Page 10 of Blood & Snow
The smell fills the apartmentimmediately.
She kneels beside the largest blood pool and begins scrubbing with long, even strokes.
"Tell me about yourself, Nadya."
I settle into a chair near the window where I can monitor both her work and the street below at the same time.
"Do you live alone?"
I don't need to know these details except for when it comes time for her to vanish.
Then I will need to know who is out there who could potentially miss her.
"No."
She doesn't elaborate, focusing on the stains beneath her brush.
"Family?"
"My sister. Her children."
"Anyone who might come looking if you don't return home tonight?"
The question makes her pause in her scrubbing.
She looks up at me sideways and glares out the corner of her eye.
She understands that I'm assessing her worth to others in society.
Smart girl.
I'll remember that too.
"My sister expects me to call when my interview ends," she says carefully.
"Then you'll call her and explain that the position requires overnight training. Tell her you'll be home tomorrow morning with good news about steady employment."
Nadya nods and returns to her work.
The blood comes up slowly, requiring multiple applications of bleach and considerable scrubbing to remove completely.
She approaches the task with more competence than I expected from someone who answered a vague classified advertisement.
I thought I'd have to spill more blood tonight, but it appears she may be competent after all.
"What did you do before answering my employment offer?" I ask.
"Various jobs. Waitressing, retail, temporary office work."
She moves to a fresh section of floor and begins scrubbing again.
"Nothing permanent."
"Education?"
"Some university. I didn't finish."
"What field of study?"
