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Maybe five-three, possibly a buck-ten. The purple hair under her purple Ravens ski cap said teenager to him. But her face said she’d seen forty.
“Can we help you?”
“Turning that bullshit down’d be a start.”
“I got it.” Theo, a blue do-rag covered in Baby Yodas tied around his head, set his roller in the pan and turned down the volume.
“Better. CJ Kirpeckne.” She stuck out a hand as hard as an oak plank. “I’m just here to check your progress. Who’s who?”
“Nash.” Then he pointed. “Theo.”
“Okay then.”
She wandered the open kitchen, dining, living area, hazel eyes narrowed. “Well, you haven’t made a mess of it. You should be about wrapped up by my clock.”
“This is the last coat. Tile’s done.”
She walked into the bathroom, studied the work. Gave a nod, a grunt. Walked back.
“Didn’t make a mess of that either. The boss said you might could use some help over at your place.”
“No ‘might’ about it. We’ve got a couple dozen windows coming in next week. The old ones leak. A lot of demo yet, but we’re living there, so one section at a time on that.”
“We’re rehabbing top to bottom,” Theo put in. “Or right now, middle to top.”
“I’ll give you an hour or two when I’ve got it. Same rate I get from the Coopers, and I’m worth it. I got a nephew at loose ends when you need a laborer. He’s not lazy, and he’ll cart and carry, and do what he’s told. You don’t want to set Robo off on his own. He’s mostly willing, but he’s only half-able.”
“Robo?”
“His sister couldn’t sayRobertback when, andRobostuck. Gimme your phone. I’ll put his number in. You call him or don’t, up to you.”
“Okay, thanks.” Nash handed it over. “Why don’t you put yours in there, too?”
“All right. A couple hours here and there, and that’s if the boss doesn’t need me. Otherwise, I’m your job boss on ATR jobs unless Dean’s on that.”
“No problem at all.” Nash took back his phone.
She gave them both another measuring look. “How come you left New York City? Women trouble, trouble with the law?”
“No.”
“Actually, I guess you could say I had some trouble with the law.” Theo lifted his shoulders. “I got to be a lawyer and decided I didn’t want to be one. At least not there.”
“A lawyer? How old are you?”
“Ah, twenty-eight.”
“And you’re a lawyer.”
“Today, I’m mostly a painter. Next week I’ll be a licensed contractor.”
“You know the thing about people? They never make any damn sense. Make sure everything gets put back as it was,” she told them as she headed for the door. “Elsie’ll come in, hang the art and such, fluff it all up.
“They’ve got a family booked in here over the weekend.”
“We’ll get it done,” Nash told her.
“I really like your hair,” Theo added.