*Chapter 21*
"Heya, me name's Caps." A tall boy of about 5'9" sat on a nearby bunk and addressed Bottle Cap, his deep brown eyes twinkling at her.
"Hey." She replied with a smile. She never knew there were so many handsome Brooklyn boys. Why hadn't they been in the movie? They were definately star material.
"Did ya meet Chippah?" He asked, still smiling.
"Chipper? Oh yeah, she's Jack's girl, right?" Bottle Cap asked casually, not even noticing that about five boys were listening quietly.
"Yeah, dats da one." He laid back in the bunk. "Next time ya see 'er, tell 'er I say hi, would ya?"
"Sure. I don't know when that'll be though." She admitted, looking toward the door in curiosity. What were they talking about for so long?
*
"Blink tol' ya dis?" Spot asked. His countenance had changed from sly and sarcastic, to plainly worried as he paced in front of Jack.
"Yeah, dat's why I didn't want dem two walkin' heah by demselves. He knew she was stayin' at da Lodgin' House in Manhattan. I just hope he didn't follow us heah." Jack swallowed, realizing how much Spot's little sister meant to him. He wondered why his relationship with Spin was so different.
"Okay, thanks Jacky-boy. Looks like Cappahs gots a li'l problem she ain't tol' me yet." Spot looked over the river, "She bettah tell me b'foah somethin' happens." With that, Jack took off to Manhattan and Spot sauntered back into the lodging house, a look on his face that told his boys he wasn't in the mood to deal with them.
Spot heard giggles as he neared the poker table. He came behind her and she knew he was there by the sudden silence in the couple of boys that she had been conversing with.
"What's a matter?" She turned and looked into his not-so-pleased eyes.
"It's time ta go ta bed, fellahs. We still gotta sell tamorrah." He said simply. Bottle Cap was shown an empty bunk near Spot's before the room was filled with the sounds of slumber.
* * *
"Good Moinin', Bottle Cap." Dibs smiled when they were just about to leave. "Ready ta sell?"
"Yep." Bottle Cap grinned as she brushed her hair quickly.
"Who ya sellin' wit'?" Caps asked as he tried to decide which cabby hat to wear for the day.
"Me." Spot informed them all as he approached, having heard the question.
"That's okay, Spot. I'm gonna go over to Manhattan and..." She began to explain her plans.
"No, ya stayin' wit' me." He said firmly. The boys sensed the tension and nodded goodbye before heading out of the lodging house. Bottle Cap stood in confused silence for a minute before speaking again.
"It's okay, Spot. I need to sell with Silver Fists today." She smiled, not thinking that he would mind since she'd only known him for a matter of days in her mind, forgetting momentarily that he had know her for sixteen years.
"She'll undahstand dat ya ain't goin' back ta Manhattan." Spot said simply as he pulled his suspenders up.
"Why can't I go back?" She demanded to know before Spot threw a chilling glare at her.
"Why didn't ya say somethin'?" He asked immediately, obviously accusing her of hiding something.
"About what?" She asked, honestly unaware of the topic of this converstion.
"Damn it, Katie!" He tossed his cap down in anger, "You coulda been hoit! He knows you'se was stayin' in Manhattan..."
"Who knows?" Bottle Cap hadn't time to muse over hearing her real name. She was overcome by a tense feeling of fear and anxiety. Then, it struck her right where she stood, "Benjamin Goodbaker?"
"I don't know what da hell his name is. All I know is dat he was followin' aftah you an' saw ya go inta da lodgin' house ovah deah wit' Silvah." Spot was still quite worked up.
"Spot, I didn't know he was here." She shook her head, trying to think. "But I really have to talk to Silver now."
"No." He shook his head, picking up his gray cabby hat and sticking over his smooth, brown hair. "We can sell on dat side a da bridge but you ain't goin' back to da lodgin' house."
