Chapter 10 #2
Mr. Ponder shifted in his chair. “Oh, that. Yes, well, Mr. Theo, I do have an apartment, but I’ve never leased it. I don’t think I’m interested in that. I’m terribly sorry, and I would be happy to help you find a suitable place.”
Theo’s face could not hide his disappointment. “Of course. I certainly understand.”
Mr. Ponder thought for a moment. “How long do you think you’ll be here?”
“I’m not certain but I would guess a few months. Maybe six or seven.”
“And you’re alone?”
“Yes, I am a widower. My wife died many years ago.”
“No pets.”
Theo smiled. “No pets. It has been my habit to feed birds in the park, but they never follow me home.”
“And, Mr. Theo, forgive me. I don’t think I asked you why you’re here in Golden.”
“I have some business concerns, some properties to take care of.” It was a curiously vague answer, but Mr. Ponder did not ask for details. Not yet anyway. At the moment, he was contemplating a new possibility. He spoke with the hesitancy of a man weighing his options.
“I don’t know that I will rent the apartment, but if I did, would you be able to walk up three flights of stairs? The entrance to the apartment is a metal stairway in the back. And to get to the stairs, you have to unlock a gate. It’s rather inconvenient.”
Theo, not one to be dissuaded, answered confidently. “I have a great fondness for walking. And I like stairs.”
“It can be pretty noisy down here, especially on weekends, with all the college students and nightlife. Would that be a problem?”
“Perhaps. But not likely. My home in New York has lots of stairs and lots of noise. I might actually find a bit of noise easier to adjust to than total quiet. But Mr. Ponder,” Theo held up an open hand as if to stop further discussion, “I don’t want to impose, and I can tell you have a great affection for this beautiful place.
Forgive me for putting you in an awkward position.
I withdraw my inquiry and will find a place nearby.
Maybe you could give me a recommendation.
But I do wish for a walking tour of the city sometime soon.
Now, one final question: Your sign says you are a broker and consultant.
I know what a broker is. But how do you describe your work as a consultant? ”
Mr. Ponder’s voice modulated into a business tone. He explained his work as a dispenser of advice, keeper of secrets, agent of calm, and incubator of ideas.
“Sometimes consulting is a matter of a single meeting; other times it might involve long, complicated transactions. They all tend to be very specific, very case by case.”
Theo nodded. “So, is a consultant like a priest or a lawyer? Sworn to secrecy?”
“It depends on the consultant, I suppose. There is no licensing or ethical board for consultants, but if a consultant lacks basic discretion, he or she won’t be in business for long.
We often deal with very sensitive information, some of it financial, some of it personal, some of it family related.
A good consultant has to be entirely trustworthy and, in my opinion, yes, sworn to secrecy.
To me, that’s a cardinal tenet of the profession. ”
Theo nodded. “Very good. I might need a consultant while I’m here in your town. If you’re not taking new clients, maybe you could refer me to someone. I certainly don’t want to anger the sergeant-at-arms.” Theo raised his eyebrows, nodded toward the downstairs, and smiled. “No new clients, right?”
“Yes, well…” Mr. Ponder was clearly intrigued by Theo and wondered what his story might be. He also had a nagging sense, inexplicable, that this meeting might not be as accidental as it appeared.
Theo stood to leave. The ease with which he rose to his feet and straightened his frame belied his years. His vigor was obvious.
“Mr. Theo, would you like to take a look at the upstairs?”
“Please, Mr. Ponder, I’ve already taken far too much of your time. I’m afraid that if I see the flat, it will be as beautiful as your office and then I will become a nuisance who cannot take ‘no’ for an answer.”
“Now, now.” Mr. Ponder swatted Theo’s objection away with a wave of his hand. “Let me show it to you.”
As they left the office, Theo pointed to the portrait behind Mr. Ponder’s desk. It bore the same qualities as the pencil portraits that hung on the walls of the Chalice. “This is the work of a master, whoever it is.”
Mr. Ponder nodded. “I agree. The artist is a local fellow. Asher Glissen. His family’s been in this community for generations. The first time my wife saw this, she cried.”
They walked down the hallway to a locked door. Mr. Ponder entered a code on a keypad and pushed it open. The casing of the door, like that on the entrance downstairs, was thick gauged, obviously installed with imperviousness in mind.
“When I renovated the upstairs as an apartment, I made sure that my office was secure from any risk of intrusion. Over the years, we’ve put in firewalls, motion detectors, and other security, out of concern for my clients as much as anything.
One of the reasons I’ve been reluctant to rent upstairs is my fear of bad tenants.
My clients wouldn’t want just anyone living here. ”
The two men climbed the stairs — unadorned and lacking any attempts at elegance — until they reached another heavy door that required another keycode. The door opened into a furnished sitting room.
Mr. Ponder said, “Let’s start at the entrance.” He led Theo to the rear of the building, the west end. There were windows enough for ample sunlight to fill the room but, at the moment, they were covered with drapes and shades.
Even in the dim light, Theo could see that the apartment, though more modestly decorated than Mr. Ponder’s office, was far too nice for any college students he had ever known. In fact, there were not many adults to whom he would entrust such a residence.
Mr. Ponder unlocked the deadbolts and opened the door. He and Theo stepped out onto the landing. A panoramic view, worthy of a postcard, greeted them. Theo whistled softly in admiration and whispered, “What a glorious sight.”
Mr. Ponder nodded his agreement before looking down at the wrought-iron staircase. He said, “It is a nice view, but it takes forty-five steps to get here. That’s a lot of climbing.”
Theo nodded. “Yes, but that is a small price to pay for a sight like this.”
They went back inside.