"Tomorrow morning, ten o'clock sharp. I've already set it up." 

Emily was tying the apron at her back as she answered, then looped a stethoscope over her neck. In an instant that no one could really detect, Emily slipped from hard line business woman to gentle, easy going nurse. She began by listening to his heart and lungs, then started up conversation again as she continued the exam. 

"The hotel basically runs itself. It's the rest of Union Avenue that requires the most attention. Right now, you could say the bases are loaded."

Her hands skilfully moved over his neck and shoulders. 

"I've got a new business initiative rolling out in a few days that is meant to bring all the connected businesses of Chicago together for mutual benefit. We are working closely with Don Posner uptown. It's a good plan, but it will need careful shepherding. So that's the first base. Sitting on second base is a possible casino deal with a man named Charlie Pavanno. I love the guy, and I like his plan, but I'm a bit wary of the other interested parties. Namely, Russian warlords and Mexican drug cartels."

Taking a small pen light from her pocket, she looked into his eyes, nose, and mouth as she went on. 

​​​​​​"And, finally, a new situation that surfaced last night during the Teamsters gala we hosted. We managed to head off an attempted disruption during the event. Raine was able to extract some information from them before they were excused. They were sent by a guy named Miguel Angel who appears to be offended by my newly established friendship with the Teamsters. Raine says he's small-time, but it looks like he's trying to make a showing. I think we'll have more information on him in the morning, but the whole situation has me a bit frustrated. That's what I was brooding about at the ballgame before you showed up."

She put her instruments away and took a pen to make notes on a legal pad. Back to nurse mode. 

​​​​​​"Have you had the usual vaccinations from childhood? I remember you mentioning something about an orphanage, so I don't know what the health care was like. Have you ever had measles or chicken pox?" 

John nodded as Emily told him about his meeting with O'Fallon. He wasn't surprised that it was set up so soon, although the fact that he didn't need to approve of a new hire certainly said something about the power structure here. The way Emily casually mentioned unifying businesses, casinos, Russians, and Mexicans was a stark reminder to John to remember to never underestimate her, regardless of how easy she was on the eyes.

"Well, sounds you've got a lot of balls in the air. I'm ready to serve however I can."

He took a deep breath, allowing himself to relax more than he had thusfar.

"I can't point you to any particular medical records, but I remember getting jabbed with a bunch of needles at the orphanage by a nurse that they brought in. It'd look bad for them if the dozens of us all got wiped out by disease, so I assume I have everything I needed. More recently, I had whatever the Army did to me when I joined up. And I think I had both those things as a kid? Hard to know sometimes, though, since there's no one to really ask about it."

"Ah, that's right, I didn't think about the Army. Hell, you probably have more inoculations than I do. We'll call that good enough."

Emily quickly noted a few things, then put away the pad and pen and rested her hands on her hips. 

"Well, Mr. Keats, I think you're the healthiest man on my detail. Let's try to keep you that way, hmm?" 

She winked and handed him his shirt. 

"I suppose that just leaves us to check out your new apartment. Just let me get this place closed up."

Again, she stepped behind the privacy screen to change out of her apron, only this time, she caught herself glancing between the fabric as he slipped back into his shirt. 

​​​​​​"Now don't you start that, Renfroe" she silently scolded herself, shoving her arms back into her jacket. 

"I've thrown a lot of information at you, I know. Do you have any questions for me?" 

John buttoned his shirt quickly, leaving it untucked as he shrugged his jacket back on.

"How'd you get into the life? If I hadn't known about you before hand, I never would have pegged you as someone running an operation like this. And I mean that as a compliment, of course."

"It was kind of an accident, I suppose, but it was money that led me to it."

Stepping back out from behind the screen, Emily tugged the cuffs of her blouse so the just peeked out from the sleeves of her jacket. Normally, she didn't talk much about her past, but in this particular case, there was a good reason to make an exception. 

Perching back against the desk, she let her hands rest on her lap. 

"I got put in an orphanage, too. I was 12 when my mom died. My father had long since disappeared. I had no other family, so I ended up in a children's home in Las Vegas. It was an awful place, and from day one I knew I had to work my way out of there. I kept to myself, kept my nose in my books, and volunteered at the local hospital. By the time I finished high school, I already had a scholarship to nursing school, but I still had to find a way to support myself. Ended up finding work as an escort for a really high-end Vegas agency. Not only did it pay my way through nursing school, but I managed to bank a healthy little fortune for myself. While I was working, I met a lot of 'mob' types. They would pay me extra to pass along information for them. I amassed a lot of knowledge and figured out how to leverage that for my own gain."

