Chapter 2
Jack looked at his hand and had to work real hard to keep his poker face. They had been playing for two hours and he had been doing very poorly, that was, until he'd drawn a new card this hand. He couldn't believe it, thanks to the wild card that was now in his grasp, he was now holding a Royal Flush! It wasn't something that happened every day, heck, he'd never seen it happen in all his years of playing poker. The game was going well too, he was bluffing his way around the game and getting the guys to put more and more money into the pot. He planned to raise the pot to a few more dollars before he was finished. He knew that each of the guys must have good hands, but his was better, way better for there wasn't anything that could beat a Royal Flush.
"Well, fellas, I dunno, but I t'ink I'm gonna raise da pot by ten cents."
"Well, I'll see ya ten cents, an' I'll raise ya." Spot said, his face continually impassive.
Race sighed, "Sheesh, I'm out, you guy's is too rich for my blood."
It was between Jack and Spot now.
"I'll raise ya a dollar."
Spot smirked, "I'll call. Read 'em and weep, Cowboy." Spot laid down four aces.
The room was silent, they all looked to Jack, three dollars was a lot to lose in one hand of poker.
Jack grinned slowly, "Well, Spot, maybe you should do the weepin'…" And laid down his Royal Flush.
"HOLY LORD!" Race gasped.
"No way ya got dat hand!" Spot said, his face showing complete shock. It was absolutely comical and Jack burst out laughing, "Aw man, if only Ti could see ya now, Spot. She wouldn't be so frightened of da all mighty leadah a Brooklyn tryin' ta catch flies in 'is mouf!"
Spot shook his head and shut his mouth quickly, "I dunno how ya did dat, Jacky-boy, but da pot is definitely yours!"
Jack took the money and stuck it in his pocket, "Thanks fellas, I t'ink it's about time I took my winnin's an' headed for home. I can't wait ta tell, Ti. She's gonna be sorry she missed dis!"
"'Ey! You can't leave yet, Jack! I haven't had a chance ta win back me money yet!" Spot griped.
When all the guys had finally got out of the Brooklyn Lodging House and they had said all their good-byes, Jack began walking towards Manhattan in a brisk pace. He had a huge smile on his face, "Dis is definitely one a da best nights of me life. I can't wait ta tell, Ti, Man oh man, can ya guys pictuah da look on 'er face?"
David smiled, "Yeah, and wait til you tell, Sarah."
Jack's step faltered imperceptibly and he suddenly felt horrible. He hadn't even thought of, Sarah. His first impulse was instantly to share his wonderful news with Molly and he felt guilty. But why should I? She is my best friend aftah all Of coise, Sarah is my girlfriend an' I do think I'm in love wit' her. No, I am in love wit' her. But another part of him whispered, if dat were true, den how come all you've been able to think about is, Ti. Sarah's face is a million miles away. Jack shook off the thoughts, he loved Sarah, she was his girlfriend, Ti was his best friend though and he'd known her longest. Obviously his first thoughts would be of her, it was habit. Jack nodded, "Yeah, habit." He murmured to himself.
When they got the Lodging house he took the steps two at a time and burst into the room, the rest of the guys who went to Brooklyn behind him, "Where's Ti? I've got some great news, fellas! I got a Royal Flush tanight."
Many calls of, "Way to go Jack!" and "Alright, Cowboy!" rang through the room, but Crutchy stood slowly, his smile fading, "What do ya mean, where's Ti? Isn't she wit' you?"
Jack looked confused, "Nah, Crutchy, ya know she's afraid a Spot, everybody knows dat. She wouldn't go ta Brooklyn if ya paid 'er."
"Well, she's been gone for ovah two hours, Jack. She said she was gonna go find you. I t'ink she missed ya because you're always gone, ya know? She doesn't get to see ya as much." Crutchy said quietly.
