I was surprised when I saw the woman sitting on the edge of a small love seat. I startled her so that she leaped to her feet with a soft squeak until she saw that it was me and not Bernard.

I had expected a pretty, young woman that Bernard favored sexually or perhaps one who was a good moneymaker out on the streets. Instead, I saw an elderly woman who was probably much older than she looked—and she looked pretty damn old.

But she was spry and moved with the speed of ...