A Charmed City (Worlds Beside, #1) by Cammon J E

Author:Cammon, J E
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: J E Cammon
Published: 2023-12-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fourteen

“Mrs. Glickman, how are you today?”

David had entered phase two, which was not to be confused with the point of safe return. He had passed that just outside of the apartment building in Victoria’s car—Vic’s car. David told her he didn’t believe in vocal agreements and even though she backed him directly into one, he felt better about a hand shake, which allowed him to get a bit more control over the exact nature of their tentative partnership. She would help him in any legal manner to reacquire his lifestyle, such as it was, and he would help her case by giving her information and being a willing witness. The best he could do was to keep vague about the amount of help he needed to provide, and under what circumstances he was required to help.

After that, it was just a matter of getting everyone else to play along. Mrs. Glickman, the building super and unofficial president of the renter’s association, was the person who could give him another apartment to live in, namely to show his father when he arrived. David didn’t know how much time he had, but was praying to the gods of airport red tape and flight delay. The round, squat woman peered at him. She was one of the only adults he’d encountered on the mainland that he was head and shoulders taller than.

“You,” she stammered. “The police were looking for you.” Which was to say that he was a criminal.

David nodded and smiled. “Actually, that’s why I had one of the detectives from the department escort me here, so there wouldn’t be any confusion.” He turned slightly so she could see Victoria, who played her part well, even stepping forward to shake Mrs. Glickman’s hand and provide a slow flash of her badge.

“Mrs. Glickman, I think you and I have spoken before. Do you remember me?”

That provided the almost-instant agreement and assistance David was hoping for. Mrs. Glickman went from hostile to indifferent and he stepped directly into the task of expediting the processing of his new apartment. He played the card of his very old father coming to visit, which was true. He had a ballpark idea of how old the man was, but nothing in writing. Mrs. Glickman played the card of processing fees and housing agreement, to which David countered with next month’s rent up front.

He could feel Victoria’s eyes on him during the entire exchange, but he had to cross the bridges as they came. Mrs. Glickman made him wait a handful of minutes, then produced the new lease, which he signed.

“You normally carry around that much cash on you?” The elevator ride up was less silent than David hoped it would be.

“I emptied my savings,” he replied, which seemed plausible enough. He opened his mouth and then closed it; that was enough, let her stew on that. David thought he could see the wheels working in her reflection.

Victoria followed him down the hallway to his old apartment door. David thought briefly about everything that happened since she was there last.

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