Jack frowned, "So, what'cha tellin' me is dat, Ti ran outta heah to find me an' she ain't back? So basically, Molly is missin'." Jack could feel his heart pounding, so many things could happen to a girl in the city alone at night, so many horrid things, "No, Crutch, she's on da roof or somethin', she's gotta be." Jack said, running to the window and up to the roof. But the roof was empty, he came back in the room, his eyes full of panicked despair, "We's gotta find 'er guys. Come on, full search, now."
And he ran down the stairs and out the door without another word.
For two days they searched the streets and questioned people in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, all over, [heh sounds familiar...] but no one had seen her. Jack had grown despondent. He wouldn't talk to anyone, not even Sarah. He hadn't slept in the entirety of the time Tired had been missing and though exhausted, he couldn't sleep. All he did was search and search, returning to the house at dawn, washing up, getting papers and then searching while he sold. For two more days this went on and finally, Jack broke down.
He was standing at the corner with David and Les when he saw a girl. She was short and thin, with thick brown hair. She was whistling to herself merrily as she made her way school. She looked exactly like Molly had at that age and Jack let out a small cry of hurt. David looked at him curiously. What started out as a small aching sob soon turned into hoarse weeping that sounded as though it was being ripped straight from his heart, "She's gotta be okay, Dave. She's just gotta…" Jack whispered miserably as David pulled him into an alley.
"It's okay, Jack. She's going to be fine."
"Nah, Dave, she's been missin' fer days an' it's all my fault. I shoulda spent more time wit' her. I shoulda stayed 'ome wit' her dat night. But instead I insisted on goin' ta Brooklyn, I nevah even thought dat I might not see 'er again. I've been takin' 'er for granted…God, I just wish she was wit' me right now… She's been my best friend for so long, Dave…I dunno know what I'll do if I don't find 'er…" Jack whispered finally, his sobs subsiding. He wiped his eyes embarrassed, "T'anks, Dave. Don't tell anyone 'bout dis, okay. I don't want 'em ta get discouraged."
"I won't, I promise."
"Pinky?" Jack murmured sadly.
David sighed, "We'll find her, Jack."
Les nodded, "Yeah, Jack!" Les agreed, his never ending optimism and faith reminding him poignantly of Ti, "We'll find 'er. I'm sure she's fine."
Jack smiled sadly at him, "Thanks, kid."
It was three days later and she was still missing.
Jack sat on the roof staring out over the city. It was late, real late, way passed midnight and on it's way to morning, but he still couldn't sleep. He stared over the city and swallowed shakily, his throat clumping as he thought about Ti, somewhere out there in the rainy city, alone, without him to protect her. He knew she was probably frightened wherever she was, that is, if she was still alive.... A tear slipped down his cheek and he sniffed. He looked up at the stars as it started raining again. The rain sprinkling onto his face, mixing with the tears that fell there, "Starlight, star bright, first star I see tanight, I wish I may, wish I might, have dis wish I wish tanight. Listen, I don't know who heah's dese wishes, but I'm t'inkin' dat maybe it's you, God. Since I already tried prayin' an' ya didn't heah dose, I dunno, maybe you'se busy or somethin'. I thought I'd try dis… Geeze, I don't even know if dis woiks. I just know I'll try anythin'. But well, Ti, used ta do dis a lot, an' I dunno, maybe it'll 'elp me now. So, please.. help me find 'er… I need 'er. Uh, dat's all.. Thanks."
At the same time, somewhere in Brooklyn, a small sob escaped a pain-wracked form. She was almost glad for the rain, because, though cold, it rinsed away the blood and numbed the physical pain. Tears streamed from her cheeks. She didn't know how long she'd been there, she only knew that she wanted to go home and that she missed Jack. She looked up at the sky, the rain sprinkling her cheeks with it's biting cold, and stared at the few visable stars between the thick gray rain clouds, "Starlight….. star bright…. First star I see tanight……"
Spot Conlon sighed angrily into the night. He was frustrated with his lack of ability to find, Ti. His 'birds' were the best in New York. They shouldn't have any problem finding one small, missing girl, and yet they hadn't seen or heard about her from anyone. Which meant one of two things. She was either dead or someone didn't ever want her to be found. Neither was very uplifting.
