I wiped my hand across my eyes, doing my best to keep them open. It was late. How late, I wasn't sure, but definitely late. Mama was going to kill me when I finally got home, and I could only be grateful that I'd had the foresight to send Les home early. My steps quickened, as the lodging house came into view. Jack was sitting on the steps, and he stood when he saw me approaching.

"So, did ya get it?"

My lips curled up in a wry smile, "Yeah, I got it."

Jack nodded, and I could've sworn I saw a look of nervousness flash in his eyes, but it was gone before I had a chance to be sure.

"Thanks, Davey. Really." He looked slightly uncomfortable to show his gratitude, so I shrugged it off.

"Don't worry about it. Here," I handed him the envelope I had been clutching in my grasp, reluctant to let it go. "I've gotta go. My family will be waiting for me."

Jack nodded, tucking the envelope into his pocket, he looked distracted, but that had become a usual countenance for him. He moved to the door, his hand turning the knob before I spoke again.

"Hey, Jack…" He glanced back at me, waiting for me to finish my sentence, "Be careful, will you?"

Jack smirked at me, his old confidence shining through for a moment, "I'm always careful, Davey. That's why I'm still alive. Don't be getting all mushy on me, now, eh? Your sister takes care of that enough."

With those words he was gone, disappearing into the lodging house. I sighed, heading back towards my apartment.

I had been right. My mother was sitting up, and she was on her feet the second I opened the door.

"David! Where have you been?! It's almost midnight!" Mama exclaimed, her voice an exaggerated whisper.

"I'm sorry. I had something to take care of," I replied, leaning down to kiss her cheek, "It won't happen again."

Whether she was merely relieved that I was home alive, and not knifed to death in a back alley, or simply too tired to press the subject further, but she left it at that. I was mildly surprised, but really too tired myself to question it either.

"Goodnight, Mama," I left her, moving into the room I shared with my siblings, quietly preparing myself for bed, before I slipped beneath the covers. As tired as I was, I couldn't fall asleep, my mind running constantly, tumbling thoughts and ideas incessantly, until I thought I would go insane. I turned onto my back, staring up at the ceiling. What have I gotten myself into?

Sleep finally did come, and the next morning, I was up at six, just like every other day. Sarah was up as well, her basket of lace sitting on the table, as she sorted through it.

"Good morning, David." She smiled, chipper as she always was in the morning. She glanced up at me, her smile falling off her face, "David, you look awful! Didn't you sleep last night? What time did you get in, anyways; I must have slept right through it."

I suppressed the urge to glare at her, knowing it was just the lack of sleep that was making me grumpy. "I slept a little," I answered her.

"Do you want some breakfast?"

I shook my head, turning down her offer of food, "Nah, I'm just gonna head out. Gonna sell some of the morning edition before school."

She opened her mouth to protest, but I was out the door before she had the chance to voice her opinions. I just wasn't in the mood for her 'I'm smarter than you' crap this morning.

I arrived at the distribution office, just as most of the boys from the lodging house were showing up. I smiled as they greeted me, stepping behind Racetrack and Kid Blink in line. "Mornin' fellas."

"Heya Davey," Blink said, grinning back at me.

What is it with everybody being so freaking cheerful this morning?

"Whoa, what happened to you? You look like death."

Well, at least Racetrack still seems like himself. "Yeah, thanks Race. Just didn't get much sleep last night, that's all."

"Must be somethin' in the air. Jack stayed up on the roof last night. All night. Went through a whole pack of cigarettes," Kid Blink cut in.

"I know, it was my pack of cigarettes," Racetrack replied bitterly.

I couldn't help but smile at that, "I guess everybody's got a lot on their mind." I commented, not really wanting to get to deep into this particular conversation.

We grew quiet, as we all bought our papers, and I offered them a small wave as I hitched mine onto my shoulder. I didn't want to give them the opportunity to continue the talk. Walking away from the desk, I glanced up as Jack fell into step beside me. Kid had been right, his eyes were bloodshot, and there were dark circles lining the bottoms of them.

"You not sellin' today?" I asked, raising my eyebrows at the lack of papers in his hands.

He shook his head, "Not today, Dave. I've got other things to do." He stuffed his hands in his pockets, and I remained silent, knowing he would talk when he was ready.

"Hey, listen, why don't you meet me at Tibby's for lunch. We need to talk."

"Jack, I can't, I have class," I said, slightly exasperated. I swear, Jack walked around believing the entire world revolved around him.

"So skip." He said, rolling his eyes, "This is important, Dave, and I'm sure your attendance record won't be ruined if you skip one afternoon."

"Why can't you just talk to me about it now?" I asked, irritation apparent in my voice.

Now it was Jack's turn to look exasperated, "I just can't, ok? I'll be there at noon." With that, he left me, turning down a side street, and disappearing from my sight.

I sighed, gritting my teeth. I knew I'd be going to Tibby's at noon. If not for me wanting to do good, than for my sense of curiosity. But he was going to be telling me everything this time. I'd done as he asked, and gotten him that envelope last night. But that was my last step of blind faith. I didn't even know what was in the envelope; Jack had made me promise not to look. All I knew was that he was in some sort of trouble.

I glanced down at the papers in my hand, suddenly weary. I sighed lifting the paper to scan the headlines, my eyes falling across the first headline. "Millionaire Robbed at Knifepoint, Suspect on the Loose."

Well, at least there's a good headline.