The Key to Love [Discontinued]

Photographic Proof

I held out my hand tentatively.  I didn't always like meeting new people.  Especially not lately.

"Hi, you can call me Spin." I said.

"Yes, I figured." David sail gently with a smile.  "You can call me Davey, if you want."

"Okay." I said, as he shook my hand.

"So, you work for The World too?"

"Yep." I answered.

"I thought so, it's just strange - I don't think I have seen you around before."

"Hm." I replied awkwardly.  "Well I don't know anyone there, really.  Just Jack."

"Hm." He repeated.

As the silence ensued, I was able to examine David's facial features.  Such as his light blue eyes, his thin smile, and his curly red brown hair.  He had very kind eyes.  Very kind, blue eyes.  Very, very blue. 

I might have been staring.

"Are you okay?" He asked a moment later.

"Oh, yeah... fine." I stammered.  That was awkward.  "Sometimes I feel it's so cold my brain freezes up." I joked.

David chuckled.

"You're funny." He said.  "Jack has definitely rubbed off on you."

"I'm more than just a barrel of monkeys," Jack said, "I also taught 'im how to outrun da Delanceys."

David's eyes widened.  "Really?  How did you-"

"It's a long story," I interrupted, hoping Jack wouldn't take the time to tell the whole story, "But yes, he did."

Jack and I smiled at one another goofily, both remembering their faces as they tripped over the flying barrels.

"Impressive." David said.  "And if we don't want to do that, I suggest we head to work about now.  Besides, I don't know the tricks to outrunning rats." He winked.

The three of us headed off to start yet another day of paper selling.

-

"Kelly," a voice bellowed as we arrived at our workplace, "C'mere."

It was Oscar Delancey.  Morris was there too.

"Whaddaya want, Oscar? Or should I say, Oscrat?"

I laughed quietly from behind.

"Enough of that," he said, shining a toothy grin, "I got the goods on you."

"What's that?  I couldn't hear what you said over the sound of the booing of your name!" Jack said tauntingly.

"You heard me.  I have every right to get yous arrested."

"On what charges?" I shouted, stepping out from behind Jack.

"I think the cowboy knows what he's done - let him tell 'ya."

"Jack?" I said, disbelief and horror tinging my tone of voice.

"I don't know what yous mean." Jack said firmly.

This time, Morris spoke.

"It says here that Jack Kelly," he looked up with the same ugly, toothy grin as his brother, "has been takin' papes from us."

My jaw dropped.  Jack, stealing papes from Weasel? 

"He would never!" David said in his defense.

"He's right!" I seconded.

"Besides, what proof do you have to accuse him?" David asked.

"Morris?" Oscar said questioningly. 

"Oh, right." Morris said, fumbling to get something out of his pocket.  He hid it behind him as he began,
"Now, Weasel has been suspectin' dis for a while now, but just last month he hired a detective of sorts to document your every move."

Jack's face remained calm, but I could tell he was nervous.

"Besides his witnessing the entire, shall we say incident that happened last month, he had photographic proof dat you is guilty."

He took the photo from behind his back and handed it to Jack. 

"Try explainin' dat."

"I can't believe it." Jack said. 

"What?  What is it?" David and I said in unison.

"There's my place, my boots, my cap, and about... five hundred papes."