A/N: I am alive.. ha ha. It's been a while, but this is one of the few chapters that I have ever been satisfied about. I think that its pretty good even though it was written in bits and pieces at a time. Just a suggestion - it makes much more since if you have read the first story before hand. Please tell me what you think and read and review!

Shout outs:

Thank you Rae Kelly, Kora, and Vioshine for your reviews. How about some birthday cake? ::grins:: It was my birthday on Saturday!

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By horse drawn carriage, Ms. Clearwater and Anne traveled down to Cannon's Walk near the Seaport. The busy central market was lined with varied shops. In the distance was the East River and the Brooklyn shore. Dozens of carriages whizzed across the largest suspension bridge in the world, the Brooklyn Bridge.

Anne sighed lightly, her eyes not leaving the towering, gothic-arched wonder. She pulled the black shawl tighter around her shoulders, then turned to follow Ms. Clearwater deeper into the crowd.

Around early noon, the two women resided for lunch at a local cafe. Smells of seafood from the nearby Fulton market mingled with the pleasant aromas of brewing coffee. Rallying cries of "nickel shoe shines" and "extra extra" penetrated the small dining hangout.

For the afternoon they went their separate ways: Ms. Clearwater going to do more errands and Anne being free to explore the area. Anne had assured Elise that she had been to the area before and that it would be perfectly fine for her to wander about. As soon as Anne was alone, it was a great relief.

The young lady quietly sniffed back tears as she walked down the ever-familiar Peck Slip. Memories of years passed flushed through her like the incoming salty breeze. Upon coming to the road overlooking the river she met up with the old slightly run-down warehouse that stood as the girl's newsy lodging house. Anne never dreamed that she would be privileged enough to see it's towering brick facade ever again. She wondered if it was possible that some of her dear old friends could be in the second story bunkroom at that moment. Oh how she wished she could see and talk to them again.

Anne glanced upward at the bunkroom window overlooking the river, then turned to the bridge. It really was their bridge. She reached out and felt the cool scarlet bricks.

Out on the small, plank-thatched dock Anne sat Indian style as she admired the steady waters. She slowly sipped her sarsaparilla and pondered quietly of what to do next. It was a few hours before she dared to stand again, feeling that her uneasy legs were too frail to support herself. A light Irish ballad from a distant fishing boat waltzed beautifully with the swirling wind. After giving the bottle one last look, she tossed it into the river.

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The Brooklyn newsboys' lodging house stood on Pier One overlooking the East River. Everitt Street was its foreground and a small but winding stretch of canal-like docks was its background. Oil lanterns on brass posts lit the building's lawn to the night. The mighty Brooklyn crew spent the evening on the docks by taking swims and playing poker on empty fishing crates.

"Muhaha," Bua Theatre laughed crazily as he jumped into the river. Dandy O'Reily shrieked as Bua pulled her in along with him. A great wave of water splashed the edges of the dock.

The girl of blond curls dunked Bua's head under water.

A small boy ran with a slight gimp over to the scene. "I'm coming in too!" he cried as he jumped into Dandy's arms.

The salty water splashed into her face. "Oh, Treavor!"

Treavor shakily doggy paddled over to the shore, clung to the rocks, and hoisted himself up. He kicked at the rocks and knocked a few into the water. A transparent green bottle clung to the murky soil. "Ooo.. a treasure map!" he exclaimed once seeing the paper in the bottle. The young boy rushed over to Dandy.

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Spot Conlon stood at the paneled window over looking the street; he just couldn't sleep. Wrinkles gathered at his brow as he stared at the scene below. Spot sighed and turned to open the desk drawer beside him. Picking up the stack of papers, he began to read...

With the flame close to his face, she could tell that he was not much older than she was. His hair was curly and dark brown. "The name's Jade, Jade Meyers."

"Kevin Thomas," he replied... Her eyes followed across the man's face.. strait blond hair complicated his one eye, but his strained dimples on each cheek were his most dominant features.

Her overpowering stomach destined her to join him... He held a welcoming smile with a cigar hanging loosely from the tips of his lips... The stranger smiled back and shook her hand. "And mine's Racetrack Higgins."

___

"Look at this," Trevor whispered to the young woman as he handed her the bottle.

Dandy cradled the glassware in her soft hands as Bua removed the cork stopper from the neck. She reached in with her thin, womanly fingers and removed the small roll of yellowed paper.

The edges of the paper cracked and split slightly as it was unrolled.

"Dear Spot," Dandy read aloud. Her eyes grew wide with shock and she slowly backed away. Her eyes darted to the left and right to make sure that no one was watching, then she continued reading...

I am alive. I can not explain what happened that night on the docks. I only wish that you remember my words - Bragh beayn diomhair. Remember and be of trust. I am in the city.

Anne

Dandy threw the letter down as if the contents were poison, but Bua reached down quickly to pick it up. He studied it carefully.

"I'm going to go tell Spot about this," Treavor exclaimed and turned to leave.

Bua grabbed him and put a hand over his mouth. "No, no, you aren't going to tell anyone!" he barked.

Dandy took the boy by the shoulders and knelt down to his level. "Treavor, listen to me. This letter is very important to us and you must not tell anyone about it. You'd best leave the telling up to us."

"Do you understand?" Bua asked.

Treavor nodded. "Yeah, I won't tell."

Bua grinned. "That's a good lad." He ruffled the little boy's hair.

___

Hair of dark silk swept up into a bun, eyes the size of marbles that were slightly upturned at the outer corners, and full lips with precise scarlet tendencies.... Race grinned. "That's Anne."

"What is it?" Spot snapped as he stuffed the sheets of paper back into the desk.

Dandy and Bua walked into the small adjourning room reserved for their leader. Kid Blink Thomas and Sprite Anderson followed them inside. Blink turned to shut the door.

Spot's eyes searched them carefully. The cloudy orbs settled on the green bottle in Bua's hand.

"Treavor found this by the docks. It looks like it was washed up by the current," Bua said to Spot.

The emerald glass caught the light of the moonlight as Spot slowly pulled the paper into his hands. "You've read it already?" he asked as he delicately ran the paper between his fingers.

The four newsies nodded.

Spot carefully opened the scroll-like letter and began to read. There was a clang of broken glass as the bottle hit the wooden floor.