The Time Travelers' Club: Chapter 57 -- Instructions

Meanwhile, in New York City, Vincent glanced over and saw Sam with his nose pressed against the back-passenger window of the yellow taxi next to his. Holding his cell phone, Vincent stopped mid-sentence and stared wide-eyed at him, remaining motionless when Sam waved.

Vincent turned the other way.  "You won't believe this, but he's in the cab right next to mine."

"What?" said Dreda on the other end of the line. "You are kidding, right?"

"Um, no." Vincent fell back into the seat as the cab surged forward around the corner. Vincent slid over into the passenger side of the back seat.  He had sat in the center to use the cabbie's rear-view mirror to adjust his top hat.

"Did he see you?"

"I believe so," said Vincent.  "Since he waved, I am pretty sure he did."

Dreda exclaimed something that Vincent didn't quite catch, then began rattling off instructions to him again.

"Try not to let him see you. Get to the apartment.  And try not to be seen again."

"Yes, I understand," said Vincent, becoming annoyed.  "You don't have to repeat it."

"The Doctor says to follow the boy very closely, but not that close.  I cannot believe that he saw you.  I will be there soon.  You have the directions to the apartment?"

Rolling his eyes, Vincent had reached his annoyance point.  "Yes. As I said before, I have all the instructions.  Follow the boy."

The cab raced along to the Upper East side, eventually stopping across the street from "Mary Jane's Flower Shop."  Vincent paid the cab driver, got out, and grabbed his suitcases from the trunk.

Climbing up the steps to the main door, he looked up at the five-story brick building.

"Ah, perfect balance in the architecture.  I just love old architectural styles and buildings."  Vincent studied the windows, then the bricks.  Once an office building, it was now apartments.  He turned to look across the street at the flower shop.  Its windows were filled with flower arrangements and bouquets.

"Hmmm... I hope Mary Jane has carnations in stock.   I do love a vase of white carnations."

Vincent fumbled for the door key in his coat pocket and climbed the concrete steps to the main entrance.  Once again, he stopped to admire the wooden doors with their stained-glass windows.

"Ah... Such work.  The detail."  Vincent lovingly ran his hand over one of the windows.  "This starburst pattern is magnificent."

Finally, Vincent entered the building.  Inside, he climbed three flights of stairs to apartment number 302. Vincent removed his top hat and pulled the door key from its inner rim.  Opening the door, he could feel cold air rush out.  A window was slightly opened above a white-painted radiator.

Vincent put down his bag and closed the window.  The apartment overlooked the street.  He could see the flower shop directly into the second floor of the Henry's apartment across the street.

"Perfect view?" he mumbled to himself.  "All I can see is the back of pieces of furniture, a vase of lovely roses and not much else.  I can't even see in the upper windows.  Oh well. Orders are orders."

Turning, he evaluated the furnishings of the apartment he stood in.   "Well, this looks like it's been furnished with junk from the street. Why can't I stay in nice places?”

Vincent looked glum.