Past Secrets and Present Times
Chapter 17
By Megan
Specs was in her room the next morning when she woke up. One arm was wrapped around her waist and his shirt was lying across the end of the bed. She rolled over and pushed herself into a sitting position. The movement caused her friend to stir but not wake up. She decided not to get out of bed and just sat there staring off into space, thinking about the events in the past twenty-four hours. Everything that had happened would cause a huge impact on her future.
"So what'd Spot have to say last night?"
She looked down into Specs' open brown eyes. He smiled at her as he rolled over onto his back and stretched. "We talked," she said, "He's snooping around in Brooklyn today."
He sat up and kissed her forehead, "I'm sorry about last night."
"Don't be. Your dad's an ass. He's a man, it's his nature."
"I resent that," Specs said shoving her lightly.
"Newsies are exempt from that comment." She shoved him back and sent him flying off the bed to the floor. He muttered incoherently as she looked over the edge at him. "If it's any consolation I think you look better than Mush with your shirt off."
"Don't let him here you say that. He an' Race'll have a rumor we're together again through Manhattan within the hour."
All of the newsies other than those staying in the house were gone when they got downstairs, except Rebel.
"I thought you were going with Spot," she said sitting down and getting some breakfast.
"He needed to get away from me for a while. We talked on the way over here about…" he trailed off, "I'm sorry Brooke, but we were getting out of the refuge when we saw us and couldn't afford to get caught again. And I sort of threatened him."
"Forget it," she told him, "I talked to Spot so as long as you two testify we're fine." She didn't say anything as he left the house and ran to join the newsies selling in the streets.
After noon Racetrack approached her with a deck of cards and they started a poker game with the other newsies. The only interruption came around one, when the doorbell rang. David opened the door and let Bumlets in. He was panting and unable to speak. Hotshot ran to the kitchen and filled a glass of water for him. As she was returning Spot ran in the kitchen door yelling, "Hotshot, we found something." He followed her back to the living room and watched Bumlets gulp down the glass of water.
"Why on earth did you run all the way here, and where from?" David asked.
"The hospital," Bumlets gasped, "Jack sent me from the hospital." He was starting to regain the ability to talk.
"Kid," Specs said the even shorter nickname half of the newsies used for Kid Blink.
"Blink," Racetrack said at the same time, using the name the other half used.
"Bumlets, what happened to Kid Blink," her voice shook as she spoke.
"He had an attack. It was real bad. Jack wants you to come up ta the hospital in case something happens."
She grabbed her boots and threw them on not even bothering to tie the laces. She didn't even wait for Bumlets to catch his breath before taking off out the door. All except for Spot were close behind. Spot waited for the Manhattan newsie to catch his breath before they followed.
"I need to get into Trey Parker's room she told the nurse. When the woman gave reason that Hotshot couldn't go in she shot back; "I'm paying for his treatment so let me go see him." Kid's doctor walked by at the same moment and recognized her.
Jack was standing next to Kid Blink's bed when she got there. "Jack?"
"Figures she wants ta see you 'stead a me," a weak voice said.
Jack released Blink's hand and let Hotshot take it. "How you doin' Kid?" she asked. He was pale and looked horrible. He barely had the strength to grasp her hand.
"Not so great," he said truthfully as Jack took a step back from the bed.
"He's been havin' those long attacks all morning," Jack whispered in her ear.
"That'll make it even better to get back out and selling," he told her, attempting to smile.
"You'll be back out and selling in no time. Don't worry about it," she paused, "Jack here might wanna keep you in recovery for a few weeks but we still have time to work on him." She glanced over her shoulder at Jack. His face was stern but there was a smile on it. Kid Blink was just shaking his head as he laughed lightly. As he started to cough a panicked look came over his face. The coughing went from bad to worse and he seemed to have trouble breathing.
Hotshot took a few steps toward Jack and said quickly, "Cowboy, go get a doctor."
He didn't move; just stood there watching her and the boy on the hospital bed having a coughing fit.
"Jack!" She stepped to go past him and do it herself, but he grabbed her arm to stop him.
"Don't bother," he whispered.
"What!? Jack, what's wrong wit' you."
"The doctas said they don't think he has a chance a makin' it. I thought you might wanna see him before he…" Jack trailed off.
She took a step back and slapped him. A look of shock covered his face and he stepped back. "Go get a doctor, now." She spoke inn a firm voice and glared at him.
Jack disappeared and entered the room a few seconds later with a doctor. "I'm sorry," the man said, "but there's really not a lot more we can do for him."
"Well than let another doctor try," Spot said coming into the room followed by the others and another doctor, "His guardian's name is Andres Lynn. You treated him John Pulitzer, an' Brooke 'bout five years ago. Andres jus' found out 'bout Trey's condition and he wants you to do everythin' possible."
