As Jane arrived through the entrance hall of her building, the delicious heart-warming smell drifted down the hall from her apartment. She walked in to find the source of the smell bubbling away on the tiny stove, small clouds of steam puffing upwards, and a modest loaf of bread on a plate nearby. She could hear Mary singing to herself outside the window, as she hung some linen washing out to dry on the fire escape.

"Mary?" Jane called toward the window as she ventured over to the stove to lift the lid on the smell.

"Jane? Hey, stop that! It's not ready yet." Mary climbed in through the window and smoothed back down her make-shift apron.

"Aw, I'm so hungry!" whined Jane in a playful way. Mary took the loaf of bread and tore off and end. She passed it to Jane.

"Thanks Mother." Jane joked.

After dinner it was getting quite dark, so Mary lit some candles as Jane sat on the window ledge staring out across Manhattan. It was always so peaceful, yet the city never seemed to go to sleep.

"Jane?" Mary asked, "Take out the dirty water, would you?"

"Sure." Jane replied dreamily.

She wandered down the hallway to the front stoop gripping the bucket of dirty water from the house. Wobbling down the steps, as it was quite heavy, Jane stepped into the street and tipped the water out onto it, being careful not to splash any on her skirt.

She turned around to walk back inside when she thought she saw a shadow move along the wall. Jane stood completely still, this feeling of someone watching her felt too familiar...

"Hello?" she questioned into the dark in a small voice.

Silence.

She swallowed.

"Spot Conlon I know you're there." Jane tried to sound a little confident.

A spark flashed in the darkness as a match was struck, the flame brought to light the end of a cigarette then thrown to the ground as a puff of smoke emerged into the light. First Jane saw the enigmatic eyes, then the smirk, as he emerged out from the shadow.

"Nice night Miss Jane."

"Yes. It is." Jane remarked truthfully, "Excuse me."

She started up the stoop back into the house.

"Hey come on now." Spot was up the steps behind her suddenly, he grabbed her arm.

Jane turned quickly, alarmed he would grab her.

"I told you to stay away from me Spot Conlon." She hoped she sounded like she meant it as she looked up into his tense eyes. He was awfully close as he stood with her in the doorway.

"Yeah, I'se remembah what ya said," He responded, "An I'se wanna know why yous said it. Ya see, I'se got dis feelin dat yous been busy listenin ta what everyone else has been sayin. Am I'se right?"

Jane didn't know what to say as she felt locked in his gaze, unaware she was backed up against the door-frame and his hand still around her arm.

"So what does Jane say?" He continued

She could feel her heart beating faster than before as she unconsciously tightened her hand around the empty bucket handle.

"I..um.. Only just met you." She managed to say almost in a whisper.

"Dat's what I'se thawt." He grinned knowingly, his face closer now. Jane was lost in his unreadable stare and she could feel the heat from his breath on her skin. It made her tingle. "Maybe ya shouldn't believe everythin ya hear," he continued, "Den again… maybe ya should."

She didn't know if she was frightened or not, either way Jane felt paralyzed.

As if he knew what she was feeling, he moved as close as possible.

"Be seein ya real soon Miss Jane."

She felt her breath catch in her throat, and then he suddenly backed up, winked at her, and took off down into the street.

Jane didn't move. It felt like an eternity before she regained feeling in her legs, remembering where she was standing and feeling her fingers holding the bucket. She put her free hand to her chest and felt her heart pumping almost outside of her skin. She was shocked, frightened? Maybe. Something else? She didn't know.

She entered back into the apartment as Mary sat on a stool with what seemed to be some sort of patchwork. She didn't look up at Jane, who now seemed very quiet as she replaced the bucket under the small sink.

"So, what happened to the bandage I did for you?" Mary simply asked, still not looking up from what she was doing.

"Oh yes…" Jane replied, she hadn't thought to tell Mary about Luella replacing the bandage, she had completely forgotten she had anything on her head. "When I got to work it was quite dirty, and falling in my eyes a little," she said, hoping Mary wouldn't mind, "Luella had something to hand so she just put this one on for me."

"It's better, really," Mary said calmly, "Mine was a bit too big." She looked up smiling at Jane, as if she had known she had sent her outside looking silly.

Jane smiled back, "A bit big? It was ridiculous!"

Mary then laughed, "Yes I suppose it was! I'm sorry, did everyone laugh?"

"No, not really, they were too busy laughing at Arlene, she wasn't looking very fresh today," Jane giggled as she remembered Arlene, "Luella sent her home."

Mary looked entertained as she imagined Jane's crazy friend Arlene and her partying ways. Mary didn't really drink; she didn't really do anything much now that Jane thought about it. Mary just preferred to stay and keep house and mend clothes and linens for neighbors. Jane's small income wasn't much, but at least it gave them a little bread and soup and a roof over their heads.

Mary then yawned and stretched her arms above her head.

"Think it's time for me to go to bed," she stated tiredly folding up her patchwork neatly, "You won't be too long will you? We don't have many candles left. Oh dear… maybe we should save up for a lamp? Mmm? Jane?"

Jane snapped out from her thoughts and brought her attention back to Mary.

"Sorry?"

"Candles Jane, don't let them burn all night."

"Oh, right. No, I won't, don't worry. Goodnight."

Mary rose from her stool and walked to the door of a tiny room leading from their main one where she herself slept. "Goodnight, don't forget the candles."

"Got it." Jane replied. She wasn't really that forgetful, why did Mary always think she was going to forget things?

Mary closed the bedroom door behind her and Jane moved the candle next to her bed as she dressed into her nightdress. She couldn't find the hairbrush, Mary probably had it and it was too late too ask now. She couldn't really be bothered anyway, she thought as she pulled the worn blanket over her and laid her head on the pillow.

Her mind was immediately filled with Spot. What was that outside? Was he going to kill her? No Jane, don't be stupid. Besides, he didn't seem actually angry when he spoke to her, just more sort of, well, seductive? No. Now you're being really stupid Jane.

She turned on her side and looked up out through the window to the tiny stars. They were so tiny and far away she could hardly see them. She checked the window was open a little way, as the night was quite warm. Jane closed her eyes. She thought to the day before and each time she had met Spot. First he was a stranger, then he walked her home, then after Mary's outburst he seemed a stranger again, then she shouted at him, then he was outside tonight… Why was he outside tonight? Maybe some things the girls at work said were true… Maybe he collected girls… Maybe he had rich girls and poor girls and whatever girls he wanted in New York…

Jane's mind wandered away into a slumber as she dreamt of Spot Conlon, and the bedside candle flickered softly, as it burnt away.