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And idiot me, I’d probably give him some.
The super’s office sat on the first floor, about halfway down the south hall. With no windows—just dim lights that flickered overhead—it felt like traveling down a tunnel. At least the hallway on Kaitlynn’s floor, up on the fourth level, was wider and brighter, but still, she probably had to walk this disturbing corridor whenever she needed to see the owner or pay her rent. Which meant he and I needed to have a serious chat about fixing the lighting in this place.
When I reached a door that said Manager in crumbling, grayed letters with the G scratched off, I lifted my hand to knock, causing the cloth of my new suit jacket to pull taut across the back of my shoulders. Wincing over the constricting sensation, I readjusted my tie and decided to use a different tailor the next time, someone willing to give me a little more breathing room.
“Just a sec,” a muffled voice from inside grumbled. Scuffling sounds followed before the door was jerked open to reveal the unshaven owner of the building, his thinning salt-and-pepper hair greased back and wrinkled shirt stained down the center of the front and around his armpits. Bloodshot eyes scowled at me before recognition set in.
“Oh, it’s you.” Nodding, Darmon opened the door wider and stepped back to let me in. “You’re earlier than I thought you’d be.”
“I’m on my way to work,” I answered, entering the dingy, cramped space that smelled of sweat and stale alcohol. Ignoring pleasantries, I cut to the heart of the discussion, adding, “What did you want?”
I ignored the tattered vinyl chair to remain standing. Why sit and get comfortable when I wanted him to remain as unnerved and uneasy as possible?
“Uh, yeah. About that.” Darmon shifted his feet awkwardly and eyed his chair behind his desk, probably realizing he couldn’t sit since I hadn’t. Hmm, too bad.
Scratching the back of his neck, he cleared his throat and turned his attention to the door behind me. “I, uh, I’m going to need to raise the rent around here.”
I took a moment to study the nervous dart of his gaze and the agitated twitch in his hand as he ruffled his oily hair. Then I answered, “No. You’re not.”
His gaze shot to me, instantly morphing from nervous fretting to incredulous and righteous indignation. “What do you mean, no?” he cried. “It’s my goddamn building. You can’t tell me no.”
“Really?” I lifted a single eyebrow. “Then why did you call me here to ask for my permission?”
Huffing out an outraged snort, he muttered, “I wasn’t asking for your permission. I just…” His gaze shifted away apprehensively. “I just thought you should know.”
Remaining calm and unmoved, I simply said, “And why is that?”
With a moody scowl, he flailed out a hand. “Y-you know why.”
“Because you really do need my permission?” I guessed, canting my chin to the side. “Because I have you by the short and curlies, and I’ll destroy you if you do anything that pisses me off? And you knew raising her rent would piss me off?”
He narrowed his eyes without responding.
With a bitter smile, I said, “That’s what I thought.”
“It’s my goddamn building,” he repeated, mumbling the words as the last of his annoyance drained away and defeat took its place. He knew he didn’t have a leg to stand on, not when talking to me.
When I’d first met him, it had been to confront him for his bait-and-switch activities. He showed potential residents the nicest apartment in the building and quoted a decent price for it, only to retract his words just as leasing contracts were signed so they’d end up with a shitty room half the size as they were expecting but at the same price.
He’d been about to pull that stunt on Kaitlynn when she’d chosen this building to live in. After a little research into Richard Darmon’s background, however, I’d been able to catch on to his tactics and stop him before he screwed her over as well. Blackmailing him into giving her the single decent apartment in the entire building in order to keep my silence from the authorities, I had managed to hold Kaitlynn’s landlord right where I wanted him.
And now, he knew better than to fuck with her.
“It wasn’t just her rent I was going to raise,” Darmon muttered moodily. “I need to raise everyone’s.”
“Why?” I repeated, slipping my hands into my pockets as I watched him sweat and squirm under my persistent stare.
“Because…” He waved a hand as if that should explain everything. “This place ain’t cheap to maintain, you know. We just got that new elevator installed and—”
“Except I funded all the expenses for the elevator,” I cut in, narrowing my eyes, unable to believe he would even mention the elevator. He’d paid exactly nothing to get the damn thing restored; I’d been the one to dish out twenty-eight grand for it. All because this was the crappy place where Kaitlynn had chosen to live.
“Yeah, well.” He sniffed and watched me warily. “There’s more that needs fixed.”
I glanced at the stains on the wall dryly. “Yes. I’m quite aware. And I must say, I’m a little disappointed at how poorly you manage your money. Can you not even get lights installed that don’t flicker?”
He blustered a moment before exploding, “Do you know how much new ballasts and bulbs would cost for this entire building?”
“I really don’t care,” I answered, glancing down at the watch on my wrist. “Just get it done and send me the invoice. I’ll cover the cost of repairs. But you won’t raise a single person’s rent in this building.” Especially hers. Leaning forward, I lowered my voice. “Is that understood?”
