The Masterpiece

he fire escape and swun

uilding abutted the five￾story apartment house, t

g, and he'd already left

pack, he pulled out hi

ver slept. Even at three

the bo

n by anyone driving eas

in black pants and a ho

eone were looking for hi

ade of characters dancin

sinessman from the Mon

t. He'd stenciled the fi

he bank acro

ed on something and to

ckly to tape it. A wind

il and took precious minu

d shook it. When he pre

pulled out another can

He glanced down and

Was it the same one tha

for the bank? He'd walk

e from a night shift. The carhad slowed, chec

eet, he'd done the work

bui

ork. He only needed

spr

red on the street. The p

white beam of light f

man made two more s

encil. He'd had to use mo

tion of paper peeled away

etters that looked l

ut of the car, fl

ed the stencil, and stuf

beam of light rose and

rted moving across the r

n shouldered the pac

houetting him against t

er

ed his escape across th

ammering, Roman took a f

rolled to his feet, and

a file on the Bird's w

y service for doing gang

now, he'd d

e budding reputation R

ffiti earned street cred, b

d to the squad car. Tir

ing

window a couple of bui

up rather

man shouted. Must be a

a graffiti artist.Roman swung over the edg

ostled pack and explode

w his gun and pointed it

op where

an pulled himself up

He held his breath. A m

He hadn't gone two st

sted to the dim light fr

hoarder. The cluttere

e left his backpac

or quietly, he peere

e man in the bedroom sn

closed the door behind

ced it, he'd make noise.

s it took its sweet tim

nside and punched the b

ng ga

ed the hood back and ra

th and let it out slowly.

ot was well lit. Roman

scope the area before he

or the ramp leading u

e curb. Doors opened, an

an debated inventing a

k at three thirty in the

s going to keep

toward a residential nei

officers followed li

reet, along a paved dr

free until he realize

pherd leaped to its fe

he dog hit the fence and clawed at it, barking f

garbage cans in his has

n the street was soundi

g low and in

on. He could

n the cops, and they'd b

an moved fast for a few

it to catch

barking. He heard a c

ar crossed the next street

a Boulevard. Maybe he'd

her, Roman waited anot

out to the

make his way back to hi

n't resist driving east

front door cleaned by

reet would last longer. T

ew years that some buildi

t would be the case wit

to have the work buffed

w

lready picked up. Fig

ed him, keeping him wide￾awake as he drove up

eveling after his success

man in need

to the gravel drive dow

arage door. Three more c

e shut off the engine and

As he started to get out of his ca

ng for the odd sensation

back door. Staggering,

on the concrete and

oman stood slowly. He n

him up. He opened the b

the black hoodie, he

o tired to take a shower,

-five, too tired to eat,

ff his clothes, he spraw

ight and sleep without d

ight raids earned a payb

n. White Boy never st

f sunlight. Roman clo

kne

, knowing she would need

time for her first day as

ll enough to get a small

as a start. The longer sh

mplicated t

n no hurry for her to

mind and sign the adopt

hope, but she had nowhe

ed her desire to be

f résumés since being l

alls back for interviews.

a college graduate the

half before putting her

il he graduated.Looking back, she wonde

e, he'd broken. He had

was that

h was right.

crib. Grace lifted him

o nurse him and change h

morning, little man." G

e of the twin bed she'd

ifted him so

is conception and the

tter the moment she firs

d before she knew she

much better his life m

Ruben as much, but ev

er his care while Grace

herself a

it, Lord.

ly. She had onl

job work out. Help me,

t, but I'm aski

d the interview and tes

list. Mrs. Sandoval had

lified people, and he re

eds. It's the only work I

d to work for the devi

ar pa

led Roman up out of the

bbey? He rolled over. H

d the doorbell. He'd liketo get his hands on the

er his head, hoping to m

the five-thousand-squar

interloper had probabl

e

to sleep. When the ch

and stood up. A wave of

ty bottle of water and t

face-first onto the floo

ht have to resort to pres

t now, all he wanted to

er who was ri

n grabbed a wrinkled T-

hall. Whoever stood on th

hey'd never set foot on

s he yanked open the do

backed away when he st

bed a finger at the sign

No soli

put her hands up in a

as cropped short, and

ed office worker. A faint

ismissed it. "Get los

n't gotten far when she

he glared at her. "Wh

gh to run, but stood h

ers, Mr.

