A Trashy Affair Read Online Free PDF Page A

about to devour a Christian in the arena and charged her way. The vultures ran awkwardly along the ground and took off for a safer realm. In a cloud of dust, the big rig came to a stop beside her hybrid, and out of that dust climbed Merlin Tauzin.
    “Sure you don’t want any help with that?” he said.
    “I will admit when I’m wrong. Yes, I would appreciate your help.” Better than relying on the kindness of strangers, she supposed.
    With one good heave, Merlin uncorked the can from the hatchback and tossed it into the back of his Ford F-150 Platinum with its tinted windows and custom paint job. “Big Blue and me will take this home for you.”
    “You named your truck?”
    “Yep.”
    “Shouldn’t it be called something more dynamic like Blue Lightning?”
    “Big Blue is strong and tough but not especially fast. You’d name a stockcar Blue Lightning.”
    “I see. Well, thanks. I’m late for work. I owe you another po-boy.”
    “Nope. You owe me a whole dinner. A big-ass truck guzzles a whole lot of gas, you know. It’s a long drive out here.” A smile tugged at his lips but failed to escape.
    “I can accept that. We’ll discuss the details later. I have to run.”
    “Seems you’re always running, Jane.”
    “If you knew Nadia Nixon, you’d understand.”
    “Can’t say that I do. Go on wit’ you, but don’t go over fifty. I wouldn’t want you to ruin your ecology rating.” Again, one of those suppressed smiles.
    “I won’t. Thanks for coming to the rescue.”
    “Anytime.” He waved her off with one big paw.
    Jane pulled out raising her own dust, but it hardly amounted to anything.
    ****
    Sweating like a marathon runner on a hundred degree day and fifteen minutes late, Jane clocked in under the scrutiny of Nadia Nixon. She swore the woman never ate lunch, just plugged herself into a wall socket and recharged.
    “Another fifteen minutes late, Marshall. I expect you to stay until five and don’t care if you have Friday night plans, a heavy date, or dinner with your grandma scheduled.” Nadia in her perfectly pressed, prison warden gray suit wrinkled her broad nose. “You stink. I’m writing you up for improper hygiene. I might also mention inappropriate attire. A person can see right through that blouse.”
    Jane hunched her shoulders. People were unsure about Nadia’s sexual orientation, and she certainly didn’t want to allow the woman any extra thrills. “Give me a break! I spent my lunch hour at the parish barn trying to get a trashcan. Look, I’ll just put my jacket on again and stay in my office the rest of the afternoon so I don’t offend, okay?”
    The padding in her suit coat barely moved as Nadia shrugged. “You wrote the garbage contract, so don’t expect me to feel sorry for you. I’ll be watching to make sure you don’t move out of that room. Now get to work.”
    “I advised against accepting the low bid, and I don’t want your pity!”
    Jane went to her glass-walled office and sifted through her messages. Most were complaints about the trash hauling service. She passed them along to Ethel at B.O., getting a noncommittal uh-huh from the woman. The rest of the afternoon, she worked on the Super Fund proposal forms, even skipping her break and denying her need to pee. Fortunately, that foray to the dump had dehydrated her a little.
    She stayed put when everyone else went home at four-thirty. She remained where she was past five when the cleaning crew arrived to do the office. At five-fifteen, Jane sauntered over to the time clock where Nadia lurked and inserted her card with a sharp ping. As she withdrew it, the president’s assistant snatched it from her hand and made a notation on the side.
    “No unauthorized overtime! Don’t begin to think we’ll pay you for those extra fifteen minutes.”
    “I would never expect that. Nor to be paid for all the evening meetings I attend or charity events I go to in the name of the parish. Have a nice weekend, Nadia.”
    Thinking