; and Viv had presented them with a new list of chores for today.

"Too late for that."

"You shouldn't have done all that work without wrapping it up. That's why I got the bandage."

"I know," she groaned. Ruth had advised her twice to stop, offering to wrap the elastic around her ribs. "I'll do it today. But I might need some help."

"I don't know about you, but I'm not all that eager to get started," Ruth said, peeking past the curtain to the house. "I'm afraid if we get finished with stuff, she'll find more for us to do."

Spencer chuckled. "I think we're being punished for me hiding over here. The chores are going to keep coming until she's gotten her pound of flesh."

"You're probably right." Wordlessly, Ruth picked up the elastic bandage and gestured for the tall woman to lift her shirt. "You need to be careful with this. If they're broken, they'll never heal if you keep pulling on it."

"I think they're just bruised. They don't hurt like they did a couple of days ago." Spencer grimaced as the bandage was pulled tight across the dark contusion. Still, she got a nice jolly from the warm hands.

"How's your arm today?"

"It's much better, Dr. Ruth." As soon as she said it, the image of the diminutive sex therapist popped into her head and Spencer snorted.

The blonde woman said nothing, her only response a hard yank on the elastic.

"Ow! Not so tight!"

"Sorry." She wasn't really.

"Do you think Viv will let me use her computer?"

"I don't see why not. Tonight's bingo night, you know. I think you should have to come along for that before you're granted computer privileges."

"Well, I would volunteer, you know, but since my picture's on the news as a wanted murderer, it might be best if I pass," she answered sweetly, batting her eyelashes with exaggerated innocence.

"Excuses, excuses." Ruth moved around behind the dark-haired woman to attach the metal fasteners. "You know, you were asking me the other day about how to thank me for letting you stay here. I think I've just come up with a way, every Wednesday night."

"What, you don't like bingo?"

"Puh-leaze!"

"It'll be fun. You just need a positive attitude."

"Yeah, right. That reminds me, would you watch Jessie tonight so I don't have to keep her out so late?"

"Sure. But I think she's afraid of me."

"Well you did threaten to kill us both, as I recall," Ruth joked. "But she likes you alright. She doesn't ask just anybody to play Candy Land." In fact, Jessie had insisted the night before that Spencer play too, because somebody had to be green. And when the mother-daughter pair trounced the newcomer in consecutive games, Spencer had been a very good sport. It was the first time in ages that Ruth could remember having fun with her daughter and another adult.

On the surface, Spencer was proving to be a really interesting person, easy to be around. Ruth could sense those times when the programmer's thoughts would turn to her dilemma, and she wished there was more that she could do to help. It really touched her that Spencer seemed to have also taken on her problems with Skip, though it was pretty doubtful she'd be able to help with that.

"Look, I really appreciate all your help with Viv's chores, but you really do need to take care of this. Let me do the heavy lifting today, okay?"

"Thanks, Ruth."

"And stop calling me Ruth."

"You're all wet!" Jessie declared, as if either her mom or Spencer might have been unaware. Viv had grossly misrepresented the enormity of the dog bath task.

A happy Maggie joined her hungry puppies while Thor preened nearby. The dogs really did smell a lot better, but the same could not be said for Ruth and Spencer.

"Dibs on the shower," the blonde woman called as the threesome walked across the drive to the trailer.

Spencer muttered a few choice words under her breath, ever cognizant of the presence of a four-year-old.

"What was that?"

"You don't want to know." She was exhausted, but at least Viv had agreed to let her use the computer tonight while they were at the church. She wanted to look for a job, she said.

Viv had them back over for dinner, and soon after, the landlady and Ruth left to seek their fortunes at the Goodwill Christian Church.

"You're getting three?" Viv had no idea that her new tenant was so enthusiastic about the game. She'd expected to be dropped off - that's what Norma had always done when she'd lived in the trailer - but no, Ruth was not only going to stick around, she was going to play three cards at fifteen dollars apiece.

"Well, Megan wanted me to play one for her, so I said I would. Then, she wanted me to play one for Spencer. But I drew the line at playing one for Willy and her doll," she explained earnestly.

"Yeah, I usually say I'm playing this other one for Thor and Maggie, but if it wins, it's mine," she joked.

Ruth took a seat at the long table, surprised to find herself excited and eager to start. From the looks of those around her, this was serious business.

"So which one's yours?" Viv asked, indicating the three cards in front of her tenant.

"Don't know yet...depends on how they do," she smirked.

"You catch on quick, Karen."

Spencer finished the last of the dishes and helped Jessie find the children's channel on TV. She felt guilty knowing that Ruth didn't like the idea of using the television as a babysitter, but she needed to take advantage of this chance to get online. At least they were together in Viv's den.

Ever since Ruth had followed her into the woods on Monday, the blonde woman seemed to accept Spencer's situation, and was even lending her support. They were no longer talking about when Spencer would leave; in fact, it was as though they both understood that she couldn't, at least not until she found a way to turn herself in without getting caught in a trap.

Considering all that Ruth had done for her - taking care of her, providing for her, hiding her - keeping an eye on Jessie was the least she could do.

"Let me know if you need anything, okay?"

Jessie didn't answer, already absorbed in the cartoon.

With a small smile, Spencer spun around in the office chair to start to work. Accessing the net through Viv's ISP, she went first to the website for the Washington Post to read about Henry's murder. Late yesterday, authorities discovered James' body, and they'd intensified the search for Spencer Rollins. Skimming through the story, she sought clues for who else might be involved. Predictably, executives at Margadon were expressing all the appropriate shock and sadness; but one comment stood out: "I don't think anyone really could have predicted this, but I can't say that I'm completely surprised by what has happened. In my own interactions with Rollins, I could see that she had a volatile temper, and even Mr. Estes had told others that she thought people at Margadon were out to get her."

The reporter had spoken with Stacy Eagleton, a senior product manager at Margadon who had primary responsibility for the Kryfex contract. In her six years at Margadon, Spencer had spoken with Eagleton no more than five times. Even if she did have a volatile temper - which she didn't - Eagleton would never have seen it. Added to the absolute bullshit about her purported paranoia, that preposterous assessment put Stacy Eagleton at the top of her list of those involved in this conspiracy.

Before she left the article, Spencer turned on the printer and waited for it to warm up.

"Is your show good, Jessie?"