Flashes of old memories played through her mind like a movie she'd seen far too many times. 

​​​​​​"Info brokerage made me a lot of money, but it nearly got me killed, too. Got mixed up with a dirty FBI agent who I knew more about than I should, and had to go under cover. I spent a little more than a year posing as a nun, working in hospitals or churches to hide. In Detroit, I took a job at a homeless shelter as a staff nurse. Turns out the place was owned by a crew leader in the Detroit families. Through him, I met others; connected people who ended up being like family to me."

Feeling that she was getting long winded, Emily shrugged off the rest of the details for now. 

​​​​​​"They did a lot for me. Most all of them are dead now, and the best way I can think of to honor their memories is to try and v continue their work in my own way."

She glanced at John for the first time since she started her story and gave him a sheepish smile. 

​​​​​​"I hope I didn't bore you to death."

John listened attentively, nodding at certain parts to affirm his understanding.

"Sounds like you worked your way up from the bottom. Admirable. I'm sure the escort stuff paid well, especially if you kept the nurse's outfit."

He chuckled, continuing to listen, but looked at her more seriously when she was finished.

"With your training, your education, you could easily make an honest living, either in nursing or in business. Why stick in the underworld, if you don't mind me asking? Why not go straight?"

Emily considered his question thoughtfully for a few moments before answering.

"There are just some things that change you. Things you see, things you've done- they stick with you like a shadow. I don't think I'd fit civilian life very well. I know too much. There are still people in almost every state that pray I'll keep my mouth shut, and as long as I have that sway over them, my life remains relatively close to the way I like it."

She cut her eyes to the right, somewhat slyly.

"It sounds awfully selfish of me, but I guess I'm just a girl who knows what she wants and how to get it."

Standing up again, she nodded toward the door.

"It's getting late, I'm sure you'll want to settle in, or get your things. I'll show you to your apartment."

Back up the elevator, they made a quick stop at the lobby where Emily collected a set of keys from a lockbox behind the front desk. Once they were on the elevator again, heading up the West Tower, she handed him the key ring.

"There are two keys to your apartment, one to mine, and one to the Facilities office. The brass key is a master key for the Union Avenue Construction office building, which we'll visit tomorrow. The largest key is for the Citroen, and the one with the funny etching on it goes to the Packard. I usually use the Citroen when I am out. Danny will be driving most often, but you and Raine have keys if needed. The Packard is a coupe, so it's there if you need to get off on your own at any time."

By the time she finished explaining all the keys, the elevator had come to a stop. The doors opened to a small, marble-floored lobby. The walls were off-white with ornate crown molding and a few painted portraits. A round, highly polished oak table sat in the middle of the lobby with a spray of fresh flowers in a vase. Each side of the lobby had a set of double doors, with a brass plate that simply displayed "1" or "2." There was one other door at the far end, opposite the elevator, that led to the emergency stairway.

Emily smiled and gestured toward the apartment door with the "2" on it.

"Welcome home."

There are just some things that change you. Things you see, things you've done- they stick with you like a shadow.

John nodded grimly, understanding as Emily spoke. He was quieter on the way to the West Tower, seemingly deep in thought, although he still asked a series of questions about the layout of the building. As he moved through the lobby toward his new place, John didn't even bother trying to hide his supplies.

How was it possible to drop this much money on someone you'd just met? The operation in Chicago must be even bigger than he'd heard. After processing for a bit, John flashed Emily a wide grin.

"It's perfect- thank you. I'll work hard to earn this. Just say the word and I'll be ready."

Emily smiled. The look on his face was not unfamiliar to her. She stayed a step or two behind him as he unlocked the door and walked inside.

"I have made several wise investments along the way, and they paid me back tenfold. Just like I try to invest in smart deals, I invest in smart people. My employees work hard for me because I invest in them. Nicole, down in the lobby, is working her way through business school. The hotel pays her tuition. She's the most popular staff member among the guests. That's just how I operate. None of this is possible without my people."

She stayed back, leaning on the doorframe and watching him for a moment with a little grin. 

​​​​​​"I should let you get to it. Remember the car is there if you need it. I'm usually ready to work at 7, so I'll see you upstairs around then. Oh, and if you need anything at all, dial 02 on the telephone and you'll get the concierge."

Just before she turned, she added

​​​​​​"I'm glad to have met you, John. Thank you for taking a chance with me."

​​​​​​