Blake sighed with relief. “That’s different. Why didn’t you tell me that all you wanted was the title to the floor? I was under the impression that you intended to occupy the premises.”
“We do intend to occupy the premises.” The tall man pocketed the lease. “We’ve paid a month’s rent in advance for them.”
“And,” added the tiny man, “a month’s security.”
“And,” finished the tall man, “an extra month’s rent as fee to the agent. We most certainly do intend to occupy the premises.”
“But how—” Blake giggled a little hysterically “—are you going to occupy premises that aren’t even—”
“Good morning, young man,” they said in unison and moved toward the elevators.
He watched them enter one.
“Thirteen, please,” they told the elevator operator. The elevator door closed. Miss Kerstenberg walked past him and into the office, chirping a dutiful “Good morning, Mr. Blake.” Blake barely nodded at her. He kept his eyes on the elevator door. After a while it opened again, and the fat little operator lounged out and began a conversation with the starter.
Blake couldn’t help himself. He ran to the elevator. He stared inside. It was empty.
“Listen,” he said, grabbing the fat little operator by one sleeve of his dingy uniform. “Those two men you just took up, what floor did they get off at?”