Paul Kern: computer nerd by day, gaming addict by night.”
“Eric,” Paul said, shaking his hand with a grin. Paul was a tall elegant black man who carried himself with the grace of a dancer. Most of the computer nerds Eric had known had moved as if they weren’t sure where to put their hands and feet, but Paul moved like a cat turned into a human. Eric noted that his eyes had already flicked to the computer in the corner and back to Eric’s face in the brief instant of their introduction. “You get in trouble with that system of yours, give a shout,” he said with a grin. His voice held a faint trace of a British/Islands accent.
“I will, if you won’t mind,” Eric replied fervidly. “What I know about computers would fit in a greeting card.”
Paul laughed. “Now I make the last introduction—this is José Ramirez, who leads a triple life to my double one. He’s the super—which is less work than you’d think, since the House’s systems tend to cooperate rather than break down at the drop of a power surge—he’s our fourth Guardian, and when he’s not fixing faucets, he’s raising African Grey parrots who are probably more intelligent than most of our tenants.” There was general laughter at the last remark, which had the flavor of a family joke.
“Pleased to meet you, Eric.” Like the others, José had a firm, warm handshake. His bronze skin and strong square features made him attractive—if not as model-handsome as Paul—and he reminded Eric slightly of a darker Charles Bronson. “If you are ever considering a parrot as a companion, please let me know. I can help you decide whether or not you will have the time, and if so, which breed would suit you best.” He grinned. “I’m afraid, like most bird people, my conversation tends to begin and end with my little ones.”
“So?” Toni put in, gesturing with a piece of sushi. “That’s not much different from any other person with an all-­consuming avocation. Or a parent, for that matter, but I promise I’ll leave Raoul and Paquito out of the conversation tonight. José is night-shift supervisor for any extraordinary problems here at the House; I’m day-shift. We cover for each other if a problem takes one of us outside.”
All of them found places in the living room; Eric took the kitchen chair, Toni and José shared the sofa, Paul got the chair and Jimmie stood leaning against the wall where she could watch all of them. As usual, Greystone sat on the floor, since