Laughing menacingly, she scooped the winnings into a pile and pulled them toward her. Race just sat there with his jaw hanging wide open.
“Sorry Race, but it looks like your luck with horse bets is now the same with your poker skills.” Balla muttered.
“Balla, wouldja-”
“If I give you any more of my money, I’d hafta bum off of someone else. I barely got enough for papes and dinner!”
“Itey, cin ya spare some change?”
“Nope!” he rose to his feet. “I’m headin’ home. Goosey’s probly wonderin’ where I’m at.”
“I’ll come wit ya.” Jake offered. “I’m bushed.”
“Okay. Anyone else gonna head home?”
Silence.
“Guess not. C’mon, Jake. Let’s go.”
The two left, chatting about a recent headline and the bet on Bumlets and Seven that Goosey had started. The streets weren’t very busy, and darkness was falling. However, it was still rather warm outside. It was a nice night for a walk.
Itey was listening to Jake’s story of spotting a pretty girl when he noticed one himself. At first, he thought of Goosey to take his mind off that other girl, but for some reason, he looked at her again. There was something odd about her. She was wandering close to buildings with her arms wrapped tightly around her.
“Jake,” he spoke up, “look at that lady over there.”
They both halted and Jake looked in the direction that Itey had pointed to. This girl was not only wandering close to buildings, but had tears in her eyes as well. She also appeared completely exhausted as though she had been traveling for days.
“Think she’s lost?” Jake wondered.
“Not jus’ lost, but sick.” Itey observed. “Think we should ask if she needs help?”
“Why not?”
The two changed direction and strode toward the girl. When she saw them, she began to withdraw as though they were demonic forces out to destroy her.
“Stay away from me!” she cried.
To prevent from frightening her, Jake stopped in his tracks and made Itey do the same.
“We ain’t gonna hoit ya, miss.” He said softly. “Ya don’t look too good. We was wonderin’ if we could help ya out.”
“I’m fine. Just go away and leave me alone!”
“Miss,” Itey said, “you don’t look like you’re in no position t’ be out alone on th’ streets. Ya want us t’ hail ya a cab or somethin’?”
“I don’t need a cab! I just need to get home!”
“Where is your home?”
“I don’t know! I-”
Overwhelmed with fatigue, her shouting broke off and she slumped to the ground with a thud. Instantly, Jake and Itey rushed to aid her, but she was unconscious. Not only that, but her skin was pale and clammy, her eyes were watering, and her face was completely covered in sweat.
“Should we take ‘er to th’ lodgin’ house?” Jake wondered.
“Probly should. Looks like she needs a doctor.”
“I’ll carry ‘er.”
“No, I’ll carry ‘er. You’re a faster runner than me, you run ahead ‘n’ tell Kloppman t’ get a doctor.”
Knowing that now wasn’t a time to argue, Jake agreed and ran up ahead. Once he took off, Itey slid his arms beneath the girl and lifted her into his arms, staggering to keep on his feet. The girl wasn’t that heavy, but he had never carried a girl before. He hoped that Goosey wouldn’t be downstairs when he arrived.
Trotting carefully down the street, he constantly readjusted his hold on the girl because she was constantly moaning and twitching. He found it difficult to keep her steady, but forced himself on. The lodging house was only a block away.
When the house was in view, Jake came bounding up with Cray and Snoddy with him. All three assisted in bringing the girl into the house, and waiting in the lobby was Tack and Goosey.
“What happened to her?” Tack wondered.
“She jus’ passed out when we offered t’ hail a cab for ‘er.” Itey explained, almost apologetically to Goosey. “I think she jus’ got scared, that’s all.”
The girl was placed in the spare bedroom and the boys were shooed out while the girls tried to awaken her. As the boys waited, the door opened and Jack, Autumn, Snipeshooter, David and Snitch returned from a trip to Brooklyn and visiting Spot.
“Spot’s hair’s finally growin’ back!” Jack announced. “Say, what’s goin’ on?”
“Itey ‘n’ me, we found this girl ‘n’ she was lost ‘n’ when we tried t’ help she panicked ‘n’ passed out.”
“She gonna be okay?” Autumn wondered.
“Goosey ‘n’ Tack are lookin’ over her right now.” Cray explained. “They should be out soon ‘nough.”
Snipeshooter decided to go upstairs and David chose to return home before his mother worried while the rest of the party stayed downstairs for more information on the situation. After several minutes, Tack emerged from the room.
“What’s th’ scoop?” Snoddy wondered.
“She’s awake.” Tack reported. “She’s scared, but she’s awake. She’s thirsty, too. Cray, could you get some water?”
“‘Course.”
“So how is she?” Itey inquired.
“She’s not sick, if you’re wondering. Just very scared. She said she was separated from her father when their cab stopped for repairs and she went looking for a backhouse.”
“She wanna see anybody?” Jake questioned.
“She’s asked that no boys come in, that’s all.”
“Why no boys?”
“She wouldn’t tell us.”
“An’ what’s ‘er name?” Snitch asked.
“Her name’s Camilla. She’s just moved here.”
Snitch’s brow furled. Could it be…? No, it couldn’t. Could it?
“Camilla what? What’s ‘er last name?”
“Henderson.”
He pushed his way to the door. “I wanna see ‘er.”
“You know her?”
“Yeah, I know ‘er.”
Cray put a hand to his shoulder to prevent him from coming in. “Not just yet. Let me warn her in advance.”
He nodded and tapped his foot as Cray went back into the room. The door was left open a crack, and he caught a glimpse of Camilla. His heart began to pound. Cray returned.
“She says not to admit any men. I’m sorry, Snitch.”
