Before she had time to change her mind, Anybodys quickly made her way back towards the playground. The noise of sirens pierced the air, and for a minute her feet told her to run. Gritting her teeth, she took a deep breath, and continued. A police car was at the scene, Schrank evidently taking more notes on the events of the night before. His expression was tense and angry - and a little afraid. No wonder. The atmosphere was dreadful. Jets and Sharks stood listlessly around him; no longer segregated, but not truly together. The atmosphere was fraught with mistrust. Fearfully surveying them, Anybodys saw that several were missing; Anita, Maria, Doc, Action, Baby John and Snowboy. She heard a voice, and realised A-rab was standing behind Schrank, pleading with him.
"C'mon - you gotta tell us. What's happenin wit' Chino?"
Schrank looked at him.
"You a relative?" he asked sullenly. A-rab spread his arms in frustration.
"Do I look like one?" he cried. Schrank sighed heavily, and put down his notebook, turning to address the crowd.
"O.K, listen up, people. I'm gonna ask this once civilly, and if you wanna keep ya dignity, you'll do as I say. We need the body of Anton - how d'you pronounce this? Polak."
"Don't ya call him a Polak? What's wrong wit' bein' one anyway?" Big Deal called. Schrank glowered.
"Shuddup. We need the body of the kid shot here last night. For a post-mortem." The horrified cries and groans rose up and threatened to overpower the policeman. "It ain't open to negotiation!" he called, trying to shout them down. Rosalia darted forwards.
"You know how it happened - how he die! What more you want? We kee- por favore…" She gestured brokenly at the cruel Lt, to cheers from the crowd. The Jet girls came forward to join her.
"You tell 'em, Rosie!"
Schrank glowered.
"I'd keep schtum if I was you, gold tooth. That just reminded me. We also need Bernardo's body. So go dig him out of whatever PR bonehouse you got him stuffed into, and bring him here." He pushed his face into her's. "I won't be such a gentleman next time I ask you.." He slid his hand around her waist, when Velma dived into break it up.
"Let go of her-"
"Oh, very nice. We also need your jackass boyfriend. Where is he?" Velma's eyes widened, and she moved protectively in front of Rosalia.
"You won't take him!" Several of the boys dived forwards, swinging punches at Schrank, who undeterred, lifted Velma off her feet.
"C'mon, Velma. Which Chapel of Rest is he in? He's not at home, we checked all that. Or is he at the morgue already? Did ya lay 'im out like some lousy Spic?-"
"You know what happened - we don't want anyone charged, LET ME GO!"
"Really? Well his parents seem to say different…"
"He don't live with his parents!" Velma screamed. Furious at being caught out, Schrank hit the struggling girl across the face. The mob surged forwards, Velma's cries rising above the chaos as she was bundled into a police car. A diminutive figure raced through the doors, standing stupefied at the chaos.
"Baby John!" Anybodys broke away from the crowd and ran to him.
"Anybodys…. Anybodys! We thought…" She clapped her hand over his mouth.
"Cut it, you fool. Where are the bodies? Where is Snowboy? Where is Maria? Tell me quietly."
"We're gonna bury them, ourselves.." Baby John bleated. Anybodys glared at him, and he continued quickly. "Snowboy - gee, Anybodys, he's gone! He won't forgive the PRs… and no-one can find Maria…. D'ya think Snowboy went after her? Maybe she went back ter Puerto Rico!" Baby John said, incredulously. Anybodys longed to shake him.
"Ya stupid punk. Of course Snowboy's gone after Maria!" Suddenly, she had a thought. "Where is Tony?"
Baby John appeared reticent.
"Last night…"
"C'mon, ashtray head. Spill."
"Last night, there was a meeting, OK? Big Deal, and some of us Jets, tried to work out a peace deal with the Sharks. Maria was in charge… it was goin' really well, but some of us were jus' so cut up 'bout Tony… Snowboy was da worst."
"Snowboy?"
"Yeah. He wouldn't listen. Maria tried to hush him up, but then he said, "How would you know, you're s'posed to be dead already! Ya should be dead. Tony's dead cause a'you!" Well, then Maria went all white, asked him what he meant. Action tried to get him to shut up, but Maria made him go on, and so… Snowboy told her everything about Anita. What we did to her… and what she told us. Then, Maria - she went sorta mad, and cried out for Anita. Course, she wasn't there. Maria cried, and cried, mad as hell, threw herself at Action. We were all so tired… Action couldn't stand it, Kate - I mean, Anybodys, he just blew off and took off. Into the dark."
Baby John shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. "We're tryin' to make things work, honest. But, it's just so… hard." He looked up at her. "They're all laid out at the Catholic chapel off East 12are at Maria's home." Anybodys smiled at him.
"Bless ya." She turned to go.
"Hey, buddy. If you see Action.."
"Yeah?"
"Stop him. Whatever he's doin'."
"Whaddya mean - hey, Baby John!"
"Yeah."
"Don't tell the others I'm alive and kicking. Not yet."
"O.K. Why?"
"I… I'm not gonna hang around." Her eyes returned guiltily to the outline on the ground. Again, she thought of Chino's kisses. Oh God. Baby John followed her gaze, and squeezed her hand.
"Gee, Anybodys, I know you miss him.." Anybodys recoiled guiltily at his touch. Baby John backed away. What Action said musta been true. Poor Anybodys… A little bit of anger stirred inside him. Sure, they'd all been mean to her, but even so.. Riff wouldn't'a stood for any PR scum touching her like that. No way. He looked at her departing form, and thought proudly that he'd managed to avoid mentioning her bruises. Her face looked awful.
Anybodys took every short cut she knew to make it to Maria's church. Even though she tried to stay calm, seeing the playground had brought back too many memories for her eyes to remain dry. Stop it, she told herself angrily, and plunged down yet another alleyway. As the shadow of the church became visible, she squinted through the midday sunlight and the bitter irony of it all ate away at her soul. Three boys, two bitter and deadly enemies, yet all of the same faith; all lain out together. Fervently, she hoped Snowboy hadn't made it to Maria first. And WHERE were Doc, Action and Anita? Suddenly, she halted. A strange chill passed over her, and for a second she was so cold she could barely breathe. A flashback - to the dream. Anybodys leant unsteadily against the wall for a second, eyes tightly shut against the vision. When it cleared she righted herself and ran, without further ado, towards the church.