Chapter 8: When All Else Succeeds

Walking uptown in Manhattan's nightlife was a weird change of pace for me.  The upper east side was essentially reserved for the higher echelon.  Doormen, clean streets, medians lined with tulips, they just knew how to take care of their surroundings up there.  Even on my most well dressed day I would still look like someone running an errand here.

Now, walking weird from the sand in my shoes, wearing a pinstripe fedora, and smelling from some dried herbs on my shirt, I was sure I was sticking out like a sore thumb.  But as self-conscious as I was, no one seemed to pay me any heed.  They ignored me, flat out.  Good for them, I thought bitterly, I'd ignore me too if I could.  

It suited me fine, I guess, til I reached the address Pendragon gave me.  The doorman just stood there pretending I didn't exist.

Pendragon told me not to speak, so I just rolled my eyes and opened the door.  Immediately he startled to life with, 'I'm sorry, sir!' and grabbed the handle from me to pull it open as I walked through.  

I gave him one of my weirded out looks and walked towards the resident door.  

How was I supposed to get in?  Pendragon never told me what I was supposed to do about doors, only people.  But here I am at a door that was most likely locked, separating me from the elevator and, presumably, another locked front door.

I felt like an idiot, which I hated.  But I was certain that returning to Pendragon would only get me slapped or insulted given his state recently.  I could just envision him now saying, 'You should have tried the door.'

So I did, I reached down and pulled it open without an issue.  My head jerked back with surprise.  Maybe someone left it open, I considered, and I entered the room with the elevator.  

Twenty-third floor.  I stepped out into the carpeted hallway which was vacant and dimly lit.  I was glad I wouldn't have to use the excuses I came up with in the elevator as to why I was here, if confronted by a curious resident.

Twenty Three C.  Twenty Three D. Twenty Three E.  There it is.  Without hesitation I turned the knob and marveled at the door for opening without an issue.  Both doors could not have been left unlocked.  This was something Pendragon did.  

I slipped in through a narrow opening and turned to close the door gently.  

Relief, but of a strange sort.  Relief at making it into a room where a dead body would be waiting for me.

That's when I heard the gun cocking behind me, and felt the barrel pressed against my the back of my head.  'Who might you be?' asked a gruff, cruel sounding voice.

I didn't turn around, I didn't respond.  I just put my hands up and stood facing the closed door for what felt like an eternity.