By SaL
Chapter Three: Building a Mystery
A/N: I know, I know, I took forever to update! Lets just say I had a series of writer blocks and on top of that my Antigone thesis and my Time Machine thesis. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I received an A on Antigone and I just handed in my other paper yesterday. So without further adieu I present to you chapter 3.
(don't forget to review!)
At 4 am David and Les were ready for work and headed downstairs for breakfast. On this particular Sunday morning David was extremely happy and almost excited to start the day. However he would soon loose that feeling as his uncle Liam appeared at the table. "And Just what are you two doing up this early for?"
"We's gotta sell our mornin' papes Uncle Liam." Les explained excitedly while scoffing
down his food. " Is this true David?"
"Well yes. Generally if you want to be at the distribution center on time you get up at four, eat fast and head on over. Now if you'll excuse us we're gonna be late."
" Les why don't you run along a head while I have a chat here with your brother."
" Ok uncle Liam. Don't take too long Davy, we'll be in our usual spot!"
~ ~ ~
"What's the problem Liam? Did ya suddenly feel religious today and decide ta go ta church?"
"That's enough David! You are not going out on those streets to disgrace this family name!"
David smirked as he struggled to stifle his laughter.
"Ha! I'd like ta see ya try and stop me!" And with that David ran from the mansion.
~ ~ ~
" 'ey Les! Where's yer bradda?"
"Oh, Uncle Liam wanted to talk ta him. I told him we'd be in our usual spot." A look of pure terror swept over Jacks face for an instant as he pictured the two fighting. That Liam guy looked strong, to strong for himself, too strong even for Brooklyn. 'What, what if it gets physical? Has that even happened before? Is that what David left out of his story? Wait a minuet, why isn't Les worried?' Jack thought.
"Is 'e in trouble or somethin'?"
"Naw David's gonna be fine. He and uncle Liam might not see eye-to-eye all the time, but they usually yell a lot if there's a problem. Uncle Liam seemed calm about the whole thing."
" What 'bout Davy." Les suddenly got quite as he tried to recall his brother's actions.
"Actually David seemed pretty happy this morning. Well, at least until uncle Liam showed up anyway. *pause* Look! There he is now! Davy, over here!"
" 'ey David, what happened? Ya ok?" Jack asked concerned while mentally looking him over for signs of abuse. " Eh….. ya, I'm ok. Why wouldn't I be?" Jack gave him a look that sent chills down his spine making him feel as though Jack could see right through him. " What are we doing standing around here for? Lets sell us some papes!"
"Ya!" Les agreed. David grabbed a stack of papers scanning an article about a cat that a person had strapped dynamite to. " Crazed animal blows up bank!" (a/n: Ok, ok so I just saw Sweet Home Alabama the other day.)
I watched him as closely as I could all morning. However, it became difficult as he tried every tactic he could to dodge me. Finally I gave up my chase when I realized I'd lost him for good. Unknown to Jack, David was above him on a shop roof.
After seeing that Jack had seized his search, he ran from rooftop to rooftop along the streets of the 'upper-world'. His run sprung memories of Germany, the friends he had made, and the gang they had become. As David began his decent, he hoped that someday soon he would regain the courage he had once had when he was younger. Laughing he jumped to the ground and proceeded to run straight into someone. David remained frozen on the ground unsure of whether to accept the offered hand or run as far away as possible.
~ ~ ~
I sat with Les at lunch in a secluded booth in Tibby's. Today I wasn't Cowboy, Jack the buddy, or Jack the boyfriend. No, today I was detective Jack a man with a mission. It was clear to me that I had to the truth at all costs cuz lord knows David's suffered enough already. I turned my attention from my thoughts back to Les. Now, how exactly do I explain this? Oh ya…
"Now Les, I know there's somethin' up wit Davy, an I'm not gonna force 'is secret out a you'se, but I'se is gonna need your help ta help him. I Know you'se is bruddas and you'se got dis special bond, but stayin' scilent aint gonna help 'im much. Ya see Les, big bruddas are the best kind a siblings ta have cuz they're always there for you'se an they protect you'se wit their lives. But who's there ta protect them when they's in trouble? Who can they turn to in their time of need?" (Ack! I absolutely hate this! *grrr* writing accents sucks!)
"That's not true! He's always had Mama and Papa!" Les exclaimed then froze suddenly, realizing what he had just said. "But their dead, and Davy always hated telling them stuff cuz he didn't want to worry them." Les whispered.
"Listen Les, ya brudda needs are help." Les nodded in response. "But what can I do?"
"Answer my questions." (A/n: lets imagine the accent shall we? Yes, I think we shall.)
And so with another nod from Les they got started.
"All right first question, how long has Davy been going to Germany?" (A/n: Remember we're imagining the accent.)
"Um, since he was three. Ither our grandfather or uncle would come to get him, but Sarah and I were never around when he left."
"How come?" Les just shrugged and ordered a second drink. "Ok… well how about when he got back? Did he ever seem different or odd to you?"
"Well, sometimes when he came home he'd sleep on his stomach which he claimed was because of a sunburn. I was too little to realize that Germany got colder than New York in the fall."
"Hmmm…"
"What? What's wrong? What's hmmm?" I looked into Les's innocent blue eyes full of panic and fear for his big, strong older brother who, to him, could do anything. How could I tell possibly think of telling him that I thought Davy had been abused?
