"How much do you remember from last night?" she asked.

"I'm not sure. I remember the gun, I remember the tub, and I remember the stitches. What did I miss?"

"Nothing really," she said then fell into silence.

"Do you live here alone?"

"No, Antonio lives here as well."

"But it's just the two of you."

"Yes."

Silence again.

"Why did you help me last night? Why didn't you call the police?"

She looked up at the ceiling as if looking for an answer. "I don't like the police, I've never had much use for them. And you, I helped you because you looked like you needed it, and you remind me of someone I used to know."

"Lucky for me. Say do you have another one of those Lendts?" She pulled out the orange and white pack, handed me one and lit it. "How many stitches did it take?"

"Twelve, it should close up nicely. I don't think you should have any problem with it healing properly."

"How long should I leave the stitches in?"

"Five days or so, we'll change the dressing soon. If we keep it changed it will heal quicker."

"Good," I said, wondering how soon the change would be and how soon I'd be gone. I was just happy to stay off my foot as long as I could. "You said last night that you used to be a doctor, where?"

She pulled out a cigarette for herself as she spoke. "Lots of places, but I don't want to talk about me, I want to talk about you, Evan. Where are you from?"

"A farm in Minnesota."

"Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"Nope."

"And why exactly did you come to Los Angeles, Evan Michaels?"

I liked the way she said my name. "I traveled around a bit after I left Minnesota, I just liked it here I guess. It felt comfortable."

She smiled. "Yes, it has that effect, doesn't it?"

I nodded. I felt strangely comfortable talking with her about myself like I could trust her, even though I wouldn't allow myself to out of habit. "What else would you like to know?"

"What do you do for money?" she asked.

"Just about anything."

She laughed. "I like that answer. Where do you live?"

"In a hotel near Slauson and Crenshaw."

She cocked her head toward me. "That's a fairly rough neighborhood, isn't it?"

"Yes it is, but it's cheap. This area doesn't seem that safe either."

"Well, it's not what it used to be. Time can do that to a place. What were you doing here last night?"

I took a long drag on the Lendts and began thinking up a story.