Bam looked over at Jack as they walked up to the Manhattan Lodging House. He had been talking for a while, but she had no idea what he was saying. She was too involved in her own thoughts. Bam couldn't believe she had agreed to go back to Manhattan. She knew she couldn't trust Spot, and she wasn't all that sure of trusting Jack anymore, but what about Race? He had seemed to be genuinely interested in being friends with her, but then again, Jack made him approach her. It could have been all an act. Then who could she trust? Bam shook her head in frustration. Well, I still have Sway, Fleet and Jinx, she thought. A pang of sadness hit her when she thought about Fleet and Jinx. Could she really trust them anymore, either? They had kept the whole thing about Spot and Knox from her, although she could see their logic behind it. Still, she wondered if they were in it with Spot too. Bam sighed, exasperated. Well, at least I have Sway. The more she thought about it, the less Bam wanted to go to Manhattan. She decided that she couldn't stand to be living with anyone she had doubts about, fearing for her own safety.
"Um… Jack?" Bam started.
"Yeah?" He sounded annoyed. Bam realized that she had interrupted whatever he was saying.
"I gotta go back ta Brooklyn… I gotta get some stuff," She lied.
"Alright, let's go," Jack offered.
"No!" Bam cried. "I mean, no I can go by myself. I don't need ya ta guard me." Jack thought for a minute. He didn't like the idea of her going by herself, but knew that she was too stubborn to change her mind.
"Foine. But if you ain't back in two hours, I'm comin' afta ya." Bam nodded in agreement. She started walking back towards Brooklyn, waiting for Jack to be out of sight before she changed her direction for a new, unknown destination. She didn't know where she was going, but a two hour headstart would help her out greatly.
Jack glanced at the grandfather clock in the lobby of the lodging house, where he was pacing. Almost two hours had passed since he and Bam had separated, and she still wasn't back. The pit of worry in Jack's stomach was growing with each passing minute. Exactly two hours passed, and Jack hurried out the door. He made his way to Brooklyn in record time, checking for Bam down every alley he passed.
"Hey Jacky-boy!" A voice called to him from the fire escape as he approached the Brooklyn Lodging House.
"Hey Spot, where's Bam?" Jack called back.
"I ain't seen her all day," Spot answered with a smirk.
"No bullshittin' Spot, she ain't been heah?" Jack asked again.
"He ain't lyin'," Fleet came up behind Jack. "She ain't been back heah since Jinx and me told her about… well, ya know…" she added in a low tone, glancing up at Spot while she spoke.
"Damn it! If ya see her, will ya send her back ta Manhattan?" Jack asked. Fleet nodded. "And do me a fava, walk wid her, just ta be safe." Fleet nodded again. Jack returned to Manhattan, not knowing what else he could do.
"Sway, I gotta tawk ta ya," he said solemnly. Sway stood up immediately from her poker game with Race and Blink.
"What's da matta?" She followed Jack into the next room.
"Bammie's gone. I dunno where she is. She told me she was goin' ta Brooklyn, but She ain't dere, dey ain't seen her all day."
"Holy shit, do ya t'ink she's hoit or somet'ing?" The concern in Sway's voice was growing. "Maybe we should go look for her?"
"Nah, I don't t'ink dat's a good idea.." Jack was interrupted by Race bursting in the room.
"Wudda ya mean, it ain't a good idea?" His voice boomed throughout the house. "She's gone, and you don't wanna try ta find her? What kind of friend are ya?"
"Race, calm down. Ya know if someone don't wanna be found in New Yawk, den it's damn near impossible ta find 'em! We ain't gonna find her until she wants ta be found," Jack tried to speak calmly, but was yelling by the end.
"Maybe you just don't know where ta look!" Race yelled back and stormed out of the room.
"Should I go afta him?" Sway asked softly. Jack shook his head.
"He just needs ta cool off. I dunno why he's getting' so woiked up ova dis," Jack muttered.
"I t'ink he finally sees what da rest of us see in Bammie," Sway answered with a smile.
"Whateva, Sway," Jack mumbled with a laugh.