Martie waved the smoky air away from her face and tried to see. Ben T, Itey and GOosey looked around. THe pub was noisy and filled with people. Ben tapped Martie's shoulder and pointed.
A petite girl sat on a bar stool with a heady mug in front of her. She looked like a Latina, with tan skin and short black hair. She was intently focused on a small book that she was scribbling in. Every now and then, the girl would take a drink and push back her hat. The old moth eaten green cap slowly slipped down over her eyes every time she looked down.
Martie looked at her friends. "Think that's Hazard?"
Goosey looked past her. "It is. I only seen her one time, but she's the type of person you remember for a long time."
THe group hesitantly walked over. Hazard looked up. Her eyes were the same color as the whiskey that sat in front of her. She was small, but she held herself like a queen.
"Yeah?" She looked at them quizzically. Her gaze lighted on T and something flickered behind her eyes.
"Um," T stuttered, "Well, uh, we we need you. To help us find Anita. Uh, she, she just..."
Ben jumped in. "Our friend Anita has disappeared. We think that she was kidnapped by the Kappers, 'cause they thought that she was someone else. ANd we were told that you could show us exactly where they are so we can get her out."
Hazard gave a small laugh. "Well, ya came to the right place. I used to be a Kapper. I was there when Gypsy -- I assume dat's who dey t'ink she is -- murdered Mello."
"Were you friends with Mello?"
Hazard stared straight into T's eyes. The other newsies couldn't see, but they were communicating on a different plane, in a way that only they could. "She was my sister. I told their leader, the Avi, dat I was leavin'. I couldn't stay in dat kinda life, wit' dose memories. So one of the girls gave me a 'token' to remember them by." Hazard rolled up her right sleeve. A scar shone pale on her tan skin. "I know dey got the wrong girl, cuz I went and tracked Gypsy down in Kings, and killer her. I'll never forgive her, but I'll never forgive myself either."
No one spoke for a moment, then Itey said, "So you'll help us?"
Martie said, Please, Anita ain't my real sister, but she's as close as I got. And her brother would die if she never came back."
Hazard looked at Martie, then spit in her palm. Martie did the same and they shook.
Hazard fixed her hat again. "Ok, I'll take you to their place tomorrow, but youse gotta get some people together. THe Kappers ain't a big group,but they'se real tough. Bring people who ain't afraid to fight."