“No. Read it in college. Just had the yen for something scary and classic at the same time. But I read all the time.”

“Me too. I’m addicted to books. Right now I’m reading Dante’s Inferno for the third time. The imagery is disturbing. You feel like the guy really went to hell.”

“He says he did. He says it was a vision.” She offered her hand. “I’m Kathy Mantein by the way. I just moved in five days ago.”

They shook. “Simon Schiller. How do you like it here so far?”

“Nice.” She added, “But I don’t know if it’s worth four thousand a month.”

She must be paying month-to-month as well, he thought. The rent was less if one took a long-term lease. “I hear you,” he said.

“So it’s just you and your wife and this little guy?”

“Yeah. Well, we’re not exactly married. How about you?”

“Oh. I’m separated. I have a daughter but she’s with her father right now.”

“Do they live around here?”

“Not far.” Her eyes seemed to dim and she glanced at the book in her lap. “We’ll probably end up getting divorced.”

“Sorry to hear that.”

She looked up and smiled quickly. “So what do you do for a living, Simon?”

“I was a building contractor for a few years. But right now, I’m taking a break. How about you?”

“Taking a break myself. I’m a psychologist—I have a Ph.D. in the field.” She added, “If you need help with that brain of yours, let me know.”

The comment was suggestive, and he had already made it clear he had a serious girlfriend. But he was not put off by the remark—she seemed genuinely friendly. He didn’t get the impression she wanted anything from him.

“I don’t think it’s a problem that’s easily fixed,” he said.

She nodded. “I feel the same way about my life. Wish I could send it back to the factory and get it repaired. Does your girlfriend work during the day?”

“Yeah. She’s in real estate.”

Kathy glanced at the sun. “I shouldn’t be out here too long without sunblock. I need to buy some.”

He had noticed she had been in the shade earlier. “I have some up in my apartment. I could get it for you.”

“Could you?” she asked.

“Yeah. I can’t stay here too long with my son anyway.” He lifted Jimmy from the water and his son immediately started kicking. He wanted back in, but Matt stood and wrapped him in a towel. He added, “I’ll bring it down to you in a few minutes.”

Kathy stood. “Don’t bother. I’ll save you the trip. I’ll come up with you.”