Chapter 39
The imposing stone wall and brick towers of Joffrey Columns looked even stranger to Karl than Waldron's Gate had. He might have been gone for ten years rather than living here that long. His eyes cringed away from the worn and drab corridors; his nose recoiled from antiseptic and illness. He couldn't imagine how he'd ever found his life here acceptable, much less felt like he was at home.
Karl jumped at George's voice, nearly dropping the keys to his apartment.
"Well, if it isn't Mr. Karl Gilmore, returned from mysterious family illness leave."
"Yeah, I'm back, Georgie. Not exactly back to normal, but back. Come on inside."
Karl wondered if his apartment had always smelled this musty and stale and he'd never noticed. He opened the bedroom window as wide as it would go. He p