He paid no attention to her and shoved the door aside so Camilla could see him. At first, she paled, then her eyes widened and she gasped.
“Dean?”
Grinning widely, he nodded. “It’s me.”
Her arms spread apart and he rushed to the bed to embrace her. As they held each other, he could hear her sniffles and feel her body quivering beneath his. He drew away.
“Camilla, are you okay?” he wondered.
“I’m just afraid. I can’t find papa.”
He took her hand and squeezed it. “It’s okay, Camilla. Ya caught a lucky break runnin’ int’ Jake ‘n’ Itey.”
“Are they the ones who…approached me?”
“Yep. Said ya got quite a scare from ‘em.”
“I was. I thought they were…”
“Prowlers?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t you worry. They’re harmless. ‘Sides, Goosey’s Itey’s girl.”
“Oh. I’m sorry if I gave them a bad impression.”
“They’ll get over it. So whatcha doin’ in Manhattan?”
“Before I tell you, can you send someone to the police? Papa would look for me there.”
“I’ll do it.” Goosey volunteered. “Itey’s done enough work. I’ll take over for him.”
“Thank you.”
“So whatcha doin’ in Manhattan?” Snitch repeated.
“Papa’s been working on expanding the bank. He got transferred here.”
She was biting her tongue to prevent the real reason why she was here. Thankfully, Snitch didn’t notice. If he had, he would know that she was hiding something.
“That’s good.” He smiled. “I was jus’ thinkin’ about you this afternoon. I never woulda thought we’d meet up again this soon.”
She smiled softly. “I never would’ve thought we’d meet again, period.”
“So where ya gonna live?”
“I don’t know. Papa was taking me there when I got lost.”
“Well, don’t you worry. We got some ‘f th’ best trackers in th’ city right here ‘n this lodging house. We’ll find ‘im before ‘e sends out a search party.”
Yawning, she nodded. “Good.” Her eyelids drooped. “I’m tired.”
“Feel like sleeping?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. I’ll leave so you cin catch some shut-eye b’fore your papa comes by. When ‘e comes, I’ll wake ya up. ‘Kay?”
“Okay.” She rested back against her pillow. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
He had the strong urge to kiss her after not seeing her for so long. But when he saw her eyes close, he decided against it. She seemed more at peace now, though there was some turmoil still written across her face. And this confused Snitch. What would there be to worry about now?
The minutes passed quickly, and not once had Snitch left the side of the bed. He had been so far from Camilla for the past five and a half years and he had not known how she had changed. Her hair was still red and wavy, but twice as long, reaching to her waistline.
Though she seemed taller and skinnier, she also seemed rather unhealthy. Her freckles were gone, but her skin was paler. Her arms appeared like skin and bones, rather than the healthiness of more muscle she had had when she was eleven.
As he observed her, he began to reminisce of the days when they were children. Camilla had always been the bright, friendly one, the one to keep everyone’s spirits high. The smile never left her face, and the glow in her eyes seemed to grow brighter every year. That was one of the reasons why Snitch had fallen in love with her when he was twelve.
Now that they were reunited, Snitch could not see that usual glow he had so loved. The glow was gone. Not dim, not barely flickering; just gone. And she was withdrawn, not the friendly, outgoing girl she was as a child. How much could one girl change within five and a half years?
The windows were completely dark, proof enough that it was late. How long had Snitch been here? It had seemed like only a few minutes, but there was still light in the window when he had come in. Now, it was pitch black.
Without warning, voices were heard outside the door, and then the door flew wide open. The noise awoke Camilla and she gave a frightened cry, but calmed when she saw who it was who had barged in.
“Camilla!”
“Papa!”
Snitch moved aside at the right time, for Harry practically flung himself on the bed to embrace his little girl. And Camilla was sobbing like a child who had been separated from her father for years.
“Come on, baby.” Harry said as he drew back. “Let’s get you home where it’s safe.”
“Yes, papa.” She gripped her father’s hand as he helped her up. “Did you see who’s here?”
Harry glanced over his shoulder quickly and acknowledged Snitch. Then realization sunk in and he turned around completely.
“Mr. Henderson.” Snitch said, a small grin forming.
“Well, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle.” Harry shook his head. “I never thought I’d see you again, Dean.”
“Nevah thought I’d see either of ya ‘gain either.”
“I feel even better that it was you that found Camilla here.”
“Actually, it wasn’t me that found Camilla. It was two ‘f me buds, Itey ‘n’ Jake. They’re th’ ones who brought ‘er in.”
Harry nodded. “I see. I’ll be sure to pay them for this.”
“Thanks.”
“I’d love to stay longer, but I must get Camilla home now.”
“Oh papa, please, couldn’t he come over to visit sometime?” Camilla pleaded.
“We ain’t seen each uther in years.” Snitch stated. “We got a lot t’ catch up on.”
A soft smile formed on Harry’s face. “I think that can be arranged.”
“We got some goils here too, if Camilla’s interested. They’re real friendly, an’ they’d be more than happy t’ show ‘er ‘round this section of Manhattan.”
Harry stiffened, but barely enough for Snitch to notice. “I’ll have to think about that. But until then, we must be leaving.”
“Where cin I find ya?”
“I’ll send someone here to bring you to our house.”
“But I sell papes durin’ th’ day.”
“What time are you usually done?”
“Late afta’noon.”
“Then I’ll send them here in the late afternoon.” He cradled Camilla closer to him. “It’s good to see you again, son.”
“You too.” He glanced at Camilla. “I’ll see ya ‘round.”
“Thank you for everything you and your friends have done.”
“I’ll be sure t’ tell ‘em.”
* * *
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