by Matt Lincoln
“Not a problem. I need to get up, anyway.” Doc rubbed his eyes and craned his neck to work it out. “Anyone going with you?”
“Not yet. But you might want to have your stuff packed and ready. This whole thing is so that we can get out of here and set up on our own.” I motioned with my head back into his room. “I’ll catch you later.” I turned to go but forgot something. I quickly turned before he closed the door on me. “Oh, hey. If you see Rosa and Xavier, let them know, too. I’d like all of us to be in one place by tonight if I can manage it.”
“Will do.” Doc nodded and closed the door.
I wasn’t about to borrow another one of George’s vehicles, so I exited through the garage and up to the street on foot. I found a local cab company listed on my phone and called it to the nearest corner I found. I would need a vehicle of my own today, too.
The cab ride to Biscayne Bay gave me enough time to check my phone and to call up Eve. It went straight to voicemail, so I told her that I’d come around to see her sometime today. This was another good reason to get a car or something. I’d need to have access to her and she to me when she got released from the hospital.
The condominiums stood about forty floors tall and were not either the shortest or the tallest buildings within eyesight. I’d picked this building because of the perfect view of a private dock that offered maximum security and seclusion. I had a good place to stash Wraith nearby if I ever needed to.
I’d brought her in overnight more than once just for the added safety measures. It was my intention to do that again once the team and I settled upstairs. I wanted to be running our whole operation out of this place by the end of the week.
I called on Mrs. Atencio as the cab pulled up to my building, but found her waiting for me at her own door with my keys. She hadn’t changed too much since the last time that we’d met. Her hair was still in a short style with dark and gray all mingled together. She wore a pair of glasses low on her nose, probably for reading. She was a petite lady with hands that always seemed to be moving. She had a tee-shirt with a kitten saying something in Spanish on it, but I didn’t want to stare.
She smiled warmly and even hugged me as we hadn’t seen each other in a while. “You look so strong, Mr. Header! But what happened to your face?”
“I said the wrong thing to the wrong guy last night,” I lied. “Just me being stupid.”
“You’re too old to be getting into fights, Mr. Header. You should know better!” She was joking, of course. She may not have known exactly what I did for a living, but she’d picked up enough to know that I could take care of myself.
The lobby of the building had been completely redone since the last time I was here. It was a large, open area with bedded trees, shrubs, and other plants placed strategically and beautifully. The tiles were painted terracotta, and the flowerbeds were native coquina, which struck a nice balance of color and contrast. The coquina shell stone was secured and reinforced with light brass fixtures and smooth chalk caulk.
There were mission style benches in plain, untinted Magnolia wood that matched up with the coquina rock. The benches looked to be more for show by the delicate look of them. The same wood was used for the cabinets under the line of mailboxes and storage space. Not the most sturdy wood, but it was more about Florida Style than anything else.
I could hear water running, and as we walked through, I found a small indoor fish pond and fountain where the mini-gazebo used to be. It also had the grayish-white coquina stone, brass, and chalk caulk. It was all very color-coordinated, but I thought it made the area more cohesive and relaxingly plain. That wasn’t a bad thing.
There was koi in the fountain pond and a small, intricately stenciled sign that read, “Please do not throw coins into the fountain. The fish have a gambling problem.” I chuckled to myself as we walked past it.
The walk to the elevator was sure to draw people's attention and set the mood for the rest of the common areas of the building. I found the big, square mechanical housing tiled with more terracotta and brass fixtures. When the doors opened, I saw that it had been redone in magnolia wood panels and soft lighting running along the corners and seams of the carriage. It made the area bright, and it felt like it was bigger than it actually was. I liked the remodel more than I thought I would when I first walked into the building.
“So, how have things been for you?” I asked. “How’s your family?” I knew her family well after all this time. These were good people.
“Oh, Mario retired this spring, and he’s driving me crazy.” That was her husband. He’d been in construction and was an architect, if I remembered correctly. “Apolonia had a baby girl and got married to some bus driver.” Ms. Atencio had tried to set me up with her daughter a few years back, but it didn’t work out. “And Geno is off at school. He’s doing something with computers. I don’t understand it all, but he’s happy.” Her son was a good kid, but not all that friendly, and kept to himself a lot.
“That’s good to hear. And you? How have you been?” I looked down at her with a smile of interest. It was good to see and talk to a friendly face again.
“I am wonderful! I get to babysit my grandbaby and watch Mario sleep on the couch. It’s a good life.” Ms. Atencio was one of the most upbeat and positive souls in the universe. She had to be. I was glad to know that she existed.
We reached the floor of my condo, and she handed me my keys. “I forgot! Here, you don’t need me to open the door for you.”
I took them and unlocked it. The air inside was stale, but it had been cooped up and closed for so long. The plastic tarps that I’d used to cover the furniture were all still in place. I walked in and took a moment to accept it. “Thank you again, Mrs. Atencio. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“Live in another place, I would think.” She chuckled to herself. “I’ll be home if you need anything. It’s good to see you again, Mr. Header.”
“You too, Mrs. Atencio. Thank you for everything.” I meant it. I was going to have to do something nice for her after all of this.