"It's nothing, it's just strange that's all."
~ ~ ~
A/N: at this time I'm going to take a short interlude to catch my breath after a traumatizing cooking experience which I will tell you included a microwave, a chicken pot pie, a scatter brained me, and a lot of smoke. I'll let you fill in the details. Needless to say I'm left with most windows open in a very smelly house on the coldest day of the week in which Massachusetts received a snowy surprise. I don't have to tell you that I didn't get to have that pie that I was looking forward to; I did however make up for my loss with a huge slice of homemade apple pie! True story, true story! Anyway just so you know I'm actually a very good cook. I have to be it's in my blood it comes with having Italian and Irish ancestors. I make a mean apple crisp! My specialties are anything egg related and anything dessert related. Now that I have stuck my head out the window for a whiff of fresh air let us continue on with the story…
~ ~ ~
(A/N: Mmmmmmmmmm Apple Pie is soooooooo good… *drools* excuse me while I go and help myself to another slice……………………………………………… Ok! Sorry about that, I haven't eaten anything since 2ish and it's like 8:30ish right now. Ok NOW I can continue…)
Les proved to be very helpful. I wasn't sure whether he'd be able to recall much. I got up and chose another table in the back of the deserted restaurant, it was around 5 and all of the newsies had abandoned the place. So, I sat in the back unnoticed by the few customers popping in and out, and ordered an apple pie (;-) while I prepared for my next interview.
Sarah arrived fifteen minuets later and I had already finished a quarter of the pie and cut a slice for her. Sliding into the booth opposite me, she graciously accepted the pie. Remaining silent, I watched her finish eating before I began my interrogation. " Listen Sarah, I'm sorry but I didn't ask you hear on a date tonight and I promise I'll make it up to you. All I ask is that you hear me out."
"I kind of figured that, I just ran into Les and I'm guessing you'd like to ask me about David too."
"Well, yes. That is I mean if you don't mind."
"Not at all, I've been worried about David for a while now I mean he hasn't been eating, and well you know."
" Right. So, lets get started. Do you know why David had to go to Germany and why he was the only one?"
"I don't really know much about that except Mama used to tell us it was because he was the oldest."
"Ok, well do you know anything about what he did in Germany? Did he ever act differently when he came back?"
"Not really and yes. You have to understand that David didn't always act the way he does now. When he was younger he was reckless, daring, and always getting into some sort of trouble. David never liked school and was always trying to negotiate his way out of it, once he even skipped in protest. Yet, his trips to Germany seemed to change him, he'd have terrible mood swings, and would be constantly flinching. Sometimes David would have nightmares that awoke the whole house, or we'd discover that he'd developed claustrophobia. At times he was excited to visit Germany and still at others he had to be dragged out of the house kicking and screaming. He'd play sick, runaway, complain that he had too much homework, promised a friend he'd stay the night, yell until he didn't have to go, whatever trick you can think up he used it, but they never worked."
Wow, suddenly I was speechless, I mean wow! There was just so much I hadn't known about my best friend. I just hoped that I could find out what happened in Germany so I could fix it and get the old Davy that Sarah remembered back.
"So, uh, what about Germany? You said you kind of knew what he did?"
"Oh, right I forgot. Ok, um Dave used to tell me and Les stories about a gang in Germany. I believe they were called the rebels or something like that. Anyway they were a small group of tight knit friends around the same age as David. They were the pourer kids that had a rivalry with the rich kids. I never would have guessed that David was one of them until he let it slip that 'we had a rumble' or 'They showed me - I mean Hans how to pick pocket.'
Every time he came back, there were new stories to share. Gradually they grew less and less until one day he told us a sad story, Hans had left the gang, David informed us, his family had found out and he was forced to leave. After that had happened changed for good into the David you know today. My parents thought he was maturing, but they couldn't see the fear in his eyes. They were too 'proud' to notice his broken spirit. Sometimes we see the old David like when he was mad at Trenton and stormed on the balcony."
Wow, I think that should be enough information. The attic! I suddenly remembered. "What do you know about David climbing into the attic at night?"
" Not much I'm afraid. The attic was Sandra's room, she was supposed to have been sent back to France but I suspect she's still in the attic."
"How so?"
"Well I over heard David and my Uncle arguing, I almost ignored it because they bicker a lot, but I heard David say something that peaked my interest. He said and I quote, 'Like you really care Liam! I could fast for a month and you'd probably tell me to keep at it because it's saving you money!' then, 'I won't leave my room or eat again until Sandy can too!' He probably wouldn't have left his room too unless Les hadn't dragged him to go sell papes."
"I-I see." I gasped. "Are you alright Jack?"
"Huh? Oh, yes of course I'm ok. Never been better. It's just a little overwhelming you know?" Sarah nodded as the clock suddenly struck six.
"Thanks so much for your help Sarah, I just hope I can figure this out before anything happens. Come on, I'll walk you home." Standing up I helped her with her coat then threw on my own. We walked arm in arm out of Tibby's and into the cold streets of Manhattan.
A/N: Here is where this chapter ends. So, who did David run into? Why was he frightened/confused? Will Jack discover the missing pieces to the ever-growing puzzle in time? In time for what exactly? And will my house ever smell normal again? These are just some of the many questions that will be answered next chapter.
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