Waiting For Sunrise - The Books Of Beginning AU

15. Summer In The City

Emma wiped the sweat from her forehead, wondering why in hell August had to be such a swelteringly hot month. Even within the long shadows cast across New York streets by buildings galore, Emma and the other Savages still boiled. 

"Is this gonna be quick, Abigail? I'm real eager to go back inside," she complained.

Abigail sighed. "So long as we don't muck it up, this shouldn't take long at all. I just need you to distract that man while I nab his wallet."

Emma frowned. "How should I distract him?"

"That's up to you," her best friend said, "jus' keep him busy until I'm done with him."

"Right."

Abigail slunk away like a cat, like the thief that she was, diving into the shadows to await the right moment for plundering her pickings from the target. Emma, who had average skill when it came to lying, and who's acting abilities were over-dramatic and wishy-washy, took a deep breath. She needed a distraction, one that she could pull off.

A smirk crept onto her face as an idea came to mind. Yes, that would do quite nicely.

Breaking into a run, Emma flew down the pavement, toward the target, a stuffy-looking man with graying hair. She proceeded with putting on a show of 'tripping' and crashing right into the unsuspecting gentleman. He let out a startled yelp and caught her as she dramatically went limp, nearly knocking them both to the ground.

"Young lady-" he chided, probably about to snap at her to watch where she was going. But Emma cut him off with yelling and wailing, and making quite the scene.

"My ankle! My ankle! It's twisted! Oh, oh, I need help!"

The man struggled to set her upright, but she just kept flopping over and forcing him to catch her. It was obvious that he was becoming irritated. "Child-"

"Is there a doctor?" Emma cried, faking whimpers of pain. 

She saw the quick moving silhouette of Abigail retreat, having dipped her hand skillfully into the man's pocket to take her prize. Emma smirked to herself, and when the man tried to stand her up once more, she made a show of standing shakily on her own two feet.

"Maybe I'm alright after all." Emma pretended to test her 'injured' ankle gingerly, and upon 'finding' it alright, smiled up at the man. "Sorry about that. I was just shocked for a minute."

The man looked ruffled, but he bid her a stiff, "yes, well, I'm glad that you are unharmed. Good day," before walking away. Emma went the opposite direction, heading for the ally where she knew her best friend would be waiting for her.

"Nice work," the younger girl exclaimed, pulling the twelve year old to her side for a quick hug. 

"Thanks!" Emma beamed. "You got his wallet?"

"And his pocket-watch," Abigail said happily, showing Emma the ornate gold timepiece.

Emma whistled. "Impressive."

"Yeah," Abigail agreed, "now c'mon, let's get back to the church. It's gettin' near lunch time and my belly's aching."

And so they went on their way.

***

Michael emerged from the tenement where he had been dropping off a potion to a client of Miss Burke's, and groaned when he saw what his two companions were doing. Why, why did he have to be assigned to run errands with them today? Running around the city in this heat, making purchases and delivering potions was tiring enough, but this nonsense was just too much.