Madison rolled her eyes. You’d think she’s living in the Ritz Carlton. “I don’t wanna go out on a limb here, but I guess you can do better than this place.” When the old women hesitated, Madison added, “I’ll find a good place for you when this is over. Happy?”

Rita Mae nodded. “And how much are you gonna pay me?”

Someone living in a place like this would probably work for even the smallest amount of money. To test her theory she said, “Two hundred dollars a week and free board and lodging.”

Sherry cleared her throat and glared at her.

Madison glared back but said, “Okay, three hundred, but that’s my last offer. Take it or leave it.”

For the first time since meeting her, Rita Mae actually smiled. “You’ve got yourself a housekeeper, Ms. Fielding.”

“Deal. Oh, and call me Madison.”

Yawning, Madison entered her apartment, let the door click shut behind her, and threw her jacket in the checkroom. The jacket fell, but she didn’t care.

The clock in the open kitchen revealed that it was a couple of minutes past one a.m. She had driven Sherry back to the hospital and filled out the billing information she had forgotten earlier back at the nurses’ station. Now she wasn’t in the mood anymore for Phil and the club. Truth be told, she felt exhausted.

She rubbed her burning eyes. Just a few hours had turned her life completely upside down.

From this day on, she would pretend to be a family person. “Ha!” she called into the empty apartment. “Me a family person.” She slipped out of her shoes and left them in the middle of the hallway. Carmen would take care of them in the morning.

A groan escaped her lips. She had all but forgotten about her. “Guess I need to fire her now that Rita Mae’s got the job.” She hated drama. But maybe kicking her out wasn’t even necessary. Rita Mae was old and would probably have enough on her plate looking after the boy and maybe cooking. So she probably wouldn’t complain if Carmen came her usual three times a week to clean. Besides, Madison had given Rita Mae the job just so that she kept her mouth shut.

Problem solved. Carmen keeps her job.

Pleased with herself, Madison unbuttoned her blouse and pressed play on the blinking answering machine.

After a beep that sounded overly loud in the quiet apartment, Janice’s voice came through the speaker. “Hey, Mad, where are you? I can’t reach you on your cell.”

Madison fished her smartphone out of her pocket. Two missed calls. Right, she had put the phone on silent upon entering the first hospital on her search for Sherry.