Chapter 19
David began to run as fast as his legs could carry him; he needed to catch up with Jack. As he ran, strategy, after strategy tumbled through his mind. Dark clouds gathered overhead and dumped frigid rain on the earth below as thunder crashed and lightening snaked across the sky. Finally, when he noticed the familiar silhouettes, he hollered "Jack!"
When Jack and the others heard this they quickly whirled around to see who it was. Jack tried his best to make out the figure as he squinted through the barrier of downpour. Once he noticed it was David, a worried expression crossed his face, if David was here and, in such a hurry, something was definitely wrong.
As soon as David caught up, he grabbed Jack's sleeve and pulled him away from the others. Jack turned to Dave, "How's Spot, and da oddas?"
The four restlessly glanced at them walking away. "What's going on?" Star asked. She began to walk towards the two, but Takoda stopped her, and said, "Stay right here, if something's wrong I'm sure they'll tell you, have some patience." Star turned to glare at Tiger who only looked at her with a knowing expression on his face as if he also knew something was wrong.
"Dat glare looks as deadly as Spot's" Cassie said, trying to lighten the mood, all it did was make Star more nervous then she already was. All she wanted was to know if Spot was all right! Was that too much to ask? Everything was becoming so secretive and she hated it now more then ever.
David hesitated, trying to catch his breath, one hand over his pounding heart. "They caught Spot. I tried to catch up," He paused to take a deep breath, "but they were already too far ahead." A mixed expression of fury and fret crossed Jacks face once he heard the news.
"Should we tell Star?" David asked uncertain.
Jack glanced back at Star, Cassie, Takoda, and Notebook and back at Dave, before saying, "Not yet, or she'll end up goin afta him, and dats da last ting Spot would want."
David nodded in agreement. "So what's the plan? Do we just leave them to walk back on their own?"
Jack thought about this for a moment. "Tiger'll stick wit dem."
David looked at the group and back at Jack uneasily before nodding in agreement, "Alright, let's just go."
Jack squeezed David's shoulder, "Alright, Dave, I'm jus tell Tiger where we's going foist, then we'll get going."
David nodded and watched as Jack ran to the group, and pulled Tiger aside, away from the group. "Me and Davie are goin to try and get Spot outta of this mess," Jack explained, running a hand through his soaked hair, "Just go to da lodging house and keep dem safe."
Tiger looked at Jack with raised eyebrows, "You do know that Star will get suspicious, Jack. She's already starting to ask questions."
Jack glanced at Star and Notebook and winced "Ye, But if she starts askin ya about dis, just tell her that we've gone to help dem and remind her that she needs to stay."
Tiger nodded, "I will."
David had one hand stuffed in his pocket, and rain dripped from his curly hair as he watched them. He was getting more anxious and shouted, "Jack! Come on!" His other hand motioned for Jack to hurry up.
Jack heard David, "Well, we'd betta go." He said, with that, he pat Tiger on the back and ran back to David.
As the group began walking to the lodging house, Star paused and looked back, watching as Jack and David rushed off, the worry apparent in her face. "What'd he say?" she asked Tiger.
Tiger turned and sighed, "Just for you to stay at the lodging house and that they've got everything under control." Tiger could tell, however that Star still wasn't going to take just that explanation for an answer. Star arched an eyebrow at him, knowing there was more.
Tiger rolled his eyes, "When we get to the lodging house and are dry, I'll explain. I was only told to keep you safe, it was what Spot would have wanted."
"Would?" The word nearly caught in her throat and a sense of dread came over her and she glanced over at Notebook who, instinctively, took Tiger's arm to stop him.
Star sighed heavily and crossed her arms over her chest, "Just tell me what Jack said, I know there's more."
"I already told you, if Jack would've wanted me to tell you more then he would have done so. Just don't worry about it, and let's just get back to the lodging house."
Star reluctantly took that as an answer and followed the two back to the lodging house.
Spot slowly sat up, his head throbbing as the world spun before his eyes. His vision blurred and he blinked to clear the double vision. It took him a moment to realize that he was riding in the back of a jail carriage. He felt the cold floor pressing into him as the carriage blundered down the street. In the background the sound of the rain beat against the carriage and memories flooded back to him. He thought of the fair, the ambush, the bulls and Queens, Striker and the boy in the gray suit and cap…before everything had gone black. Spot sat against the wall of the carriage, as his arm rested on his knee. Taking off his hat, he flung it to the side in aggravation and shouted "Aw, shit!" He drooped his head, and impatiently ran his fingers through his hair. Spot knew he had to escape, he just couldn't let Striker and Queen's have the satisfaction of knowing that they had beat the Brooklyn leader, and he knew he couldn't let down his boys, or Star.
