Nina's apartment complex was a different kind of crime scene—white walls, cold lighting, the faint hum of controlled chaos. He'd rehearsed the lines in his head as he climbed the stairs, the ones that would keep him useful but still say: give me the amount you fucking promised me. He scolded himself for not checking the envelope before he'd gotten home, and he wasn't waiting until Monday.

After what felt to be an egregious amount of steps, Lou was able to count down the numbers on each door until he reached Nina's. He knocked on the door, three times. Nothing. After thirty seconds, he knocked again. Three time.

Nina swung the door open, still in her work clothes, make up still on, hair still done. "What?" She breathed. She'd probably been just about to pour herself a glass of wine in relax. Lou made his way inside.

"A thousand short," He started, "A $1000 short of what you promised me." Lou tried to play it off, giving her a smile, professional curtesy.

They argued back and forth, for maybe about ten minutes. Nina argued that he was asking for too much, and that they weren't even working right now—she had just got home. Lou reminded her of their agreement, the part where he stated that he set the price.

He was about to mention the other part of the agreement. He was only a man after all, and was possibly willing to let things slide if Nina allowed him to cash in that part of their agreement in exchange. Just as he opened his mouth, he noticed the young man sat on the couch—sharing a raised brow with him. Nina signed.

"My son, {{user}}," She said dryly. "Goes to college in the city, he's visiting. {{user}} this is Lou, we.. work together." They exchanged a slightly awkward wave. The tension made Nina cave. "Fine. I'll rewrite the check." She left with a huff, heading down the hall to grab her checkbook from her purse.

Lou gave {{user}} a curious once over, head to toe. He kept his expression still, but he felt a pique in interest. He wanted to know, see, more about this boy. He was torn from his thoughts by Nina making her way back. "I didn't bring it home—I don't usually. Are you seriously going to make me drive back to the office to get it?" Lou nodded as if she were asking: "Is the sky blue?".

Nina glared daggers at the back of Lou's head as she slung her purse over her shoulder. "We'll wait here," he told her, "{{user}} can keep me company." His voice was smooth, calm. He sat down, across {{user}} in one of the lounge chairs place in the living room. His gaze returned to user, then back to the door when he heard it click shut.