Once she had gone, I closed the door. I went straight for the windows and opened everything up. I could deal with the heat for now, so I didn’t turn on the air-conditioning right away. I just wanted to get the sterile, pent up smell out. The breeze coming in was nice, but too weak to do much. There was a small desk right by the entrance, where I kept a lot of junk. I found a pad of paper and a pen and started to jot down a list of everything I was going to need to live here full time. Once that was started, I began in the kitchen.
The way that this area was set up was open and convenient. The kitchen sat on the right just inside the front door, done entirely in stainless steel with a bar section that angled diagonally for a few feet. I had three stools there for company and quick meals. To the left of that was a rectangular wooden dining table that never got enough use, but it looked good. Across from the table, there was a set of cabinets and shelves that were all empty at the moment.
Straight ahead, the living area was where I’d set up a full-sized couch, a sofa, and a chair surrounding a coffee table. It was a matching set of marbled tans. It was nothing too exciting, just a place to sit. I had floor lamps in the corners but would probably replace them with something else when I got the chance.
The wall behind all this was a huge window looking out onto the balcony and the beach beyond. I had left the furnished patio furniture out there, but that would need replacing, too. I added that to my list. Satisfied that this was acceptable, I took the plastic coverings off everything and balled them into the corner by the door. Then I wrote down “trash bags” on my notes.
The hall to the left of the kitchen led to the bathrooms and the bedrooms, two of each. The whole place was tiled in white, gray, and brown. The guest bathroom was simple and bright, without much personality. It had all the stuff you needed, though, and that was most important. At the end of the hall, a stacked washer and dryer set was wedged into the corner next to an empty shelf
.
I peeked into the spare bedroom and saw that it was just like I’d left it. The last time I was here, I’d planned on knocking down the wall and closet to open and expand the living area, but right now, I was glad that I didn’t. Of course, I didn’t know how I was going to fit four grown people into suitable living arrangements here, but I’d figure that out later, at least I hoped.
The bed was only full-sized in here. There was a set of nightstands, a dresser, and a tiny, blank desk beside the wall window. It was a nice room for a kid or temporary guest, but not for what I had in mind. It was then that I saw the problem with my plans for the team. We were all more mature and more desirous and in need of privacy now. Sharing two rooms between four people was not going to work for an extended amount of time. I was going to have to prioritize, and they were going to have to choose between themselves as to who, if any of them, wanted to bunk out here.
That aside, I went to finish the tour with my master bedroom and bath. My bed took up most of the space, but that was how I had wanted it. I needed a new tv for the bare wall, as it was currently void and boring. The full-sized window and door let in plenty of light, but the curtains were gone. Now I remembered. An old girlfriend had decorated this room, and that was also why I had no sheets or comforter on the bed. The parting had been… less than amicable. And she pretty much took everything that wasn’t nailed down once she took off. Or rather, after I asked her to take off. I added all that to my list of things to get for the condo.
The master bathroom was done in greens and blues with brushed metal fixtures. I walked in and glanced over at the sink and hideaway dresser space, then looked over at the closet just opposite them. The closed door in front of me led to the shower and toilet with dresser space and shelving space. I knew that I had cleaned it all out the last time I was here.
So, once all the plastic protection covers were pulled down and my list complete, I let the place air out. I’d leave it that way while I went to do a little shopping. I wished that I’d thought to bring Rosa along. She was great at remembering all the dumb little things that I would inevitably forget and have to go back for.
I toyed with the idea of calling her up, but there was a streak of pride and independence that drove me to want to make this place all mine once again. Maybe it was too much egotism and the need to control something, but I was decided. This first setup was going to be all me, win or fail.
But first, I needed a car. A rental would do for now. There was a decent place within walking distance from where I was, so off I went. Their selection was slim, but what they did have was in great shape and fairly new. I found a reasonable Mercedes-Benz M-Class that would work for what my needs were. It was one of the few four-door options that could still fit into the tiny parking spacing that filled the city. A short time later, I had hit about five different stores to get everything I needed and a lot of stuff that I didn’t.
It took me several trips from the parking lot to the condo to get all the supplies in, but I did it. Humbled by my lack of common knowledge about setting up house, I broke down and ordered pizza. Then I called up Doc and gave him my address with instructions to bring Rosa and Xavier with him. I wanted them to judge for themselves if they could handle living and working here.
Soon enough, there was a knock on my door, and I answered it, fully expecting snarky comments about the location and area. The pizza had already arrived and was waiting to be devoured. I had beer, sodas, water, and energy drinks lined up and ready to go.
Rosa, Doc, Xavier, and Mia stood in the hallway, waiting to come in. Rosa signed very quickly to me. He wouldn’t leave her. It’s getting annoying.
I welcomed everyone, especially Mia. “I’m glad that you came up. Probably nice to get out and have some fresh air, huh?”
She smiled. “I appreciate you for inviting me. Thank you.” She then looked up at Xavier and beamed.
“No problem,” I replied before turning to Doc. “Just tell me that she’s the only one from there coming along.” I glanced down the corridor just to make sure they were the only ones arriving.
