Chapter 10 [Living Quarters Behind Abe's Antiques—a few hours later]
After a hearty corned beef sandwich, a salad and a large cup of coffee apiece, the trio returned to the antiques store. They'd kept their conversation in the public place to small talk which didn't help Jo's patience much in that regard.
Still all three understood the need for discretion in these matters…..
Henry tapped his fingers on the mahogany chair pensively. Now past the resurrection stress, he mused over how Jo's transformation would affect things. For those many years flowing into decades and centuries in turn, he assumed he was the only such immortal. He'd met other types of conditions relating to his own of course. However another person with the same living/dying/rebirth situation like his?
Not so much….
"Adam" stirred things up continuously with his gamesmanship. While Henry would've preferred to blow off and ignore the mental assaults on his structure and routine, the voyeur knew too much to be so easily dismissed especially where it came to his situation.
Now Jo needed mentoring in that regard. He didn't really know what to say to her. It's not like training for a marathon. I can't just say keep your head down and you'll be around forever! He frowned.
"What's wrong, Henry? We need to think of what to say to Reece and the others," she cut into his thoughts.
"Yes I am aware of that. I was thinking of how to explain our mutual situation to you," he replied earnestly.
"Abigail did that. I'm dealing with being an immortal that doesn't quite die but comes back skinny-dipping in the closest body of water to my 'death'. I basically need to keep my head down and do my job. That about cover it?" she supposed.
"Sounds great to me," Abe affirmed while setting mugs of coffee down in front of each of them. "Brewed fresh."
"Thank you, Abe," he expressed.
She gulped deeply of the hot caffeine imbibing the subtle Javanese and Jikartan flavors. "Mmm! Now that is a cup of coffee. Henry, why don't you make this at the precinct?"
"Because those folks wouldn't appreciate it," he countered. "Here we appreciate it. I've traveled the world, seen many things and drank many kinds of coffee." He considered another few sips before setting the mug down. "Abe mixes the subtle with the pristine in a cup."
"Comes from experience, Henry," Abe deflected ever so slightly. "Glad you like it. He has very particular tastes, you know."
"Abe, please." Henry blushed ever so slightly and averted his eyes.
She chuckled at the coroner's reaction. "You don't like to be assessed, do you, Henry? It's a part of life. In this case, it's a compliment. You might want to take it as such." She sipped again on the hot drink. "As you said, you've seen things we haven't. If what you and Abigail say is true then I'm looking forward to seeing some of those sights too. And what's with the death wish anyhow?"
"Oh here we go," Abe realized. "That's your deal, Henry."
"This isn't the time," Henry tried to change the subject away from his goal.
"So you want to die and leave me alone like this? Henry, one of the reasons I'm here is to show you that life is still worth living. Abigail herself told me to tell you that," she pressed.
Henry exhaled deeply. For once his mind and keen insight failed him. He peered deeply into her disapproving eyes and all he could manage was a pained shrug.
"What's so bad? I just need to know so I can be ready," she queried.
"Try burying everything and everyone you care about. Try watching society turn gradually dark. In a normal human life time, it is notable but not crushing. After almost three centuries, you notice it. It haunts you. I have another friend…not like us…but he is immortal. He was on the schooner that rescued me after my first 'resurrection' so to speak. He deals with his situation and has given back to the world even as he searches for a cure. He lives as I do and as you will have to now. We interact with the world but we always have to be mindful of it. They age and die. I've buried patients. I buried Abigail." Henry turned to Abe. "One day, I will have to do the same with you. I'm not looking forward to it. Trust me."
Abe shrugged. "And I'll be watching just as it seems she is. Try and stop me on that front, Henry. Good luck." He rubbed the older man's arm. "And so what if you do bury me? I can't think of a better pallbearer myself. I've lived a full life. I've experienced the seasons of life. When it's my time, it's my time. I can deal with it. The only thing I can't deal with though is leaving you alone. I don't want that."
"He won't be," she affirmed with a helpful smirk. "I'm here to kick his ass and keep him in line." She motioned toward the ceiling with her eyes. "Orders again."
Henry sighed in surrender knowing better than to wage a debate with Jo, Abe and Abigail by proxy all at the same time. "Just promise me you'll be careful, Jo. If you're exposed, it'll make it harder on all of us. You and I may have to relocate."
"Ah yes. That." She nodded. "I really don't have any family here anyhow. Ramon's gone. I guess that makes us family of a sort now, doesn't it?"
"It does," Henry conceded before offering a smile to reassure her. "And I won't desert you either. That is my promise to you, Jo. I'll see us through tomorrow and whatever else may lay in our path."
"Thank you. I knew that, Henry, but it's great to hear you say it," she noted gratefully. "I'm sorry that you had to go through this by yourself. It means a lot that you'll be there."
"That we'll be there," Abe corrected. "As you said, we're a partner act now, right?"
"Right. At least we have you too to help us," she agreed. "Speaking of which, guys, what are we going to say to Reece and the others? We can't just run away."
Henry frowned. "Yes. It's quite the difficult scenario. However we can explain it by saying that the explosion blew a hole in the floor and threw us downstairs. It worked the last time."
"Last time?" she queried before realizing what he was getting at. "You mean when you were an actual cop?" She smiled at that thought. "Pity you don't just take the civil service exam, Henry. You'd make a great detective."
"I have my uses as a coroner, Jo," Henry countered while feeling rather defensive.
She tabled the argument for the moment. Someday I'll get him to understand! "So that's the story? You got me out of there?"
"Funny what a bit of friendship and adrenaline will do in a situation. Now isn't it?" Abe supposed with an air of sarcasm. "Careful, Henry. You might be developing feelings…." He let his eyes motion toward her.
"I think it's the case of Henry being the old fashioned stuffy gentleman myself," she teased. "Let's just hope Reece buys it."
"We can only try if we wish to keep these lives we've built. That's all anyone can do in the end," Henry supposed while sipping on a cup of coffee. Let's hope indeed. For everyone's sake, just hope the department can deal with our return…..