MANHATTAN – AUGUST 1899
On the evening of August 3rd, Alexei snorted a line of cocaine, left his opium pipe in the den, and headed over to the Duane Street lodging house.
It had been a week since his fight with Muggs. A week of walking on eggshells, not knowing how things would play out. For whatever reason, Muggs hadn't retaliated much. He went about as if nothing happened, making conversation here and there. He hadn't brought in new girls. He hadn't slit Alexei's throat in his sleep.
The den was empty. Quiet. Unusually quiet. Alexei supposed it was better than the alternative, though he could tell things weren't quite the same between them. Alexei could tell Muggs was on edge – worried about the consequences of stiffing on their end of the bargain. Tonight, was collection night. Whatever the price would be, Muggs sensed it wouldn't be good. And Alexei couldn't help but wonder if they'd made the right decision. Muggs begrudgingly said he'd handle it, and it was best if Alexei wasn't around when they got there.
In the meantime, Alexei needed out of that close-quartered flat before he really lost his mind. At least for one night, he didn't want to think about his responsibilities.
So, when Alexei walked into the Duane Street lodging house, he realized he was a world away from the vice and misery he'd left behind.
He was looking for Jack, but all he found were a few Manhattan newsies hanging about and engaged in a poker game that included Tide and Racetrack.
Alexei found Grim upstairs in the bunk room, teaching Henry how to lace his boots.
"Other way, that's it," Grim was saying, watching Henry struggle with the knots. "Straighten it. Tightly. There you go!"
Henry smiled triumphantly at the loose tie he'd made of his laces – one that would crumple with the slightest of movements. But it was a start.
"I did it!" Henry squeaked, staring up at Grim. "Look!"
Grim beamed down at his baby. "Do you know you're my sunshine?" He asked, pulling Henry into his arms, and kissing the top of his head.
"You said that already," Henry said with a bashful smile.
"Oh, did I?" Grim replied in a teasing voice, as he squeezed Henry tighter. "I can't remember," he mumbled, kissing Henry's forehead as the little boy squirmed. "Come on, let's show the others how smart you are."
Grim scooped him up sideways as Henry squealed with giggles, carrying the little boy under his arm like luggage. He bumped into Alexei in the doorway, offering the Russian a welcoming smile.
"Alexei, what brings you around here?" Grim asked, flipping the still laughing Henry around, and holding him on his hip. "Say hi to Uncle Alex," he said to Henry.
Henry caught his breath, his cheeks flushed. "Hi, Uncle Alex." Henry leaned his head against Grim's collarbone, suddenly very shy.
Alexei couldn't help but smile. "Hi, зайчик."
He reached out and bopped Henry on the nose, eliciting another giggle from the kid.
Grim noticed how thin Alexei looked, as if he were still in the Refuge. His hands looked skeletal.
"Jack here?" Alexei asked, sniffling a bit.
"Uh, no. He went somewhere with his sister and Sarah," Grim said, starting down the stairs with Alexei following. "They're bound to end up at Medda's though. I'd try there."
"Okay, thanks," Alexei said with a firm nod.
The front door opened again, revealing Marquette with Amelie in his arms.
"There's the birthday girl!" Tide announced, folding his hand to Racetrack's delight as he collected the winnings.
Marquette smiled, waving Amelie's little left hand as she chewed on her right one.
The other boys cheered, making Amelie bounce a bit in Marquette's arms, clapping twice as she screamed happily.
"Amelie!" Henry yelled, squirming for Grim to put him down. "Amelie!" He ran the rest of the way down the steps and over to the sofa where Marquette sat with Amelie on his lap.
"Gentle," Grim reminded his son. "She's littler than you."
Henry cautiously reached out his hand, letting Amelie grab a finger tightly. "Hi, Amelie," Henry cooed as Amelie babbled. "Aw, she's like a baby kitty-cat!"
"Shh, not so loud, shepsele," Grim said, bending down next to him.
"My daddy says you're a little princess," Henry relayed to Amelie as Marquette bounced her on his knee.
"Oh, is that right?" Marquette smiled, leaning down to watch Amelie's happy face as she waved her hands. "C'est vrai? Es-tu une petite princesse?" He asked in Amelie's ear, giving her cheek a kiss as she shrieked again and stuck out her tongue.
Grim smiled at his friend as he ruffled Henry's hair. "Where's Camille?"
"Sleeping. She has an early shift tomorrow," Marquette said with a sad shrug. "I'm a little worried about her, actually. Might ask Doc to check on her."
"Why, what's the matter?"
"She's been feeling sick the past week. Vomiting, not eating." Marquette sighed. "I don't want her to get Amelie sick, too."
Alexei closed the front door behind him, muting the rest of the conversation. He headed off to Medda's theater, not wanting to stick around to hear about other peoples' problems. He had enough of his own to be of assistance to anyone else.
When he got to Irving Hall, he again found no sign of Jack. The theater was in its usual evening swing of business, packed and noisy.
A rather tipsy Colleen Tracey latched onto Alexei's arm before he even saw her walk over.
"Alexei!" She hummed, hugging him tightly and inhaling. "You smell like cigarettes. Can I have one? I'm dying for a smoke."
Alexei forced a smile, hugging her back with less fervor. "I don't have any. I'm sorry."
"Liar," Colleen giggled, reaching down to feel his pockets. She pulled out his tarnished case and found one cigarette left. "Can I have it? Please? I've had such a hard evening."
Alexei shook his head. "It's my last one."
"But you can buy more."
"You think I bought those?" Alexei chuckled. "Come on, you know me better than that."
Colleen rolled her eyes, smirking as she pressed into him harder, moving her hand strategically. Alexei exhaled through his nose, groaning as he looked away.
