Jo stared out the window as the train drew away from the station.
'This is going to be interesting.' Hanson commented. 'What are you going to say when we find him?'
'I'm gonna give him a piece of my mind then he can explain.' Jo muttered. Hanson rolled his eyes.
-The next evening-
Hanson and Jo walked into a hotel a few blocks from the one Henry and Abe were staying at. After putting their bags in their rooms and freshening up they decided to grab something to eat from the restaurant downstairs before hitting the sack. They made their way downstairs to the restaurant, choosing a table near the window.
'So what's the plan Jo? Go and see Henry and Abe in the morning?'
'Yeah after breakfast. Before they go out for the day or something.' Their meals came and they stopped talking, just eating. After a while Jo spoke up.
'I can't think why they would leave New York. And not just leave, but make fake ID's and everything. It's weird.'
'I dunno, Jo. Maybe they were trying to avoid something from their past. Maybe they were caught up in something a while back and it's caught up with them again.' They paid for their meals and started walking to their rooms.
'Maybe, but it's weird that he wouldn't tell us, I mean, we're the police. And so soon after the whole immortal thing. I dunno, it's weird. Anyway, night Hanson.'
'Good night Jo.'
-The next morning-
Hanson and Jo walked down the road, passing the station.
'Ok so what's the plan, Jo? We just go up to the receptionist and ask? 'Cos these days they don't tell you the room they are in. They just call them and say you are there to see them. If they tell them we're here, they might try to sneak out without us seeing them. So do we pull out the whole police thing? Get their room numbers and just knock on their doors?'
'Yeah I reckon. It's the best way to put them on the spot, not give them any time to come up with an excuse or leave.' By now they were outside the hotel Henry and Abe were staying at. She took a deep breath.
'Ok let's do this.' Together they pushed the doors open.
They walked towards the counter and the receptionist turned to greet them. 'Hi, how may I help you?'
'Hi, umm, we're looking for some people by the names Henry and Abe Morgan,'
'Harold and Anthony, Jo. They changed their names remember.'
'Oh, yeah, right. Harold and Anthony Manith. They are staying here, right?'
'Yes, they booked in yesterday. I would ask if you would like me to give them a call saying you're here, but they went out for a walk after breakfast and they are not back yet. They shouldn't be long if you would like to wait. There are some seats over there.'
'Oh, well you see, Harold used to work with us at the NYPD,' Jo and Hanson flashed their badges 'but he and his roommate, Anthony, changed their names and left New York and we managed to track them here. We're trying to work out why they left. Do you have a key to their rooms? It might be easier if we wait for them up there.'
5 minutes later they were waiting in Henry's room, or what they assumed was Henry's room as it was the tidier of the two. Soon they heard footsteps coming up the stairs.
'Hey, Harold, why don't we go to that museum down in town today? Everyone says it is really good.' They heard a key being inserted into the lock.
'Why not? Let me grab my scarf and then we can catch the tram from the stop down the road.' The door swung open and Henry entered, shutting the door behind him. He turned and froze at the sight of the two detectives sitting on the bed. Jo smiled at him while Hanson tried not to laugh. Henry slowly walked over to the door joining the two rooms and knocked on it.
'What?' came Abe's voice from the other side. 'Can't a man get changed in peace?'
'Umm, Abraham, I have a feeling we're not going anywhere today.'
'Why? Why can't we.'
'Come here and you'll see why.' They door opened to reveal Abe.
'Don't tell me you can't find your ID or someth—oh, hi guys.' Jo stifled a laugh.
'Hi, Abe. Henry, blonde hair suits you.' Henry self-consciously ran a hand through his hair. He cleared his throat.
'Well, to what do we owe the pleasure?' Jo narrowed her eyes at him.
'Well, I think you can tell us why we had to track you down, huh Henry? Or would you prefer Harold?'
'Jo, go easy on them, ok?' Hanson turned to Henry 'I'm gonna assume you guys have a reason why you just up and left?'
'You're going to think I'm crazy, but we left because of the… immortality thing. It's dangerous for me to be in New York now. Sooner or later someone will come across what happened; what I did and said.' His fingers found the white bandages around his wrist.
'I don't want to be there when it happens. I know I'm probably over exaggerating, but I'm not planning on hanging around so I can be locked up again.'
'Henry…' Jo sighed. 'No-one's going to lock you up Henry. The psychiatrist already cleared you.'
'I'm not talking about the government, Jo. I'm talking about some psycho who wants to lock me in their basement and experiment on me! Try to work out the secret of my immortality!' Jo turned to Abe.
'Why didn't you come and tell us he thought he was immortal again? Why did you run with him?'
'He's telling the truth, kid. I've been trying to get him to tell you his secret for months now, but he never wanted to. I think he was afraid of this happening. Once he had told you though, and you didn't believe him we decided it was best to move on again. Make a new life where no-one knew his secret, like his life before he told you. Where he can be normal again.' Jo couldn't believe her ears. Abe actually believed Henry's story about being immortal?
'Whoa whoa whoa, doc.' Hanson's voice caused Jo to turn.
'Henry! Not again oh my god.' He had picked up a blade from his toiletry bag and was examining it.
'I'm sorry, Jo, but I have to show you that my story is true.' 'He turned to Abe.
'Abraham, I think the nearest body of water is in that park we went to this morning.' Abe nodded. Turning to Jo and Hanson he said
'It might be best if you two don't look. I still find I hard and I've seen it more times than I'd like to remember.' Jo stared at him. 'Ok, ok if you want to watch, watch. Be my guest.'
'Abraham!'
'Sorry, Henry. But don't say I didn't warn you Jo.' Henry rolled his eyes, raising the blade to his throat.
'Henry… please, don't' Jo whispered.
'It's fine, Jo. I'll be fine. Go with Abraham to the park.'
'Henry, seriously, you can't just kill yourself. Haven't the sessions with the therapist been helping? Henry! Put the blade down!' Hanson stood up, but before he could do anything Henry pulled the blade across his throat and fell to the floor.
'Noooo!' Jo leapt across the room.
'No Henry! Stay with me!' She looked at Abe. 'Do something! Call 911!' Her voice spurred Hanson into action, and he grabbed his phone out of his pocket. But before he could call 911 Abraham grabbed it out of his hands.
'You can't call 911. You have to trust us.'
'Trust you? Trust you?!' Jo was crying now. 'Why should we trust you? Henry is going to die, and you are asking us to trust you?'
'Jo...Jo.' Henry whispered. 'Shh Jo it's all right, you will see.'
'Henry, just… just stay with me, ok. I love you Henry, please don't leave me like Sean. Please Henry, please!'
'Jo…'
'No Henry!' The light left his eyes and his body fell limp. Jo was sobbing, holding his body tight, until all of a sudden it wasn't there anymore.
'Abe? Abe what happened' Hanson's voice brought her back to reality. 'His body just disappeared?' Abe was moving around the room, gathering clothes;
'We have to go meet Henry.' was all he said.
'What are the clothes for?'
'When he dies he comes back naked.' Hanson laughed.
'All the public nudity charges?' Abe cracked a smile.
'Well done detective.' Hanson whistled under his breath.
'If this whole thing is real and I am not dreaming, then he's died a lot.'
