The Four Lords of Brooklyn

Chapter 4- End of a Journey (The Beginning of a Long Friendship)

"Quick, this way!" Rita nodded toward a turn off that would lead them in the direction of the docks. Claws scraping on cement, the group turned in unison and bounded toward the warf where Fagin would surely be waiting.

"Pick up the pace!" Vladimir called from towards the back of the group. "Look who's coming!"

Dodger turned his head in time to see Roscoe come flashing around the corner, flanked by Desoto. The mutt slowed down, contrary to Vlad's recommendation, and veered to the left, tipping over a row of trash cans. This slowed the Dobermans enough so that the gang could take an unexpected turn, losing them temporarily.

"They'll know... we're going to... the docks!" Francis panted. "We need to warn... Fagin!" "Hey, where in the world were you guys?" Fagin said welcoming his group with open arms, his eyes lit up when he saw Oliver again,

"Oliver, you came back, oh I missed you lil' guy," He turned to see the Malinois, German Shepherd, Borzoi and Bergamsco Shepherd warily approaching him, "no...no...it's ok, I won't hurt ya',"

Before formal introductions could be made, the doors were broken down by Roscoe and Desoto. A man Fagin thought he could get away from appeared, casually and ominously, "Sykes... no...it can't be..that train...you were,"

"Why are you so surprise...? I jumped into the river to save my skin," He said blowing smoke from cigar while his two dobermans at side growled, wanting to tear his dogs limb from limb, "now i have been informed about that the cat you hold there has a $50,000 reward for its return," pulled out a .45 caliber pistol from the inside of his coat, "so you see, i don't need your services any more Fagin,"

Dodger let out a feirce growl. He hadn't seen Sykes in a long time, and the scene was all the same. They were protecting Fagin, and Sykes was about to kill him. Would there ever be a quiet day in New York City?

"P-please Sykes," Fagin whimpered. "Can't we just put this all behind us? I mean... let bygones be bygones?"

Sykes twirled his semi-automatic pistol between his thumb and forefinger, eying it with morbid curiosity. "How about an eye for an eye Fagin? Ever hear that phrase? You killed me, or so you thought, so isn't it only fair that I take a shot at you, so to speak?"

He pointed the barrel of the .45 at Fagin's head, tilting it slightly for a better angle. "Now, only one question remains. Should I kill you first..." He paused, nodding his head towards Roscoe and Desoto, "Or should I let them kill your dogs?"

"Sigh..I may not be a match one-on-one," Charlotte thought and looked at Dodger with a growl to firmly solidify their partnership between gangs (she and Dodger are the same age), "Jus' like ol' times, eh Dodgah' Bwoy?"

Sykes gave his dogs the ok to rip Fagin's dogs to shreds, but two gang leaders stood their, 'Cross' and Dodger, "Well, look who's first in line?" Roscoe and Desoto snarled with evil grins at Dodger and Charlotte, "You said it Lottie Baby." Dodger growled, positioning himself next to his old partner in crime. "Let's do this."

Roscoe and Desoto grinned, waiting for the snap. Sykes clicked his fingers and Roscoe lunged, throwing his body at the nearest of the two. Dodger and Charlotte barked and the mill of dogs cascaded down upon Roscoe and Desoto while Fagin watched, wide-eyed, with Oliver clutched in his grubby hands.

"Is that all you got Sonny-Jim?" Rita growled at Desoto who was trying desperately to nip her rear paw. "Oh come on, you can do better than that."

"What's the matter Soto?" Tito yipped, darting in and out of the scuffle at rapid speeds. "Can't handle your woman?" Rita kicked Desoto away and turnedon Tito, teeth bared.

"I am NOT his woman," She vowed.

"Focus, Ooman (Woman)!" 'Cross' yelled as Desoto took advantage of Rita being distracted and jumped to sink her teeth into the doberman's shoulder, "nawt on my watch, ragamuffin!" the two dogs squared off, circling seeing who will make the first move.