"Colleen—"
"Alexei," she countered, batting her eyes. "Come on, it could be fun. You don't gotta pay. Just give me the cigarette. How come you never tried anything with me before?"
"Aside from you being Muggs' little sister," Alexei laughed, gently taking the arms she'd draped around his neck and moving them off.
"Is that all you think of me?" Colleen asked, brushing her hair back, and readjusting her chemise.
"I think you're fifteen, and you're an idiot," he said, handing her his last cigarette. He struck a match on the bottom of his shoe and lit it for her. "But fuck it, I'm not your parent. Ruin your lungs with my blessing."
Colleen gave him a look which he gave right back to her, yanking the cigarette out of her mouth to take a drag.
"Never tried to kiss me, not even once," Colleen mused aloud. "Never let me smoke opium either."
"Are you saying you wanted me to do those things?" Alexei asked, quirking an eyebrow as they sat at a table in the back. "Damn, how bad do you think I am?"
"You let those other girls smoke it."
"I didn't know them."
"I was telling Leah the story the other day," Colleen said quietly, swaying a little. "Of how you and Muggs took me to Central Park on Christmas Eve. I was, what? Eleven? We built a snowman, and then some kid knocked it over."
Alexei chuckled at the memory, nodding as his eyes grew distant. "Muggs put the fear of God in that kid."
"And I was crying, thinking it was the end of the world," Colleen went on. "So, you bought me a hot chocolate. And then we had a snowball fight. Even Muggs had fun."
With a rueful smile, Alexei shrugged, blowing out smoke through his nose. "That was a good time."
Colleen nodded. "I wish we'd had more of those."
Alexei looked at her thoughtfully, noticing her faraway expression. "He does love you, Colleen."
"He's such a jerk."
"Hm," Alexei breathed out a laugh. "I know. But he's done a lot to protect you. He wouldn't have done so if he didn't care."
"You're an optimist, Alexei," Colleen said, handing him the last of the cigarette to finish off. She stood up, giving him a contrite look. "Want me to get you anything? Food? Something to drink?"
Alexei noticed Jack enter the theater with Sophie and Sarah, meeting his eyes, and waving him over.
"No thank you, Colleen," Alexei said politely, squeezing her hand. He gave her a direct look. "You're being safe, right?"
Colleen rolled her eyes. "I don't need to hear this from you," she whined. "I can take care of myself."
"Well, can't you take care of yourself just as good in a tobacco shop or something?" Alexei called after her teasingly as she flipped him off, disappearing into the crowd. "Or on a nitro detail?"
Jack moved to join Alexei at the table with Sarah and Sophie, a bit shocked to find him there. "You lost?" Jack chuckled, somewhat uneasily.
Alexei's friendly demeanor had thrown Jack for a loop. "That's sort of the idea," Alexei confessed. "Muggs and I quit the business. He's dealing with some of the goons tonight."
Jack raised his eyebrows. "You're kidding."
"What business is this?" Sarah asked, offering Alexei an intrigued smile.
"Oh, um," Jack forced an uncomfortable laugh, shaking his head. "It's, uh—"
"Service?" Alexei finished, sounding somewhat unsure in his inflection.
Sarah appeared confused. She looked from Jack to Alexei. "Like a sweatshop?"
Jack squinted as he thought about it, and Alexei gave a half nod. "Not exactly—"
Sophie rolled her eyes. "Sarah, he's a drug-dealing pimp."
Jack shot her a glare.
"Well, what's the point in beating around the bush?" Sophie asked, shrugging. "She can handle the truth. At least afford her some respect."
Sarah rebounded rather quickly, masking her surprise. "Oh…" She managed, not sure how to respond. "Is that something you can just quit?"
"If it were up to me, yes," Alexei replied, drumming his fingers on the table. "Unfortunately, our boss thinks otherwise."
"Well, I think it's very gallant of you to try," Sarah said with a firm nod.
"How did you get Muggs to agree?" Jack asked.
Alexei ran a hand through his hair. "I didn't. I don't know. He's been acting strange all week. I mean he's normal, but…something's off. I ain't too sure he won't murder me."
"Hey, you're more than welcome to stay at the lodging house for the night, if you want," Jack said, extending the invitation sincerely. "I'll walk with ya."
"Thanks," Alexei agreed.
They said goodnight to Sophie, with Jack making her promise to remember to eat breakfast the next morning. "You can't keep skipping it, Sophie," Jack reminded her. "You'll waste away into nothing."
Jack and Alexei got back to the lodging house late, but luckily found the door still unlocked. It was dark inside as they tiptoed in, finding no one in the common room. Upstairs in the bunk room, Jack showed Alexei to an empty bunk. It was across from Grim and Henry, who were once again asleep side by side.
"This is soft," Alexei whispered, feeling the mattress. "Blankets and everything."
Jack nodded, realizing how good he had it compared to Alexei.
"I haven't slept in a bed this nice since the Refuge," Alexei admitted with a quiet laugh. "Don't that beat all."
"You sure Muggs will be okay by himself?" Jack asked, kicking off his boots. "Maybe he should've spent the night here, too. Just in case those guys want to get violent."
Alexei thought about that, and then shook his head as he settled under the blanket. "Have you met Muggs?" He mumbled, leaning on his side. "He'll be fine. I think he'd rather stay there than here."
Jack nodded. "You're probably right."
He made his way to his bunk, pausing to pull the blanket that Henry had stolen, and moved it to Grim's side a bit more.
"Hey, Jack?" Alexei whispered into the darkness, already regretting asking this.
"Yeah?" Jack replied, walking back over. "What?"
Alexei gave a somewhat apologetic look. "Do you have any laudanum on you?"
"Why?"
"It's just…I don't know if I can sleep without it."