Jack looked at his hand and had to work real hard to keep his poker face. They had been playing for two hours and he had been doing very poorly, that was, until he'd drawn a new card this hand. He couldn't believe it, thanks to the wild card that was now in his grasp, he was now holding a Royal Flush! It wasn't something that happened every day, heck, he'd never seen it happen in all his years of playing poker. The game was going well too, he was bluffing his way around the game and getting the guys to put more and more money into the pot. He planned to raise the pot to a few more dollars before he was finished. He knew that each of the guys must have good hands, but his was better, way better for there wasn't anything that could beat a Royal Flush.
"Well, fellas, I dunno, but I t'ink I'm gonna raise da pot by ten cents."
"Well, I'll see ya ten cents, an' I'll raise ya." Spot said, his face continually impassive.
Race sighed, "Sheesh, I'm out, you guy's is too rich for my blood."
It was between Jack and Spot now.
"I'll raise ya a dollar."
Spot smirked, "I'll call. Read 'em and weep, Cowboy." Spot laid down four aces.
The room was silent, they all looked to Jack, three dollars was a lot to lose in one hand of poker.
Jack grinned slowly, "Well, Spot, maybe you should do the weepin'…" And laid down his Royal Flush.
"HOLY LORD!" Race gasped.
"No way ya got dat hand!" Spot said, his face showing complete shock. It was absolutely comical and Jack burst out laughing, "Aw man, if only Ti could see ya now, Spot. She wouldn't be so frightened of da all mighty leadah a Brooklyn tryin' ta catch flies in 'is mouf!"
Spot shook his head and shut his mouth quickly, "I dunno how ya did dat, Jacky-boy, but da pot is definitely yours!"
Jack took the money and stuck it in his pocket, "Thanks fellas, I t'ink it's about time I took my winnin's an' headed for home. I can't wait ta tell, Ti. She's gonna be sorry she missed dis!"
"'Ey! You can't leave yet, Jack! I haven't had a chance ta win back me money yet!" Spot griped.
When all the guys had finally got out of the Brooklyn Lodging House and they had said all their good-byes, Jack began walking towards Manhattan in a brisk pace. He had a huge smile on his face, "Dis is definitely one a da best nights of me life. I can't wait ta tell, Ti, Man oh man, can ya guys pictuah da look on 'er face?"
David smiled, "Yeah, and wait til you tell, Sarah."
Jack's step faltered imperceptibly and he suddenly felt horrible. He hadn't even thought of, Sarah. His first impulse was instantly to share his wonderful news with Molly and he felt guilty. But why should I? She is my best friend aftah all Of coise, Sarah is my girlfriend an' I do think I'm in love wit' her. No, I am in love wit' her. But another part of him whispered, if dat were true, den how come all you've been able to think about is, Ti. Sarah's face is a million miles away. Jack shook off the thoughts, he loved Sarah, she was his girlfriend, Ti was his best friend though and he'd known her longest. Obviously his first thoughts would be of her, it was habit. Jack nodded, "Yeah, habit." He murmured to himself.
When they got the Lodging house he took the steps two at a time and burst into the room, the rest of the guys who went to Brooklyn behind him, "Where's Ti? I've got some great news, fellas! I got a Royal Flush tanight."
Many calls of, "Way to go Jack!" and "Alright, Cowboy!" rang through the room, but Crutchy stood slowly, his smile fading, "What do ya mean, where's Ti? Isn't she wit' you?"
Jack looked confused, "Nah, Crutchy, ya know she's afraid a Spot, everybody knows dat. She wouldn't go ta Brooklyn if ya paid 'er."
"Well, she's been gone for ovah two hours, Jack. She said she was gonna go find you. I t'ink she missed ya because you're always gone, ya know? She doesn't get to see ya as much." Crutchy said quietly.
