Emma frowned. What kind of confidential things might she witness? “I’m almost afraid to ask...”

 “Inside of two months, you won’t have to ask, but I’ll save you some time. Obviously, you’re not going to be picking through drawers or closets, reading correspondence, diaries, or studying papers on desks. We don’t look at personal papers or property, we dust it.

 “But you’re going to see things. Mrs. X, the cheapest client we have, one who has never tipped or given a holiday bonus, has a checkbook balance of one-point-five-million and a monthly credit card bill over twenty-five thousand dollars. She leaves these papers in plain sight, very hard to miss. Mr. and Mrs. Y carelessly leave out objects of intimate pleasure.” To Emma’s expression of consternation, Makenna said, “Sex toys, Emma.”

 “Ew,” Emma said.

 “Gloves,” Makenna said. “And Mr. Z is knocking the shit out of Mrs. Z. She thinks no one knows.”

 “Oh, my God! And you don’t do anything?”

 Makenna glanced down at the pages of the employee manual. “Mrs. Z said someone made an anonymous call to the police department and they were visited by someone from the domestic violence unit, but I’m sure I wouldn’t know anything about that.”

 “So—we don’t get involved, even if someone’s health and safety is at risk?”

 “That would be one of those issues you’re going to want to take to Nick and Riley. Very important that you do so, Emma. If a member of the household we service is at risk, we’re at risk. If you have reason to believe someone is breaking the law, it’s important you tell your supervisor. There are examples of difficult situations in this manual. The book was compiled by Riley over years. When a new situation arises it is not only added to the handbook, a confidential memo is also sent to team leaders so they can advise their crews.” Makenna peered at Emma. “Are you going to be able to ignore the obvious? Look the other way?”

 Emma almost laughed. “Oh, you have no idea,” she said. “It’s a skill of mine.”

 Makenna cleared her throat. “Now, let’s go over some important issues—cleaning supplies, techniques, basic chemistry so you don’t mix bleach and toilet bowl cleaner and end up a 911 call...”

 The lecture was intense and fast-paced. Makenna put all of her supplies out on the table with corresponding color photos and explained how each cleaning implement was to be used and which cleaning chemicals were provided.

 “I don’t expect you to remember all of this, Emma. You’re going to be trained on the job this week—I’ll be watching you and helping you. To that end, I’m taking you to some of our more challenging homes. You’ll have to learn to do it well, fast, not be distracted by your chatty home owner, cooperate with your team and employ all the smart moves—safety first. Don’t lift anything over forty pounds, use your legs, not your back. We have knee pads in the van if you want them, as well as smocks and aprons, and do protect your uniform as much as possible. You’re bound to get dirty, but avoid bleach marks or grease stains if you can.” Then the little pixie smiled and said, “Ready?”

 “Oh, God,” Emma said.

 “Good! Help me put this stuff away.”

 And with that they gathered up all of Makenna’s training aides and headed out of the office, getting in the van. Two other team members—Shawna and Dellie, short for Delilah—were already there and ready to roll. Shawna held a clipboard.

 “Okay, first house I have linens and dusting, Dellie has the kitchen and hardwood floors, the newbie Emma is passing the vacuum—do not forget the stairs! Do not slam the vacuum into walls or furniture! And it is with vengeful pleasure I give the bathrooms to Makenna.”

 “You don’t scare me,” Makenna said.

 “You scare me,” Emma said.

 “Make nice tracks with that machine, Emma,” Shawna said. “The clients like the tracks. The little things keep us popular.”

 “Is dusting the primo job?” Emma asked.

 They all laughed. “It’s the least difficult,” Makenna said. “But there are blinds, high shelves, ceiling fans, plants, light fixtures, wooden furniture, books—it’s endless. It’s hard to be fast and keep breakage down. It takes practice. The vacuum is hard but safe.”

 “And the bathrooms are the worst job?”

 “Sometimes, depending on the client,” Shawna said. “Some of them aren’t, how should we say it...?”

 “Clean,” Makenna supplied.

 “Kitchens are hard. You never know what’s happened in the kitchen this week. It could’ve been a big dinner out or a takeout week or there could have been a lot of cooking. Greasy, splattering, nasty cooking. People with regular cleaning service get a little lazy about a thorough cleaning after cooking. They never oil their cabinets or wash the floors. I hate cleaning kitchens,” Shawna said.

 Then it seemed like in minutes they were there.

 “Let’s do it,” Makenna said. And they hit the ground running.

 * * *

 Emma was home in her little house at six. She walked in and collapsed on the sofa. It wasn’t until she was in that position that she realized she still wore her knee pads—the last house of the day, she got the bathrooms. Six of them. Every one had been thoroughly used. If possible, the sinks were the worst she’d ever seen. The family must have been the hairiest family on the planet. They were obviously descended from the Yeti. The toilets... She couldn’t think about them.

 When she got some energy, she would call Adam. He had texted sometime after three that he couldn’t wait to hear about her day. There hadn’t been a moment yet. She went from the cleaning company’s van directly to her car and straight home. Her carry pouch was empty of drinks and snacks, she was famished and she was sure there wasn’t anything left in the house from her weekend with the bottomless pit, Adam. He’d bought plenty of food to sustain them during their “honeymoon” and he’d eaten all of it.