How to Start a Fire by Lisa Lutz

Author:Lisa Lutz [Lutz, Lisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Literary, Retail
ISBN: 9780544409644
Google: lYudBAAAQBAJ
Barnesnoble:
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Published: 2015-05-01T04:00:00+00:00

PART II

People don’t realize that the future is just now, but later.

—Russell Brand

2005

Denver, Colorado

“Checkout time is 11:00 a.m. Eighty-five plus tax a night and I’ll need a credit card and a photo ID,” Hank said. At least, Hank was the name embroidered on his bowling shirt.

“Can I pay cash?”

“A grown woman should have a credit card,” Hank said.

“I have a credit card. I just don’t want to use it,” she said. “My business partner gets the bills and we’re having some financial conflicts as of late.”

“We need a credit card on file in case there’s any damage to the room or you refuse to vacate.”

“I won’t do either of those things.”

“Company policy,” Hank said.

“Are you the proprietor, Mr. . . . Hank?”

“Hank Weathers. Yes. I am the . . . proprietor,” Hank said, sounding out the last word. It had a nice ring to it. He’d use it more often.

“So, you make the policy?” Kate asked.

“Miss—I didn’t get your name.”

“Sarah. Sarah Lake.” She said the name out of habit, immediately realizing it was a mistake. If she couldn’t convince Hank to depart from policy, she’d have a hard time explaining why her credit card said Kate Smirnoff.

“That’s a pretty name.”

“Thank you.”

“Miss Lake, I’ve been burned a few too many times. Now, you look honest, but it’s always the honest-looking ones, so you’ve already got one strike against you.”

“What if I left a deposit of five hundred dollars? You could inspect the room when I check out.”

“Five hundred, you say?”

She pulled several bills from her stuffed wallet.

“A girl shouldn’t be carrying all that cash around.”

“Just a minute ago I was a grown woman.”

“Be careful, ’s all I’m saying.”

“Do we have a deal?”

She placed the cash on the counter, right next to the bell. Hank picked up the bills, folded them in half, and put them in his pocket.

“How long will you be staying?”

“Two nights. I’ll let you know tomorrow if my plans change.”

“What is the nature of your visit, business or pleasure?”

“Business,” she said.

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