Jack frowned, "So, what'cha tellin' me is dat, Ti ran outta heah to find me an' she ain't back? So basically, Molly is missin'." Jack could feel his heart pounding, so many things could happen to a girl in the city alone at night, so many horrid things, "No, Crutch, she's on da roof or somethin', she's gotta be." Jack said, running to the window and up to the roof. But the roof was empty, he came back in the room, his eyes full of panicked despair, "We's gotta find 'er guys. Come on, full search, now."
And he ran down the stairs and out the door without another word.
For two days they searched the streets and questioned people in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, all over, [heh sounds familiar...] but no one had seen her. Jack had grown despondent. He wouldn't talk to anyone, not even Sarah. He hadn't slept in the entirety of the time Tired had been missing and though exhausted, he couldn't sleep. All he did was search and search, returning to the house at dawn, washing up, getting papers and then searching while he sold. For two more days this went on and finally, Jack broke down.
He was standing at the corner with David and Les when he saw a girl. She was short and thin, with thick brown hair. She was whistling to herself merrily as she made her way school. She looked exactly like Molly had at that age and Jack let out a small cry of hurt. David looked at him curiously. What started out as a small aching sob soon turned into hoarse weeping that sounded as though it was being ripped straight from his heart, "She's gotta be okay, Dave. She's just gotta…" Jack whispered miserably as David pulled him into an alley.
"It's okay, Jack. She's going to be fine."
"Nah, Dave, she's been missin' fer days an' it's all my fault. I shoulda spent more time wit' her. I shoulda stayed 'ome wit' her dat night. But instead I insisted on goin' ta Brooklyn, I nevah even thought dat I might not see 'er again. I've been takin' 'er for granted…God, I just wish she was wit' me right now… She's been my best friend for so long, Dave…I dunno know what I'll do if I don't find 'er…" Jack whispered finally, his sobs subsiding. He wiped his eyes embarrassed, "T'anks, Dave. Don't tell anyone 'bout dis, okay. I don't want 'em ta get discouraged."
"I won't, I promise."
"Pinky?" Jack murmured sadly.
David sighed, "We'll find her, Jack."
Les nodded, "Yeah, Jack!" Les agreed, his never ending optimism and faith reminding him poignantly of Ti, "We'll find 'er. I'm sure she's fine."
Jack smiled sadly at him, "Thanks, kid."
It was three days later and she was still missing.
Jack sat on the roof staring out over the city. It was late, real late, way passed midnight and on it's way to morning, but he still couldn't sleep. He stared over the city and swallowed shakily, his throat clumping as he thought about Ti, somewhere out there in the rainy city, alone, without him to protect her. He knew she was probably frightened wherever she was, that is, if she was still alive.... A tear slipped down his cheek and he sniffed. He looked up at the stars as it started raining again. The rain sprinkling onto his face, mixing with the tears that fell there, "Starlight, star bright, first star I see tanight, I wish I may, wish I might, have dis wish I wish tanight. Listen, I don't know who heah's dese wishes, but I'm t'inkin' dat maybe it's you, God. Since I already tried prayin' an' ya didn't heah dose, I dunno, maybe you'se busy or somethin'. I thought I'd try dis… Geeze, I don't even know if dis woiks. I just know I'll try anythin'. But well, Ti, used ta do dis a lot, an' I dunno, maybe it'll 'elp me now. So, please.. help me find 'er… I need 'er. Uh, dat's all.. Thanks."
At the same time, somewhere in Brooklyn, a small sob escaped a pain-wracked form. She was almost glad for the rain, because, though cold, it rinsed away the blood and numbed the physical pain. Tears streamed from her cheeks. She didn't know how long she'd been there, she only knew that she wanted to go home and that she missed Jack. She looked up at the sky, the rain sprinkling her cheeks with it's biting cold, and stared at the few visable stars between the thick gray rain clouds, "Starlight….. star bright…. First star I see tanight……"
Spot Conlon sighed angrily into the night. He was frustrated with his lack of ability to find, Ti. His 'birds' were the best in New York. They shouldn't have any problem finding one small, missing girl, and yet they hadn't seen or heard about her from anyone. Which meant one of two things. She was either dead or someone didn't ever want her to be found. Neither was very uplifting.