I found the ad while half asleep hunched over a greasy diner booth, stealing Wi-Fi

from the subway next door. I've been scrolling through Craigslist for hours, past the usual

flood of, make $500 a day from home scams, and I need a strong man to lift my mattress posts.

That night my bank account was sitting at $32 and 11 cents. Rent was due in four days.

The ad was buried between someone offering tower readings and another listing that just said

free dirt.

Caretaker needed, 72 hours only, no experience necessary, $5,000 flat.

No fluff, just that single line followed by,

patient must not fall asleep under any circumstances, all equipment provided.

Do not contact us after the job ends.

I read it three times.

I even closed the tab and reopened it, expecting it to vanish or change into something ordinary.

But it stayed exactly the same.

There was an email address, nothing more.

I clicked reply and sent a message with one line.

I'm interested.

The man told me to meet him at a small cafe off a quiet corner of town.

It was one of those places with mismatched mugs, hand-painted tables, and coffee that

tasted burnt no matter what blend you ordered.

He sat at the far end near the window, a black notebook in front of him, and a cup of tea

that had already gone cold.

He stood up when I approached and shook my hand.

...