Henri – 13

The apartment was small, taking up—Henri thought—half of the second floor, with the second apartment on the other side of a common wall. He figured the entrance to that one was via the stairs he'd seen when they went into Mrs Dean's office. To the left, off the entryway from the porch, there was a hallway that ran the full length of the apartment, with the kitchen and bedroom off it to one side. On the other side was one large room. The bathroom was at the end of the hall. The whole apartment smelled slightly of fresh paint and the lacquer that had been used on the highly polished hardwood floors.

 

"Nice big windows in here," Taegan said, standing at one in the living room. "Makes up for the fact there aren't any in the bedroom, " he added, chuckling.

 

After checking to make certain Mrs Dean wasn't listening, Henri replied, "Not a problem. It will feel safer, knowing the only way someone can get in when I'm sleeping is through the door."

 

"True. Are you going to take it?"

 

"Yep. It's not a mansion, but, truth be told, I'll be glad to have a place where I don't have to walk half a mile to get from my bedroom to the kitchen."

 

Taegan laughed. "That's why I like my place. There's something to be said for compact."

 

Henri went in search of Mrs Dean, finding her on the small porch at the top of the stairs. "The Realtor insisted on calling this a balcony in the listing," she said, shaking her head. "I'm afraid there's barely room enough for a chair."

 

"No problem. If you're willing, I'd like to rent the apartment."

 

"More than willing. Come back down to my office. There are, of course, papers to fill out—ID, work history, the usual.

 

"Work history is easy," Taegan told her before Henri could get past the panic he'd felt about that statement. "He's been one of my employees for the last four years."

 

"Very good," Mrs. Dean replied.

 

Henri took a deep breath, whispering, "Thank you," to Taegan.

 

"One of the reasons I came along," Taegan replied softly, patting Henri's back. "To cover your ass if there was something you needed help with."

 

Henri smiled weakly, then began filling out the paperwork. With Taegan there, Mrs Dean didn't have to call to verify Henri's supposed employment. After reading everything, she said she was satisfied, accepting Henri's check for first and last month's rent. Then she handed over the keys to the apartment and the two men left.

 

"Next stop, taking Miranda up on her offer of furniture for you," Taegan said, once they were on the road again.

 

"Meaning I'd better rent a truck."

 

"Strangest thing… I happen to have one," Taegan said with a grin. "When was she going to pick you up?"

 

"When I call her."

 

"Then do so, and tell her we'll meet her at the house after we get the truck."

 

"Why are you so willing to help me out?"

 

"Because you need it?"

 

 "It seems I need it from everyone." Henri sighed. "I haven't made a very good showing of handling things on my own."

 

"I disagree. You did the most important thing possible. You managed to escape Xavier not once, but twice."

 

"Three people died because of me," Henri said morosely.

 

"No, Henri. Three people died because of that bastard. If you'd stayed and tried to fight for them, they still would have died and you'd be his prisoner again." Taegan rested one hand on Henri's shoulder. "The man is insane, in case you haven't figured it out yet."

 

"Believe me, I know," Henri replied. He liked the fact Taegan was touching him, even though he was well aware it was just out of friendship—if that.

 

"Call Miranda," Taegan said.

 

"I can't, unless you have a phone. And don't—" Henri essayed a grin, "—say 'strangest thing, but I do'."

 

Taegan laughed. "Okay, but…" He took out his phone, handing it to Henri. Henri made the call and Miranda said she'd meet them at the house in an hour.