The Sentinel Read Free Page B

kitchenette, the other leading to the bathroom. Allison peeked in-they were standard, no more, no less-listened to Miss Logan's inane commentary about the utility and workmanship of each of the items, including the toilet bowl, then continued down the hall and walked into the bedroom. She sat down on the four-poster and looked about the room at the antique furnishings. The burnished walls. The gold-leafed metalwork. The ceiling. It was hand-carved. "Who put it in?" she asked, glancing upward.
    "A prior tenant."
    The ceiling was certainly an unexpected find in a rented apartment. Not the type of addition one would include without an interest in the building or a long-term lease. "Did you know the people?" Allison asked curiously.
    "No," replied the agent.
    Allison shrugged. She patted the quilted bedspread; little bits of dust billowed into the air, dancing in the gray light, settling into the darkness. She stood and walked back through the hallway; Miss Logan followed nervously.
    "I want the apartment," Allison declared when they reached the brighter confines of the living room. The grandfather clocks struck the hour, then resumed their frantic ticking. She turned. "It's exactly what I need. Exactly."
    "I was sure that you would feel that way."
    "How much did you say the rent was?"
    "I didn't," said the agent. The modulation in her voice increased in intensity; she appeared overly anxious. "The rental is four hundred and fifty a month. I'm certain that's within reason."
    "Interesting," remarked Allison after a long pause, "but I'm afraid we have different standards of reasonableness."
    Miss Logan smiled. "The apartment is large and it's furnished."
    "And it's in the West Eighties," said Allison. "Not one of the up-and-coming neighborhoods in the city."
    "I wouldn't say that," challenged the agent as she sat down on the sofa and leaned forward.
    "I would. Four hundred and fifty is out of line. If you can't bring it down by at least one hundred, we might as well thank each other for the other's company and call it a day."
    Miss Logan bit her lip. "You want the apartment?" she asked rhetorically.
    Allison nodded.
    "Frankly, three hundred and seventy-five a month is not excessive in New York."
    "You said four hundred and fifty."
    Miss Logan wrinkled her brow. "Did I? Careless of me. I do that all the time."
    "I'm sure," said Allison with an amused grin. She opened her pocketbook and removed her checkbook. "Do you have a pen I could borrow?" she asked.
    Miss Logan withdrew an expensive ballpoint from her jacket and laid it in Allison's outstretched hand. "A fifty-dollar deposit will be fine."
    Allison scribbled in the figure and handed her the check.
    "You've made an excellent choice," declared the agent.
    "I'm sure I have," said Allison as she followed Miss Logan through the door and began the descent toward the lobby, which they reached quickly and left immediately, stepping from the brownstone into the fading light of dusk.
    Miss Logan leaned against the abutment. "I'll see about improving the lighting in the halls. I'd hate to have you fall and break something, and I'm sure the landlord will be most concerned about it."
    "Thank you."
    "As to the landlord, remember that your occupancy must be passed on and accepted by him. He hasn't liked anyone yet, but who knows, maybe he's decided to stop being so picayune. The apartment is no good to anyone empty."
    "I hope you'll be able to get back to me quickly. I want to get settled as soon as possible."
    "I understand. I'll let you know one way or the other by tomorrow evening."
    The two women shook hands and descended to the street.
    "Can I give you a lift back to the East Side?" asked Miss Logan.
    "No, thank you," replied Allison. "I'm going to browse around the neighborhood before I go back."
    Miss Logan smiled and began to walk toward the corner.
    Allison stepped back and reappraised the building. "Miss Logan," she called moments later.
    The agent turned. "Yes?" she asked.
    Allison