“The go-ahead for killing your spouses is in the trunk of this rental car. There’s no turning back. You’re in now, both of you. You can change your mind about Jake and Lemon, but you’re going to pay me whether I kill them or not.”

“We understand,” Milo says. “When will it take place?”

“What works best for you guys?” Maybe says, as casually as if planning a dinner date.

They look at each other. “We’ll get back to you,” Faith says.

“No. You’ll decide right now, by the time I get back.”

“Where are you going?” Milo says.

She points to the hardware store on the other side of the parking lot and says, “I need to make a copy of your house keys.”

“I don’t think so,” Faith says.

“Think again.”

Milo says, “I thought you’d be able to pick the locks.”

“It’s a lot easier to use a key.”

“But if you’re staging a home invasion, wouldn’t you break the door down?”

“Afterward, Milo. You stage the crime scene after killing the marks.”

“Why?”

“Because you can’t know exactly what will happen before going in. When they’re dead, and everything’s set up exactly the way I want, I’ll walk out, lock the door, kick it in, run away. Doesn’t that sound easier?”

“Makes sense,” Milo says.

“If you’re going to kill them in Milo’s house you shouldn’t need my key,” Faith says.

“We don’t know whose house they’ll be in that night. They might go to a hotel, for that matter. You’re paying me to do a job. To do it right I need to be prepared.”

“I understand that. It’s just—”

“I can pick your lock, Faith. I’d just prefer not to. Do you really want to piss me off over a fucking house key?”

Faith frowns, produces her key ring, removes her house key, places it in Maybe’s palm. Milo does the same.

“I’ll be right back,” she says.

Ten minutes later she says, “What have you worked out?”

“How do we pay you?” Milo says.

“Glad you asked. She fetches two small canvass bags from her back seat, hands them over. “You’ll start assembling the cash immediately. Every few days you’ll cash checks for various amounts. No single check can be more than $9,900, but they have to total at least $20,000 a week, every week, till I’m paid in full. You’ll collect the money in these bags and place them in your attics every Sunday night. I may pick them up every week, or let them accumulate. I might not pick them up for a year. Don’t worry about that part. Just do your part.”

“How will you get in our attics?” Faith says.

“Don’t worry about that part. Just make sure you keep putting the cash in the bags every Sunday night before going to bed. And don’t make the mistake of trying to fuck me over.”

“Week after next,” Milo says. “I’m playing in a weekend golf tournament in South Carolina. I’ll be leaving Friday morning.”

“Friday the 13th? I like it.