"Help! Stop, thief! Oh, someone stop him!"

The cry was one often heard within the boroughs of London, from Whitechapel to Southwark to Westminster, but there was something within the tone of the voice crying out this time that made Jacob pay attention. He saw a lady gesturing toward a fleeing figure and he took off in pursuit, pushing past other pedestrians for a full block before he was able to tackle the offender to the ground.

"Please don't kill me, sir! I was only hungry, didn' mean to cause no hurt to anyone!" The thief cowered before him, his hands raised in a defensive position.

Jacob grabbed the boy's lapel. "Next time, don't make such a scene." A sudden thought hit him and he leaned in closer to the lad. "There are better ways to earn a few coins. Come work for me. Join the Rooks. We take care of our own." He let go of the boy's jacket and took a step back. "Think about it. I always need eyes and ears on the streets." He fished into his own pocket and withdrew a few coins. "Go get something warm to eat, lad." With that, he turned and made his way back up the street to where he had last seen the lady that had been crying out.

She stood in the same place, her hands clasped together and peering anxiously through the crowd, trying to catch a glimpse of the thief and the man that had rushed past her to chase after him. Jacob stepped before her and tipped his hat toward her, bending his upper body in a slight bow as he returned her small purse to her. "Miss, I believe this belongs to you. I do apologize if it took any damage when I captured the miscreant."

"Oh, sir, thank you! I don't know what I would have done had I lost this. All of my earnings for the past two days; I was going to the bank to deposit them." she explained. She gave him a small smile and continued, "I must say, I don't think I've ever seen anyone move quite as fast as you."

"It was nothing, Miss...?" Jacob gazed down at the lady before him, one eyebrow lifted in question.

"Josephine Hanley, but everyone calls me Josie." Josie dipped in a quick curtsy as she offered her hand in greeting.

Jacob took it with his right hand and doffed his hat with the other, bending over her hand momentarily. "Jacob Frye, at your service, Miss Hanley."

Josie blinked in surprise. His name, along with his sister's, had been bandied about the streets for weeks now, along with stories of their exploits. From what she'd heard, she'd expected him to be much brawnier - and perhaps a bit less well spoken - than the specimen that was currently staring at her with that one eyebrow lifted over the most sparkling emerald green eyes she'd ever seen…

Shaking herself mentally, she replied, "Oh! I've heard of you! The gentleman that's been shaking things up and ruining London, if I were to believe one half of society. A savior for the workers, if I listen to the other half." A small smile flitted across her lips. "I'm certainly glad I've been given the opportunity to form my own opinion on your character."

Jacob's lips lifted in an answering smile. "Let me guess. You've heard tales of horror, that I'm an upstart that should be put in my place, a thug, a thief, a liar and a killer." The small blond woman before him nodded as though uncomfortable in admitting so, her vivid blue eyes widening in dismay as he spoke. He leaned in a little and gestured for her to come closer, as though he were about to share a secret with her. She did so and he said, "I am all of those things. But I am also a brother and a son who doesn't like to see anyone - man, woman, or child - be taken advantage of, robbed of their wages, used, and tossed away like so much rubbish." He straightened and gazed down at her, trying to judge her reaction to his words. He wasn't disappointed as a brief flash of worry crossed her face. "Make of that what you will, Miss Hanley, but know that what I fight for is freedom for everyone within this city, whether they realize they are lacking it or not." He tipped his hat to her once more and said, "Good day, Miss," and turned to leave.

Josie surprised herself by reaching out to grab his sleeve before he could take two steps. "Mr. Frye; please don't misunderstand me." She waited until he had turned to face her again. Those green eyes of his pierced her and she fidgeted slightly under his gaze. Plucking up her courage, she said, "I believe you, and I thank you for your honesty. It makes what I want to say much easier." She straightened her spine and turned to point down the street behind her. "Do you see that shop on the corner with the bright blue front? That is my shop. I'm a seamstress. Should you or your sister or any of your men require any… repairs, please come see me. I can also make certain alterations, should they be needed." She hoped he understood just what it was she was offering.

Jacob blinked a few times, making sure that he had heard her correctly. A shop owner? She looked to be no older than he. "Are you offering to become the Rook's personal outfitter, Miss Hanley?"

Her bottom lip rolled between her teeth for a moment before she answered. "I have two girls in my employ. One of them had an older brother that joined the Clinkers in hopes of being able to contribute to the family. The Blighters killed him. The other one had a little sister that was forced to work long hours at a spinning house, developed a cough, and died at the age of 9. If you are trying to fix those types of situations, then I want to help in some small way."

He bit the inside of his cheek to prevent grimacing in anger over her words. "In that case, I accept your offer. I'll let my men and my sister know. Now, if you will excuse me, I must continue with the business that brought me here today."

"Of course, Mr. Frye. I apologize for keeping you. Good day to you." She nodded her head once in parting then continued down the sidewalk to the nearest bus stop. Jacob stared after her for a moment, his hands locked onto the handle of his cane. Catching site of a couple of Rooks across the street, he hailed them to wait a moment, then dodged through the carriages to reach them.

"Lads, I've got a job for you." He gestured for them to follow him down the street to the corner. They stopped next to him and he nodded his head toward the shop on the opposite corner. "See that seamstress' shop across the way?" He waited for their acknowledgment before continuing. "I want it under watch at all times. The owner has just become one of our new friends and I don't want anything to happen to her, or her property. Be discreet and careful with the watching; I don't want her or her clientele to be uncomfortable with your presence. Recruit whoever you might need for the task."

As he finished setting his task, he saw the bus that Miss Hanley had boarded roll past him. He waited until it was half a block away before hopping into the driver's seat of a nearby Rook carriage and began to follow at a distance. He kept telling himself that it was just to make sure that Miss Hanley reached the Bank without further incident, but a small part of him scoffed at that notion. He shut out that little voice and told himself even louder that it was just business and had nothing to do with the way the light reflected off of her hair or the spark of mischief that had entered her eyes when she had offered her skills to his cause…

Author Note: And here is the completed first chapter. If any of you are here from my other story, Of Things Misplaced, don't worry... the next chapter of that one is coming soon.