Chapter 12: Clever Dogs, New Tricks
A/N: Quick note here, I'm spelling Bulls-Eye's name a new way. Bulls-Eye. Yes my Virtual Fagin Buddy I got the hint. -smiles- Anyway on with the show.
Warning: Contains suspense.
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That good dog Ace had seemed to finally at least accept the presence of was completely attached to his hip. When Ace went out on a job, so did Bulls-Eye. When Ace went to bed, so did Bulls-Eye. While Ace may not have been to fond of the idea he certainly managed to keep a lid on his fears and soon he found that the dog wasn't half bad at all. Even Fagin began to take a liking to the thing, because as he soon found out, it was very good for business.
"Wonder if that thing can do any tricks," Morice pondered idly one night. Bulls-Eye was laying faithfully at Ace's heels as the boys, and Nancy much to their disliking, had settled down to play cards one evening.
"Tricks?" Nancy asked curiously. Suddenly with a grin she revealed her cards and raked in the pot for the third time that night.
"Tricks," Morice growled through his teeth, ignoring her newest win. "You know, roll over, sit, stay, that kind of deal." Ace shrugged in response to Morice's query as he dealt out the cards once again.
"Let's find out," Nancy cried excitedly. All the boys turned to face her with a look of sheer curiosity on their faces. "I'd bet he at least knows to come when called, especially if he was running off to Ace." Nancy was on her feet now standing over by the stairs. "Come 'ere Bulls-Eye," she called clapping her hands. The dog's ears perked up at the sound of it's name but it made absolutely no move to get away from Ace's feet. Nancy's small pink lips formed a pout as she stared at the passive dog. "Ace," she ordered "tell 'im to come to me." Rolling his eyes and wanting nothing more then to return to his game, the boy obliged.
"Go on boy," he said giving the dog a little nudge. "Go to Nancy!" Instantly, as if Ace's command was all he needed, the dog leaped to it's feet and scuttled clumsily to the young girl. The dog stood by Nancy, it's tongue lolling out of it's mouth as he waited for another command.
"Call 'im back," Nancy insisted.
"Come 'ere boy," Ace said. Instantly the dog took off at a break neck pace skidding to a halt by Ace's worn shoes. They soon found out the dog would do anything, so long as Ace was the one ordering it. With a satisfied smile Nancy returned to the table, the card games resuming where they had left off. Already though, the wheels were turning in her head. That dog would help her pick even more then usual.
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"Cash or Mash?"
"Cash," came both Nancy and Ace's instant reply to Johnny. With a small smile and a tip of his hat Johnny took off in the other direction from the pair, off to what was sure to be another easy day of work for him.
"Say Ace," Nancy continued after he had gone. "How'd you like to get some of the credit for these wild pickings I'm earnin'," she asked curiously.
"Whatcha mean little one?"
"The dog," she said smiling. "Tell 'im to walk along wiv me, then, call 'im around the corner. I'll pretend it's my dog that's run off an' it'll be easy as anythin' to get somebody's attention for the pick." Ace seemed to contemplate what she said, it made sense. Fagin would be really happy with their new found way of business too. As if to prod him along his positive train of thought further, Bulls-Eye barked happily in the silence.
"Alrigh'," Ace said with a grin. "Let's try it."
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"Four watches....three pocket books...twelve 'andkerchifs..."
"Couple of snuffboxes," Ace continued where Nancy had left off. "An' one very nice lookin' ruby broach!" As they finished talking the both of them dropped their wares happily before Fagin, who's eyes were absolutely glistening with glee.
"Excellent m'dears! Excellent!" It was quiet for a moment before he inquired after them curiously. "'Ow did you um...manage this m'dears?"
"Bulls-Eye," Nancy stated proudly. "We made it up like 'e ran away from me. You know 'ow many idiot toffs are liable to 'elp a little girl wiv a run away dog?" Fagin smiled as he stared at the wealth of jewels before him. His guess was, a lot.
"That's very clever Nancy, very. But...you musn't use this trick every day. No, people would stop believing you. 'Ave you ever 'eard a story about a boy that cried wolf my dear?" Nancy shook her head solemnly. "Ah, well I'm afraid you'd be following down that boy's footsteps if you kept this up. Once a week I think, yes that should do. The rest of the time by yourselves as normal yes?" Both Ace and Nancy nodded, with plans to go as a pair once a week. Affectionately Fagin reached down and scratched Bulls-Eye's ears.
"Clever dog," he said, smiling at the irony of his words. "Now," he continued, staring up at the pair before him. "Go get the mutt something to eat." Nancy and Ace responded immediately, tearing out the door towards town excitedly, a little white dog nipping at their heels.
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"And a couple of wallets," Nancy finished as she emptied out the last of her pockets. She and Ace had been at their little game for months now, and everything had been going swimmingly the whole time. She was looking around curiously now, it was late, Ace hadn't been home yet. They'd gone out early that morning together but he had said he wanted to make a few more picks before he came home. It was now sunset and all the boys had long since come back.
"Excellent my dear, now if we could-" But Fagin's words of praise were eliminated by the sound of paws scratching at the front door. "What is...what is that my dear?" Nancy froze and listened intently to the faint scratching sound echoing through the now silent flat. Cups of gin went untouched, card games were froze mid-deal, and a very wide eyed little girl with red hair was feeling panic seize her body.
"Bulls-Eye," she managed. Her voice was barely above a whisper. That dog never left Ace's side, if he had returned to the flat alone, then something was wrong. All was frozen in place for another second and then, it seemed, everything was moving at once. Nancy flew down the stairs and jumped for the latch. She had never had to unlock the door before, this would never do. "Johnny!" she managed to cry, but there was no need, the boy was right behind her. Instantly the latch was pulled open and Nancy stared at Bulls-Eye, barking as loud as he could. "Where's Ace?" she demanded. Bulls-Eye barked and took a few steps back from the door frantically.
"He wants us to follow him," Johnny said getting ready to chase after the dog.
"Leave it!" she cried darting in front of him "I run the fastest." And with that Nancy had gone flying out the door leaving a dumbfounded Johnny in her wake. Angrily Johnny was getting ready to follow her when a thick hand on his shoulder restrained him.
"Where's she off to?" Sikes asked in a concerned voice.
"Somethin's up Bill," Johnny explained to the freshly awoken Bill Sikes. "Bulls-Eye came back without Ace just now, Nancy took off after 'im."
"An' you let 'er go alone?" Sikes cried outraged. Instantly he was out the door and tearing down the stairs after the form of Nancy and the yapping dog in the distance. "Stay 'ere," he cried behind him.
"The hell I will!" Johnny shouted. And with that he too was chasing after Nancy, who by far had the head start on all of them.
Nancy was chasing after Bulls-Eye as fast as she could, listening to the pounding of her boots against the cobbled street below. Behind her, she was vaguely aware of more footsteps, somebody had undoubtedly followed her from the flat. Her breath was hot and searing against her throat, that begged her all the while to take in more air. Nancy's blood pulsed in her ears and her heart roared so loudly that she feared it would bust clean out of her chest. Once she fell and felt her face smack the pavement before running on, ignorant of the blood now leaking from a wide gash in her forehead. All the while the young girl was intent on only one thing, a small barking dog scuttling before her in the cool night air. She was all but worn out when finally she came to a halt behind Bulls-Eye.
Her eyes went wide in terror, her mouth dry in shock. She tried to speak, but absolutely nothing would come out. Behind her, Nancy had barely registered the stopping of two more pairs of feet as Bill and Johnny came to a stop as well. The three of them stared at the building looming before them and threatening life as they knew it. The Courthouse. Ace had been caught.