"So, you didn't get any money and I did. You're welcome to half of whatever I have."
"Alex that's your retirement. I couldn't take half."
"You're right. I invested it all. I can't touch the principal. What I get is a monthly check from the interest. It's not much, but enough to get by and some. You can stay with me or if you'd rather I'd send it to wherever it is you go."
"Thanks," Mercedes said her eyes bright with tears. "I guess I'll stay here with you, if you'll have me. I mean, we are partners after all, aren't we?"
"Sure, we are. And when I die– "
"If."
"It all of it goes to you, insurance money too."
"You're so sweet," Mercedes said, giving Alex a big hug.
"You know I've been thinking about this whole thing a lot"
"And?"
"You know maybe God was trying to teach us something here, to make us stronger, you know better."
"Sure, you got you some money."
"Not money. Something more lasting, deeper."
"About what?"
"About the price of greed, the wages of sin, about losing – and learning to cherish what it is that you got."
"Give me a break. Next thing you'll be telling me is there's no place like home."
"I'm serious here."
"So am I. I was miserable and alone when you found me on that park bench. I'm the same now, only now I'm a C cup. I'm the same loser I always was. It what way are you better?"
"I don't know. But in some ways my life is better, much better."
"I don't see how. You're stuck with me."
"Whatever."
"I'll need a new name. I'm certainly not Mercedes anymore."
"I guess you can be anyone you want now."
"How about Brandy?"
"My favorite."
YOU ARE READING
Easy Money
Mystery / ThrillerYou know what? Life is queer. After Kyle's girlfriend kicked him out, he's working the streets of West Los Angeles as a Gay-for-Pay. Kyle's got by. Barely. One day Kyle wakes up from his park bench to hear Private Dick Don Flynn say, "How'd you lik...
