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“Probably recruit, but we’re not sure. I’m going to head into the city with Sven. You two see what you can find out about that old man and his apartment.”
Metairie is a city of about a hundred and fifty thousand outside of New Orleans. With pretty neighborhoods, great shopping, and lots of restaurants, it was a great area to raise a family. Which is exactly what Walter Houston had done.
Now, with the loss of his eyesight, relying on social security, Medicare, and a very small pension from one of the refineries, he was living in a tiny one-bedroom apartment on the main floor of the Crusaders Apartment complex.
“It doesn’t look too terrible,” frowned Ghost. “I’ve definitely seen worse.”
“Same,” said Max. “Window screens need to be replaced, the trim painted, and the flowers and shrubs need some attention, but it’s decent enough.”
“Probably all the old guy can afford,” said Ghost. Max laughed, shaking his head. “What’s so funny?”
“What’s funny is that we’re nearly as old as he is. We are the old guys.” Ghost let out a chuff of laughter.
“Yeah, I guess we are. Fuck, that hits home.” After parking the truck, they walked toward apartment number one-four-one, Mr. Houston’s. As they approached the apartment, they saw the eviction notice on his door.
“Shit,” muttered Ghost. He ripped the notification off the door, handing it to Max. A short, balding man walked toward them with a cigar in his mouth.
“You the boys I called?” The two men said nothing, just staring at him. “You look like them. I guess you don’t like to advertise what you do. Listen, just get the old fuck out of the apartment and put his shit in the street. I need to paint and re-carpet this fucking place before the new tenant arrives Friday. Gonna get me a thousand a month more.” He laughed, shaking his head.
“You rented the place even though it was occupied?” frowned Max.
“Yeah. What the hell does it matter? I need young money. Millennials with jobs and income to spare. This place will be high-end living by the end of the year. I’ll update the pool area, put in a gaming spot, maybe outdoor volleyball courts. That’ll definitely give me something to watch in this miserable heat.”
“So, you’re going to kick an old man out for a little extra money? Did he forget to pay his rent?”
“No. It’s autopay every month. Hey, who the hell are you?”
“Oh, we’re the two men that are about to beat you to a pulp. After we call the cops and the rent control board,” growled Ghost.
“Hey, wait a minute. No. No, you misunderstood,” he laughed.
“You sit right there,” said Max, pointing to a lawn chair. “You fucking move, I’ll rip your heart out.” Ghost knocked on the door, hearing a faint noise from inside. Cigar man rolled his eyes at the two men.
“It’ll take him forever. Old fuck can’t see,” he groaned. Max gripped his neck, squeezing until the cigar fell from his mouth.
“Call him an old fuck again, and you’ll be pissing into a bag and eating without teeth. Clear?”
“Clear,” he gasped.
The door opened just a few inches, an elderly black man standing in the gap. His wrinkled hands held a cane in one, the door edge in the other.
“Can I help you?”
“Mr. Houston?”
“Yeah, that’s me,” he said. “Sorry, I can’t see you, but your voice don’t sound familiar. Do I know you?”
“No, sir. We don’t know one another. Your daughter sent us a letter saying you were having some difficulties with the apartment management. We’ve met him and can see why,” said Ghost.
“I don’t understand all the fuss. I pay my rent on time. I don’t ask for nothin’. Spent the whole winter with my heat off. Now he’s turned off my water. I’m a good tenant. I don’t bother nobody.” He had tears in his eyes, and Ghost wanted to beat the shit out of the apartment manager.
“I don’t imagine you do, sir. May I come in?”
“Course,” said Mr. Houston.
Ghost stepped inside the small dark space. The carpet was dingy with cigarette holes, and it was apparent that Mr. Houston did not smoke. The blinds were broken, hanging from their latch, the door on the oven was bent, and the sink had a terrible odor and mildew growing in it.
“Mr. Houston, I’ve seen all I need to see. I think we need to get you out of here until this can be repaired. It’s not safe in here.”
