"Honestly, what do you think about Mrs Shaw?"
"I think you should have told her you're blind. You totally knocked her off her game."
"Her game?"
"Folks like this are like actors. They write a script and practice it until it sounds natural, kind of like opening and closing remarks. You walk in all not seeing and she's got to change up her speech on the spot. So all that blabber about the building's history and pre-emptive fiber internet."
"Maybe. Maybe all that stuff about brick walls and wood floors was her vamping until she could think of something that might appeal to the blind guy."
"Or maybe she was trying to appeal to both of us. She did think we're a couple."
"Did you hear how her voice changed when she found out it was just me. She was thrilled."
"She was relieved. She didn't have to keep trying to pitch to two people."
"Maybe. Or maybe she's relieved because the answer to the question we haven't asked yet is something the blind guy won't figure out, at least not right away, but his sighted live in boyfriend probably would."
"You think there's an issue she's not telling us."
"Why else would this place be so cheap? I've been going over apartment listings for two months and places half the size of this cost a good $300-400 more than this place."
"So you think there's an issue Mrs Shaw isn't telling us about. Something I'd see but you wouldn't."
"It's the only explanation I can think of for such a cheap rent."
"We should probably give Mrs Shaw a chance to be honest."
"Agreed." Matt walked away from the window. "Mrs Shaw, I had a question."
"Yes Mr Murdock."
"What's wrong with the apartment?"
"Nothing, Mr Murdock."
"And the building?"
"Nothing."
"I don't believe you."
"Well, I'm sorry Mr Murdock if you don't believe me. But I assure you there is nothing wrong with this apartment or this building. Yes the windows were blown apart during The Big Event, yes several of the floors had to replaced as well as some wiring due to water damage, mostly on the other end of the building. But it has all been fixed and completely within or above code. You have absolutely no reason to be concerned about renting this apartment."
"Then why is the rent so cheap?"
"The rent was set by the co-op."
"And you represent the co-op so I think you know why. "
"The price was set to encourage someone to rent the apartment."
"That sounds like something a lawyer would say. And it doesn't answer my question."
Foggy was caught off guard when Mrs Shaw started laughing.
"Are you sure you're just a law student?"
"Technically I'm not a student. I finished my classwork last month. But the bar isn't until September so I suppose you could say as I'm not a bar certified lawyer I'm still studying."
"Well when you pass the bar, you're going to make one hell of a lawyer. I pity anyone that ends up on the other side of the table.
"I was hoping to avoid bringing this up since you didn't notice it yourself and it's really not an issue in this case."
"Mrs Shaw, I think we both know that it's not your call to decide whether or not to disclose an issue."
"If you really wanna know."
"I do."
"Fine. Mr Nelson, would you kindly take a look out the window."
Foggy walked over to the living room window and glanced out. "What am I looking for?"
"Look up."
Foggy lifted his eyes. "Ah, yes. I see what you mean. Is that as bright as I expect it is?"
"Sure is. Apparently the Zoning Commission was so desperate to get the area redeveloped so folks would forget about how it got destroyed that they didn't pay that much attention to all of the building permit requests."
"What is it?"
"A very large, very bright electronic billboard on a high rise about three blocks over."
"The window in the bedroom is shorter so it cuts off the light but in here it's rather obnoxious."
"Unless you were blind." Matt laughed. "My apologizes Mrs Shaw. It seems you were correct that there are no issues."
"Great, then we should get started on your application. If you want the apartment."
"He wants it. He definitely wants it."
"Excellent. There is a required credit check."
"I don't really have any credit. I have one credit card to my name and I've never used it."
"Do you have any debt? Student loans?"
"No."
"Any savings accounts?"
"One. Inheritance from my father."
"Job."
"Intern associate at Landman and Zack."
"Nice. I don't foresee any issues there. The co-op likes to review all applications. Just happens there's a meeting tomorrow. I'm sure they'll have no concerns with an upstanding young man employed by such a renown firm renting the unit."
"Especially when you yell 'he's blind' like a giddy school girl."
"I wasn't planning to yell but yes it will come up in the conversation. Safe to save my call the morning after will be just a formality and we can set a time for you to come pick up your keys. Would Monday, same time, work for you?"
"I think I can manage that."
Foggy laughed as they left a few minutes later. "Congratulations on your first steps to true adulthood."
"Thanks for coming."
"What are friends for."