He had promised her that he'd be all right, come back to the lodging house soon and he just couldn't let her sit and worry about him. He remembered the time when she hadn't stayed in Brooklyn like he had told her to. The thought of her coming to rescue him now, and of her getting captured, only made the situation worse.
Dave and Jack saw the carriage, through the rain and hid behind the slab of a wall as it rode past them. Following quickly behind, the two ran through the puddles, trying to keep the carriage in sight. Jack ushered Dave along as they followed the carriage through the winding roads of New York.
"When dat carriage stops, you go and take dat screw, da one dat attaches the carriage to da horse, while I get Spot out." Jack whispered as Dave nodded. As the carriage took off again, they tried to stay to the shadows, glad for the rain that soaked them.
Spot slowly raised his head, glazed eyes drifting to the window bars. He suddenly noticed two figures in the distance creeping behind. His glazed eyes sharpened, and he hastily jumped up from his dazed state, and hurried to the window bars. He squinted his eyes and tried to make out the two figures, as the rain continued to pour. Once he realized who it was, a relieved, and contented grin lit up his face. "It's about time fellas"
He replied smirking, as he picked up his hat, and waited for David, and Jack to get closer.
The carriage soon stopped and one of the bulls got off the carriage, Spot could hear them talking but it was indistinct. Gesturing to Jack and Dave, he kept listening for the bulls to see if they'd start up again but he could hear only the loud snoring of one bull through the deep rumbling of the thunder.
As David went to detach the horse from the carriage, Jack watched him go before turning back to Spot. "Got yerself in a tight spot again, Spot?"
Spot glared at Jack, this was no time for jokes. "Shut up Jackey-boy, and just get me outta here."
Jack nodded. "The bulls are searchin everywhere, so we gotta be careful." David replied as he unlatched the jail door and glanced at Jack gesturing for him to hurry. Dave quickly finished and stood,
"Dose bulls aint goin anywhere any time soon." Jack said grinning mischievously once David finished what he had to do.
"Da only place dere goin is dere deathbed." Spot added as he climbed out of the carriage, shivering at the sudden coldness of the rain as it slapped at his back and face. Spot nodded, and said, "We gotta find da others before those goons find us." They ran swiftly through the shadowed alleyways as quietly, and quickly as possible while the bull continued to sleep snoring loudly, oblivious of his surroundings.
Safe in the lodging house, Starlight, Notebook, Cassie, and Tiger waited anxiously for Jack, David, and Spot to return. Star sat in a chair, the others standing around the foyer. Notebook could tell that Star was anxious and put a hand on the chair. "Why don't you go upstairs and get some rest?"
Star turned and shook her head, "No, I'm not moving from this chair until I see Spot walking through that door."
Notebook just shrugged, "It'd do you some good, you know. It is getting late."
Star shook her head, and Notebook left it at that, deciding not to argue. They all continued to wait, faces blank in concentration. Notebook backed up, her whole body tense.
The minutes seemed to crawl by and the sky waned to the color of ink. The rain continued to pour, and Star continued to worry. She stared at the door waiting for it to open with Spot, and the others standing there safe, and sound. She was beginning to doubt that they'd ever come. Then suddenly there was a quick, rapid knock at the door.
She impulsively jumped from her seat, shoving past Takoda, and ran to the door. Shaking with anxiousness she quickly turned the knob, and yanked open the door, only to see her worst nightmare.
"For heaven sakes, is that my daughter?" Mr. Dawson roared, repulsed at the sight of her drenched, and ragged newsboy clothes. "What have they done to you?" He asked, horrified.
Star stood shocked, as the color drained from her face. Notebook stood horrified at the sight, turning to run but Tiger took her by the elbow to stop her, and held her close reassuringly.
"We've come to take you home." Mr. Johnsons stated as he walked in. He noticed Takoda and he scowled,
"Get your hands off her, you Indian savage!" Pushing Tiger away, he grabbed Notebook's wrist and wrenched her away. Several bulls, and their devious companions walked in. Star's eyes widened as she saw Striker, and another unidentified Newsie in a gray cap and suit in the group of bulls, looking smug.
Suddenly all the evening commotion became clear to Star, the bulls were in search for her and Maddie, and Queens were helping. "Striker's plan…this was it" She replied quietly "No, No! This can't be happening!" Star shouted choking with tears.
"Nonsense child, you should be grateful to leave this scum!" Mr. Dawson shouted.
