I waited for the elevator beside another man. Finally the doors opened, and the operator opened the safety-cage with a rattle. The passengers bustled off, heading out to the street in search of buses and trams to take them home.
“After you,” I said. The other man moved toward the back wall, and turned toward me. I caught sight of his watch-fob – a coin, rather larger than an old sovereign, and somewhat darker in tone. I saw a skull and crossbones, brighter against the tarnished background, and the inscription ‘Anniversarium’ above them. I saw all this in a trice, but the man must have noticed where I was looking. He slipped the coin back into his pocket.
“What floor, gentleman?” the operator asked.
“Seventh floor,” we said, together. I thought little of the odd coincidence.
When we arrived at our floor, I stepped out and made my way toward the back of the building, past frosted glass doors with the names of the companies and the office numbers picked out in gold leaf.
Elizabeth was standing outside 710, as if waiting for me. Apparently, the other man saw her, too.
“Carrod!” he hissed, rudely. “What are you doing here?”
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