“I assure you,” Doc replied with a bit of a grumble to his voice, “We’re it.”
“Well, make yourselves comfortable, grab some food, and sit down.” I felt the need to explain some more about the emptiness of the space. “I’m still in the process of moving back in and setting things up, so bear with me.”
Do you have napkins anywhere? Rosa asked as she was already going through the drawers in the kitchen.
“Just the paper ones on the cabinet.” I pointed them out, and I could have sworn she rolled her eyes.
“This isn’t a bad setup, Header. I like it.” Xavier took a bite of his pizza as he looked around the room.
Xavier and Mia had taken seats at the dining table, right next to one another. Rosa was walking and eating, inspecting as she nibbled at her food. Doc had taken the solitary chair in the living room for his own. He was also eyeing my place and taking it all in.
I figured that this was a good time to bring up my plans, so I turned my attention to Doc. “So, I thought that you, Rosa, and Xavier could move in here for the duration of this operation. That way, we can all be localized and mobile. I know that there’s not a ton of space, but we’ve used less. What do you all think?”
Doc had just taken a large bite, but he was shaking his head. He swallowed hard to answer me. “I already got a room at a hotel set to go. Sorry, if I’d known… Thank you for the offer, though.” He was polite about it, at least.
Rosa had wandered down into the hall, and I could hear her going through the other rooms. When she reappeared, she looked unhappy. There are only two bedrooms. I’m not camping out on the sofa, Header. She cast a glance at the couple at the table, and I got her point. I’ll take a page from Doc and get a room nearby. But I do like the idea of setting up here as our base. It’s a good location.
We all waited for Xavier to respond. He looked conflicted about it. “I’m not sure right now. I mean, if Kippy is trying to get Mia a work visa, then she needs to stay there with George. I wouldn’t mind being your roommate for a while, Header, but I’m just… I don’t know. I need to think about it.”
We ate the rest of the meal in quiet contrast to what we were all thinking. Xavier was too close to Mia, and it was affecting his decisions. We’d all been there before, but he was usually too much on point to be this indecisive and flippant. I didn’t want to think about it, but for the sake of the mission, Xavier was going to need a talking to.
Chapter 24
Jake
I got Doc’s attention and gestured that he and I should head to the balcony. Once there, I made sure that the door was shut, and that we were standing with our backs to the dining table. There was a good chance that Xavier could have read our lips during conversation otherwise.
“What’s going on with them?” I asked as soon as I was sure we were alone. “How serious is this getting?” I had never before had to interfere with my team’s love lives, but then again, we’d seldom ever kept a rescued victim like Mia this close for this long.
Doc leaned on the railing of the small, open-air balcony and took in the view. “I can’t explain it. Xavier is usually more pragmatic than this. And I’m not blaming the girl. She’s actually very pleasant and competent. It could just be a mixture of everything taking root, and when this is all over, they could part ways and forget all about each other. Maybe.”
“Do you think that’s what’s happening, or going to happen, though?” I trusted Doc to speak his mind and tell me the truth.
“At this time, I don’t know, Header.” He sounded disappointed, having to admit that. “I think separating them might be the best way to judge this at present. However, doing that is going to be a trial.”
“Have you talked to Rosa about this?” I was sure that her views on it were… unique.
“No. And I don’t want to.” Doc looked at me, shaking his head. “She’s taking a hard tone on this. She only wa
nts to deal with the big picture which is getting Arik back. I feel the same as her, but it's difficult to do that when one of the team is as distracted as Xavier seems to be.”
“Can we do anything without him realizing what we’re doing? Or does he know about our concerns?” I glanced back inside and saw them playing together at the table. They both did look happy, and I had no problem with that part. It was the more subtle, inappropriate closeness I worried about. It made me uncomfortable that Xavier was getting involved with a key target of our mission. That kind of relationship seldom played out well. I needed and expected my team to act and react professionally. This behavior could jeopardize our reputation, inside and outside of the team.
“He knows, but I don’t think he sees any problem. I have to say one thing, and I’m not trying to say any more about this. It's just an observation.” Doc took a deep breath. “Has Xavier ever had a relationship before Mia? I mean a real, mature, healthy one?” He was already shaking his head at me. “I don’t think so. This could be the first, and if that’s true, we’re fighting an uphill battle.”
I thought back into Xavier’s past, through all the time that I’d known him, and I drew a blank. I didn’t remember a girl or a guy ever being mentioned in that way. And while he was free to live his life, this sudden and steady attachment felt out of place for him.
“He’s a very private man,” I acknowledged. “We all are in our own ways. Maybe the best thing would be limiting his direct involvement in the operation. Stick him only with research and the tech part, and leave him out of the rest until something gives.”
“That will make us a three-man team. Will Rosa go for it?” Doc was shaking his head again in anticipation of her answer.
“Maybe we should try this the other way around,” I suggested. “Maybe we should talk to Mia and find out what she’s thinking about Xavier. It could be simple flirting, or it could be fear and uncertainty from her prior situation that is driving her interest in him.” That sounded mean, but it could be true. And we’d be irresponsible to ignore that possibility.