Desoto lunged at Charlotte but the Jack Russel got on her back and gave a nip in the neck, "Yu don' 'ave to do dis, 'Soto," Charlotte said getting off his back while he re-righted himself,

"Yu stay wit' yah masta', yu won' end up like 'im, yu' get worse, i see it, when da' catcha' get yu, yu not come back mon," Desoto seemed to pause for a minute, debating whether or not to listen to Charlotte's advice. Meanwhile Roscoe was having a difficult time keeping up with the multitdue of attacks.

"Had enough yet Roscoe?" Dodger growled, nipping his heel. Einstein remained with Fagin in case Sykes decided to make a move before his dogs were finished. Francis and Vladamir were fighting side by side like the friends they'd quickly become, and Davey, Rashad, and Tito were everywhere at once- on Desoto, on Roscoe, and looking out for friends who weren't paying attention.

"Never Dodger," Roscoe growled, lashing out at the mutt's bandana. "I won't settle for anything less than your head in my doggie bowl."

"Hope you like disappointment," Rita snapped, kicking Roscoe and distracting him while Dodger launched at him, teeth open wide, and latched on to Roscoe's throat. With a few shakes of his head and Francis's and Vladamir's help, Roscoe was flying through the glass of the window in Fagin's shack, plummeting to the waters below.

"Well, it seems they couldn't finish the job," Sykes said cocking back the hammer on his gun to a shivering Fagin, "so i'll just-,"

"NYPD, hands up!" said an officer outside the shack, with his .45 ready and coming with back-up, suddenly a multitude of police cruisers with cops shielded behind their car doors,"This is the New York City Police Department, come out with your hands up, Sykes, we have you surrounded!" a cop said through a megaphone.

Meanwhile inside all eight dogs, surrounded Desoto, "So wat it gonna be, 'Soto?" Charlotte said looking at him with concern since she knew even the baddest dogs can be changed. Charlotte narrowed out the options for the Doberman,

"Yu can go wit' da samfiman (conman) and neva' come back, or yu can find' da' shelta' and get ya'self a family, sum'ady (somebody) come 'elp yu, and care for you," The police crowded around the shack as Sykes' hand quivered on the gun. Eventually, and with a look to kill at Fagin, he surrendered, emerging from the shack and handing himself over to the police.

"Mr. William Sykes you wanting for conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping and...," the list of charges on Sykes seemed endless, "You have the right to remain silent," said a cop handcuffing and placing Sykes into the backseat of his cruiser, "anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law you have then right to an attorney, if you can't afford one we'll have one brought to you,"

"Make your choice Desoto," Rita urged, hoping against hope that he would go to the shelter. "You only have a few minutes left."

Desoto's ears went down, and a resounding sigh of relief floated through the group. Rita and Charlotte smiled at the reluctant Doberman. "You've made the right choice Soto." Vladamir grinned.

"You'll like life with a human!" Oliver contributed, a light in his eyes as he looked from Desoto to Fagin, from Dodger to Charlotte. He wanted to get back to his own human now, he missed Jenny. Dodger and Charlotte returned Oliver to Jenny, what Fagin did with the money was up to him,

"'Oi, yu' can visit my gang anytime ya' want, lilly mon!" 'Cross' barked through the window,

Oliver laughed from Jenny's arms, looking down at his friends. "Thanks you guys! I might just take you up on that, Charlotte!"

The house poodle looked to see what all the commotion was about,"WHAT is that mutt doing in front of the window?" Georgette said looking at the Malinois distastefully,

"Hey hey!" Tito smooched the air. "The 'mutt won't be here long my Sweet, then it'll be us ALL alone..." Georgette turned her snout up in disgust, slamming the window closed.

"And you know you can always call on me-" Dodger paused. "Well, us." He amended, shooting a signature smirk at the dogs surrounding him. "Whataya say we wrap up this sap party?"

Oliver laughed again as Jenny waved, pulling the little kitten inside her home. A heartbroken Tito lay in emotional agony on the steps and had to be carried by Einstein, but they got moving again. "Well Charlotte, where do we go from here?"