Lauren thought he looked like some kind of football player with his thick neck. But she knew he wasn’t. He was something else entirely. Though she didn’t know what.
“This is Joseph Burke,” her father said.
“And a fine figure of American manhood he is,” Lauren said.
Burke said, “How do you do.”
“And what do you do, Mr. Burke?”
Burke smiled and nodded at her father.
“Ask him,” Burke said.
Lauren looked at her father.
“I’ve asked Mr. Burke to look out for you during this nasty business with Louis.”
“Look out for me?”
“Look out for your safety,” Roach said.
She stared at her father.
“You’ve hired a fucking bodyguard?” she said.
“Watch your mouth,” Roach said, “when you speak to me.”
Lauren looked at Burke.
“You mean this... I’m expected to let this, this unwashed thug along everywhere I go?”
“I washed this morning,” Burke said.
“I do mean that,” Roach said.
“And if I say no?”
“As long as you live here and spend my money you’ll do as I say.”
Lauren took a cigarette out of a box on the coffee table behind her. She put it in her mouth and looked at Burke. Burke didn’t move.
“Do you have a match?” Lauren said.
Burke took a packet of matches from his shirt pocket and offered them to Lauren. She stared at him for a moment and then took the matches peevishly and lit her own cigarette. When she had finished she dropped the matchbook on the coffee table.
“How do you feel about this?” Lauren said to Burke.
Burke picked the matches up and put them in his pocket.
“Fine with me,” Burke said.
“You’re prepared to spend every day with me even though I can’t stand your presence?”
“I am,” Burke said.
“Doesn’t that bother you?”
“Not enough,” Burke said.
“What would bother you enough?”
Burke almost smiled.
“If you paid me more than your father.”
“Oh God,” she said. “Another flunky. My father buys them by the carton.”
She set her cigarette into a big abalone shell ashtray and let it burn.
“Mr. Burke will be here at nine in the morning,” Roach said, “to take you where you want to go.”
Lauren looked Burke up and down slowly.
“At least,” she said, “get rid of that suit.”
She turned and walked from the room.