nt a woman on my doors

nin

ine o'clock. I'm Grac

rd. Her eyes flickered,

like salt in water. Great

com

ather be any place but

elling her to come back

He might as well stay up.

ift open. "

r temps in the last m

han he was. "I'll send y

out, I'll give you the

meone to field calls

bills, scheduling. He did

teur psychologist to ana

y blonde in a low-cut

clue where to file them.

sides a woman with offi

er if he hadn't had eno

She lasted

eps behind him, Roman

ing outside. "What're yo

tati

the door quietly behind

o

pologetic smile

he didn't catch, and he

onset of a headache, and t

asn't helping. He was thi

adjoining the living room

m and gaped at the cathe

anga Canyon. Sunlight

ime on their nine-to-five times.Opening the stain

the cap, drank from the

u say your

ce M

k for the job-cool, c

, but not his type. He li

the s

e looked at him. Women

n. "You have a beauti

gets old eventually." He

She looked uncomfort

-friendly greeting. He sm

pression. Good. He nee

she take offense a

w how to ma

he one-touch automat

beans, heat milk, and m

with the pre

real coffee." He left th

coffee

ke it stro

n the hall. "We'll talk

p

hower big enough for t

e overhead waterfall. If

ait while he had a twenty￾minute, full-body wat

, and grabbed the last c

r the hamper. He had one p

a black T-shirt, he look

night before. No clea

ood. She was rearran

dn't tell you to

d. "Would you r

ight

cabinets and straight

keep your dish

m o

ave a gro

sistant. Start one." Sh

't seen it that shiny si

e

ffee." She filled a mug

or sugar, you'll have t

em

r tentative smile. "I t

rst test. "Not bad." Bet

compliments too soon.

ot more. He hoped she'

he others Mrs. Sandoval

ke his o

u'll be working." He le

all yours." He didn't h

she f

d something to say abo

e and how to start. Wou

a

t for a few seconds, th

to the center of the roo

oset doors were open, re

g, but knew there wo

n bring order to my chao

sive. "Are you goin

r than a week to

it had to be d

. "That's the longest

nt, isn

st have warned her. "Ye

after three days, but the

as a nud

shed crimson. "

gave her a swift once

ot what I'm after." She

is one away. "I need so

cific way you want

e mess-"inform

place wouldn't

she surveyed the room.

ained system, I

h a thing. Think

ke to try. I'll have a be

o through

frank and honest. He

know exactly what to d

etter. "I'll leave you to

onger than all the rest."

ng smile and hea

om. "Mr. Velasco, we n

ntia

hing was about to spoi

g, but knew there wo

n bring order to my chao

sive. "Are you goin

r than a week to

it had to be d

. "That's the longest

nt, isn

st have warned her. "Ye

after three days, but the

as a nud

shed crimson. "

gave her a swift once

ot what I'm after." She

is one away. "I need so

cific way you want

e mess-"inform

place wouldn't

she surveyed the room.

ained system, I

h a thing. Think

ke to try. I'll have a be

o through

frank and honest. He

know exactly what to d

etter. "I'll leave you to

onger than all the rest."

ng smile and hea

om. "Mr. Velasco, we n

ntia

hing was about to spoi

her hand clenched aro

ase

dy cleared work space

n't want this girl to l

uitting

give yo

hands. "You're catch

u don't have any good

nd met h

eaking so quickly, but h

t weren't a good fit. Th

g, to say

my fault,

't say

k. "I'm not trying

gry with you. I'm just .

don't know what I want,

ed

a nice tidy life. Two

ool, college. A class ac

r in a mall, but clearly,

reful if he wanted to k

re. I'll be in my studio

that

s to work in close conta

of th

ord." He let his smile

removed any hint of innu

methin

call me M

ttle, but still settin

it is." He could be r

She frowned, studying h

me two weeks be

lightly. "Two weeks." S

purse strap slip off her s

e ag

e aimed at you. But I'l

e held out his hand. Sh

r hand was cold and trem

drew

r get back

proved to be as effici

is time. He found hims

en

hing I could fin

d. "Good to know you ne

dn't say anything. He tilt

work before t

lic relat

t becaus

British would say." She

mendation, if you

s. Sandoval

"I do need this job, M

ng for something better

ere." She gave a slight

would be good enough.

t b

was that blush again

shed at all, let alone th

a gent

. He'd been taught t

y aren't you s

his business over to

staf

again. He wasn't sure

then this one had done m

other four. And he liked

e lack of interest in hi

work and didn't as

we're

two w

Okay. We've both got wo

o you can get