“Does Nate know you’re asking for night work?”

“Nate is taking night calls,” I said.

Patty dropped her cigarette butt into a rusty coffee can full of brown rainwater.

“I pay six dollars an hour cash plus whatever cash gets left on the tables,” Patty said.

“No payroll tax deductions, no paper trail, and no complaining about split shifts.”

“When do I start?” I asked.

“Friday at ten thirty PM,” Patty said.

“Bring non-slip shoes and two clean aprons.