Available Darkness Season 2

work.”
    “What kind of work do you do at that hour?”
    “I’m a private eye, but I mostly handle one client, a super wealthy guy, who pays me well to run his security, do background checks on employees, stuff like that. Most of the work I’m able to do from home during the day, but some things I need to tend to at night. That requires me leaving the house, but I can’t leave an 11-year-old girl at home alone, ya know. Too many creepy people out there.”
    Katya held his eyes, peering deeper as if trying to figure out exactly how full of shit Larry actually was. She seemed like a smart girl who would be able to notice the scent of his obvious lies. Just when he thought Katya was going to turn him away, she said, “What’s her condition?”
    “Um, I forget what they call it. But between you and me, I think most of it’s in her head, a psychological thing. She’s been through a lot, and I don’t want to make her feel bad about it, so I try not to pry or bring it up. I just deal with her as she is.”
    Katya smiled. “It’s later than I’m used to working. How many nights do you think you would need me?”
    “You give me five nights, a few hours a night, or at least four, and I’ll match whatever the Radleys are paying.”
    “Match? For less hours?” Katya said, her eyebrows raised.
    “Yes,” Larry nodded. “I’m desperate to find someone soon, and I can tell you’re a good person — I can trust you. I can trust you, right? You’re not a serial killer, or worse, an actress from some MTV show?”
    Katya laughed, a sweet chirp full of genuine mirth. Larry couldn’t help but love it, mostly because it sounded both pure and true, and given how many fake laughs he’d heard from girls, Katya’s sounded like a promise.
    Try not to flirt. Try not to flirt.
    “No,” Katya said with mock shock, “I could never be an actress.”
    Larry laughed, “I dunno, you’ve got the looks.”
    Dumb ass! Dumb ass! Stop it!
    Larry quickly changed the subject before awkward silence stretched far enough to snap. “When could you start?”
    “Tomorrow is my last day here, so I could start tomorrow night if you like, but first, I have to meet, um, what’s her name?”
    “Abi, short for Abigail.”
    “That’s a pretty name,” Katya said, again sounding like she meant it. “I’d like to meet Abi first. I’d hate to say yes and have us not mesh. Girls at that age can be … ”
    She trailed off as if trying to think of the least offensive word.
    Larry added, “Bitchy?”
    Katya laughed, “I was thinking sensitive .”
    “Yeah,” Larry said. “That’s what I meant, too. She’s a great kid, really. So, would you like to swing by tonight some time and meet Abi?”
    “I’d love that,” Katya nodded.
    The Radleys’ small daughter suddenly appeared behind Katya, looking up at Larry while sucking on a purple pacifier.
    “Hi,” Larry said, waving from behind with a giant grin.
    The little girl’s eyes doubled their size, then she spun around and ran off into another room.
    Katya laughed, “Gabi,” she called after the girl. Katya turned from the girl’s back to Larry and said, “I’m sorry. She’s shy.”
    “No, it’s OK. I have that effect on most women, no matter their age. Hey, Gabi and Abi, what a coincidence.”
    Katya laughed again, and Larry resisted the urge to pile the charm any more than he already had, but the only way he could manage that was to force himself from the Radleys’ porch and head back home.
    “OK,” Larry said. “Swing by any time tonight after sundown.”
    Katya’s nose wrinkled, maybe curious about his use of the word, “sundown,” but he didn’t stick around to pull his foot out of his mouth. Larry simply said goodbye, then headed back home.

    * * * *

CHAPTER 4 — Abigail

    Abigail couldn’t wake slowly because she smelled someone else in the house.
    Her first instinct was to jump from her bed and run downstairs, hoping it was John. But she could immediately sense it wasn’t him. It wasn’t even a man. It was a girl, or woman, with a light scent of flowery shampoo or body wash.
    Did Larry bring a date back to the house?
    Abigail wondered if she should stay put. She’d hate to ruin his date. Then again, Larry should’ve told her if he was planning to bring someone home, given her notice so she could’ve made plans for a night of movies and games in her bedroom or something.
    No, he wouldn’t bring a date back to the house.
    Besides, Larry hasn’t