Chapter 10
A few days after the Logan incident, what John was calling it, he helped Harold into the car Sameen obtained for them. To be on the safe side John never asked about the origin of the vehicle. He didn't want to explain to Harold how she got it for them. He could so easily picture Harold being against a ride in a stolen car. So far Harold hadn't asked. Maybe he didn't want to know either.
John complied with Harold's request and drove them around the town. "How long am I supposed to drive in circles?" John hated the slow traffic. "We could have waited a few hours."
"No, these are ideal conditions. If Mr. Pierce tries to follow us, we won't make his task easy for him. Try to drive us steadily in the direction of Queensboro Bridge on Vernon Boulevard, please."
"What are you hiding from me, Finch?" John gave him a small smile. He repeatedly checked the rearview mirror. No one was tailing them.
"You'll see."
After the hour long journey, John finally parked on one side of the bridge near a hotel's entrance. "Are we living in a hotel, now, Harold?" John couldn't hide his amusement. They had already shared a few spaces together. Library, subway depot and some of the safe houses, short-term hotel rooms as well, but on a permanent basis hotel was new for them.
"Not quite, John," Harold unfastened his seatbelt and slowly turned towards the car door. John had enough time to get to the other side of the vehicle when Harold needed help getting out of the car himself. Once they both were finally standing on the pavement, John left his hand under Harold's elbow.
"Let's go," Harold decided. They turned the corner around the hotel. John couldn't see anything other than the red terracotta villa on the other side of the road. It definitely was a historical building with an attitude. "Our new home?"
"Yes."
"I thought it was owned by people from the movie industry." John hesitated for a moment. On a sunny morning the building looked incredible with its red brick walls, flourished details and carved stone face. But by night, John wouldn't want to be caught near it. It looked like a horror movie haunted house.
"And I fortunately happen to know some people who helped me purchase it."
John saw Harold's beaming smile. He was really proud of himself for finding them this location. "It definitely has some style," John murmured. He watched Harold unlocking the chain that was hanging from the gate of the wired fence.
The fence was a good thing. John could easily install motion detectors and camera surveillance. He started to see building's perks.
"Yes, it has," Harold agreed. "The house has several bedrooms, office, basement with a lot of space for my computers and I am sure you will have enough space to hide your arsenal of guns."
"I'm starting to like it even more." One small part in John's mind pointed out that the situation looked more like playing house with Harold than creating a safe working space for them; John didn't mind either way.
"Also, the purchase was made under one of my aliases - Arthur Bellenger," Harold continued. "And there is the crucial detail that our friend Mr. Pierce doesn't know about it."
Logan being out of their lives was the best news John had received in days. "Well, I'm definitely sold."
"I already texted the new address to Ms. Shaw."
"Good. So, it means we're moving in right now?" John's calm expression didn't slip off his face when Harold eyed him with worry.
"Was it too presumptuous of me, John?"
In the big picture, having one house for both of them functioning as a safe house as well as living quarters was more practical than owning two separate apartments and another safe place somewhere around town for Harold's work. John shrugged his shoulders. "Not really." Practicality always won in John's eyes.
If someone entered the house, John would know its floor plan better than anyone else. He would make sure Harold had a safe room somewhere in the mansion, even if he had to built it with his own hands. John was sure a building like this must have a few hidden corners.
John knew he had answered correctly by the easing of Harold's shoulders. He didn't know how Harold could doubt himself. Of course John would be by his side. John looked around himself. It was true the neighborhood looked calm and safe, but most of the floors of the hotel hotel's floors across the road were higher than their roof. Not a safe thing in John's book. "We're leaving the shutters on the windows closed for now, until they're bulletproof."
"As you wish," Harold whispered and then he froze.
John watched him nervously clear his throat and make a beeline for the main door under the massive ornamented bricked door frame. John had to smirk. Harold loved Princess Bride. As you wish was a very famous sentence from a very famous movie; it functioned as a code for a very famous sentence instead - I love you.
He slowly followed Harold inside and looked around the spacious first floor. John didn't expect the open space where he could practically see through living room and kitchen. The room was divided by bookshelves filled with a lot of editions to read. At the far right corner a spiral iron staircase and railing led up.
Harold obviously had all his money back. "Bedrooms?" John asked calmly.
"On the second floor. You can take the stairs or the elevator. It's hidden behind this door," Harold pointed out helpfully.
John understood why Harold had spent so much time on his computer. He had previously thought Harold was communicating with the Machine, but no. He was trying to find a perfect place for them. And even though John didn't say anything negative, Harold still sounded unsure. Like sooner or later he expected John to have words with him. John didn't want to complain. Two separate ways out of the second floor were a security dream come true. "I'm going up," he announced.
"You can take any bedroom you like."
John didn't turn to him this time, but the corner of his mouth turned up. Two could play the game. "As you wish," he answered warmly and went to the stairs. He didn't stay to watch the effect the words had on Harold. The man deserved some privacy after all.