Clarence Huxley
Clarence Huxley was once the landlord of 601 Amsterdam Avenue and now its superintendent.
Contents
History
During his tenure as the building's landlord, Mr. Huxley was never seen but frequently heard from, imposing strict curfews and noise restrictions. In addition, he often increased the rent for his tenants, even though he failed to maintain the building, with walls that needed painted, faulty wiring, pipes that leaked, and trash that was left to pile up.
His persistent negligence one day led to an explosion and fire in 4C, an apartment on the building's fourth floor. Inside the tiny unit was Mr. Fletcher, who later died from his injuries. Although the incident was ultimately ruled an accident by the authorities, Mr. Huxley's tenants all blamed him for Mr. Fletcher's death. He, too, believed himself responsible, and disappeared a few days later. Although unmissed by everyone, somebody called the police, when they discovered his own apartment, with everything he owned, was left abandoned.
While the trail immediately went cold on the whereabouts of the missing landlord for Elisa Maza and her partner, Mr. Huxley failed to find a new life or purpose, and decided to return to 601 Amsterdam Avenue. Nine month's after Mr. Fletcher's death, Mr. Huxley returned not as the building's landlord, but as its superintendent, committed to making the everyday lives of his tenants a little better. Putting ownership of the building into a trust, Mr. Huxley quietly sold everything he owned in his former apartment on the first floor and took residence in the tiny fourth floor apartment where Mr. Fletcher once lived.
Now seen, the building's residents only knew him by his first name, Clarence, but, more significantly, his demeanor and concern for the residents of 601 Amsterdam Avenue was a far cry from any semblance of the landlord they endured before. He began to properly renovate and restore the building, although apartment 4C still smelled of smoke. Throughout, he never complained or took time off.
Years later, Broadway's curiosity about Elisa's first case prompted him and Bronx to visit 601 Amsterdam Avenue. After a tenant reported of a gargoyle loitering her hallways and asking questions, Elisa returned to the building with Goliath and soon recognized that former landlord Mr. Huxley and current super Clarence were one and the same. Clarence admitted his role in Mr. Fletcher's death and his earnest desire that his actions going forward would allow him to one day forgive himself. He then revealed to the residents of 601 Amsterdam Avenue that they made up the trust he set up, owning the building equally, and – with their permission – hoped he could continue to live in 4C.
He would. ("Stone Cold Case")