After hearing this Star's anger got the best of her. "Scum? Just because they don't drink from fine china, or know the Queen doesn't make them any different then us! If anything these boys have more of a heart then you ever will!" Star shouted furiously.
Mr. Dawson's face was red with anger, and disbelief as he rashly raised his hand and slapped her sharply across the face. Slightly ashamed at what he had done, he turned away from her, saying nothing. She stood in shock as she held her hand over her swelling cheek.
"There shall be no more of this, Madelaine dear, pack your things we're leaving. Now." Mr. Johnsons said, placing his arm around her. Maddie pulled away from her father and stood near Takoda.
"What's the matter with you child, didn't you hear me? Pack your things immediately." Mr. Johnsons replied, expecting her to listen.
"No." Maddie replied timidly, shaking her head.
"Don't be ridiculous, now hurry up."
"No!" "I won't" She replied louder this time, as Tiger placed his arm around her. Mr. Johnsons stared at them in disbelief. Getting them to leave was going to be harder then they expected.
Spot, Jack, and David continued running through dark, and hidden alleyways, getting closer, and closer to the lodging house.
Suddenly David stopped them. "What is it Dave?" Jack asked.
"Look! It's the bulls they're surrounding the lodging house." That explanation was enough to make their skin crawl.
"Star's in dere!" Spot replied getting ready to take off and see if she was all right.
"No! You can't! Are you forgetting the fact that we just escaped them? What if this could be a trap?" David said grabbing Spot's elbow to stop him. Spot glared at him, but knew he had a point.
He pulled his elbow away, and said "Aright Dave, but I'm goin a bit closer, so I can see what's goin on." Spot made his way to the lodging house, where many of the newsies were crowded around the entrance.
The others fallowed as they snuck behind the wagons left along the streets, trying to get closer to the lodging house.
Spot peeked around the wagon and swore. That kid in the gray suit and cap was accepting money from one of the bulls.
"Where the bulls getting all dat money from?" Jack asked his brow furrowed. But Spot wasn't concerned about the money; he had recognized Striker and that newsie in the gray suit and cap. This time he was anxious to find out who had been following him and bothering his thoughts ever since that night when he and Star had gone to the docks the night before.
The newsie in the gray looked down the street and, like a deer, sprinted off in the opposite direction with Striker trailing behind. Spot swore quietly and gave chase. David made no effort to stop him this time.
Down the dark, wet streets they ran, the rain beginning to lighten up, Spot could hear Striker and the newsie's footsteps ahead of him and he quickened his pace, his heart pounding. He soon saw them not too far off and ran after them, soon cornering them in an alleyway. Hiding his satisfaction, Spot glared at Striker as he began backing up into the mouth of the alley.
"Take it easy, we ain't meanin no harm, Spot," Striker said, his tone slick as oil, "And besides, people will do anythin' for money."
Spot clenched his fists; trying to keep his temper at bay, "Just tell me what's going on." He growled. Striker scowled and raised his fists, ready for a fight. Spot grabbed his cane and backed Striker and his companion deeper into the alley.
Striker laughed, "Is dat all you can do, Spot? Wave your stick around?" He scoffed, "That's frightening indeed."
With a yell, Spot charged at Striker, knocking the other Newsie aside. Just as Spot raised his fists to pummel Striker, a hand clutching Striker's sleeve, fist raised, he heard a very feminine scream and astoundingly glanced beside him. Once the mysterious Newsie realized that her scream gave away her femininity, she glanced in Spot's direction horrified and impulsively took off. "You aint getting away dis time." Spot thought as he watched her run off in the opposite direction.
Just as Striker tried to make a move, while struggling in his hold, Spot turned, "Where do ya tink you're goin? Dis ain't ova." He lashed out, and his fist abruptly broke Striker's nose. Blood spurted and spilled down his face. There was a dull crack as Striker's head hit the brick of the wall behind him. He let out a groan as his head lolled to one side.
Once Spot knew Striker was unconscious he took off, following the mystifying newsgirl wearing the gray. He had to find out who she was. A brisk wind picked up and the rain drizzled around them as the newsgirl ran into an alleyway. Spot skidded to a stop as the newsgirl looked behind her and, not watching where she was going, tripped over bags of junk and went sprawling, falling on her back on a pile of bricks. Spot looked taken aback as the familiar red ringlets of hair tumbled out from under her cap. She groaned and blinked at him, blearily trying to keep her eyes open until finally she shuddered and lay still.
Spot looked horrified at the girl—dead, at his feet. "I shoulda known she was behind all dis." He thought, staring down at none other then Sugar.