"The warehouse?" she asked, noticing the way he favored his left side as he walked in. "How’d you know?"

"Everyone from Craigslist is either a tourist who got sunburned or a local who lifts heavy things for a living," she said, gesturing to the table.

As she finished, the constant throb in his spine had subsided into a dull, manageable hum. He paid her, adding a tip that stretched his remaining weekly budget.

He walked out into the Pompano night, the humidity no longer feeling like a weight, but just a warm blanket as he headed home.

Elias stretched, feeling his ribs expand fully for the first time in days. "On Craigslist, you usually expect a horror story," he admitted, heading for the door.

"See you next payday?" Elena asked, wiping down her equipment.