At these words the new doctor organized a team and drove the newsies out of the room. An hour later they revealed that the boy had slipped into a coma. They all went back into the room and settled in different places. Hotshot rubbed her hands over her face wearily; everything was going downhill very fast. "What are we gonna do when they find out about Andres, Spot?"
"Nothing."
"Come again?"
"You know how you's stepdad ended up bein' alive after all?"
She sat up from her slouched position, "What."
"The Pulitzer's have him locked in the Brooklyn house's attic. They give him food about once a month. He wants me to bring you down."
She was on her feet in a minute but then looked over at Kid Blink.
"The doctors say," Jack said entering the room and catching her attention, "that since he made it this long he's got a good chance of waking up. We just need to get all a us except one outta here in an hour and he'll let someone stay."
She almost hugged him as she jumped up, "Who's staying?"
"Me an' Bumlets'll go wit' you to Brooklyn if you pick someone else."
"Specs," she said, "Will you please stay here with him."
He nodded and everyone began to file out of the room. He held Hotshot back for a minute, "How'd Jack get that red mark on his cheek?"
She blushed, "He was bein' an ass so I slapped him."
He smiled and spoke in a singsong voice; "You'll hear it about that later."
"Just stay until he wakes up."
She walked outside to where everyone was waiting, "Let's go."
She and Spot beat the others to the house. When they reached the door to the attic there were several Brooklyn newsies waiting on the landing. "I don't have the key," she realized.
"What?" Racetrack looked at her confused.
"The key I gave you, Spot," she turned to him, "it doesn't open the attic door."
"I know that," Spot said.
"Then how are we getting' him out. Locky ain't here."
"You gave me this key," Spot threw it back to her. He reached under his shirt and pulled out the key that hung on a piece of rope. "Two days before the accident your brother gave me this key." He took it off his neck and unlocked the door.
Andres stumbled out looking the same as always, yet completely different. He wore the same newsie style clothes as always and his face held the same expression. His hair was as short as always but he was thinner and very pale. He made his way over to her and Spot and spoke, "Alright, which one a you bums is buyin' me dinner?"
Spot laughed and Hotshot hugged him, "Let's get you outta this house." The large group made their way to Tibby's and Spot introduced the older boy, who had immediately gone back to being called Blackjack, to all of the new newsies. His sister also filled him in on the current situation. They visited Denton during the afternoon and added him to the witness list.
That night on the way back to the Manhattan house the two of them stopped by the hospital. She led Andres to the room where their friends were. "Blackjack, this is Specs," she said, "an' the kid in the bed is Kid Blink. Specs this is my brother Andres, or Blackjack. How is he?"
"Didn't wake up but he stirred a few times. They said that's a good sign."
As her brother took a seat she remained standing and rubbed her hands over her face again.
Specs got up and put an arm around her shoulder, "He'll be alright, calm down. You got more important things to deal with anyway."
"Not more important," she sat down with him, "Just sumthin' people make a bigger deal about."
"So otha than Spot is this the only guy you dated?" her brother's voice broke an eerie silence on the walk home.
"Andres," she groaned.
"Well is he?"
"Yeah," she said.
"And…?"
"And what? He's just a friend now."
"And when you were together?"
"When we were together he was a perfect gentleman. Better than Spot. Ran away from his dad who happens to be Pulitzer's lawyer so he's educated."
"Let's think. What can I say about poor little Spot."
She laughed, "No comment."
Andres spent the rest of the weekend with the Manhattan newsies selling papes and getting into trouble. He got used to the schedule faster than most did after taking a few days off. He stayed at the lodging house while the others came to the court. It was mostly the same as Friday had been. Edwards' questions tried to prove that the boys were a bad influence on her while Denton's were about respect, trust, and other things to prove she had a right to stay where she wanted.
Because Specs was at the hospital with Kid Blink they'd changed the day he would be questioned. His father had glared at her accusingly; thinking the reason Specs was at the hospital was so he wouldn't be questioned. She met his gaze squarely and smiled. Then she moved her glare to her stepfather. Now she knew how to get him convicted of the murder he'd blamed on her father.
Jack and her stayed in the courtroom with Denton as the others filed out. "Should we bring Blackjack?" Jack asked.
"No," Hotshot said simply.
"He's not ready to see anyone else yet," Denton explained, "Seeing so many of his friends and meeting everyone. That plus getting back into the newsie schedule over the weekend took a lot out of him."
"Even if he'll never admit it," Hotshot added.
"Yes, he's just not up to it."
The ride to the state penitentiary was mostly a silent one except for the few attempts to start a conversation that came from Denton. It wasn't that the teenagers didn't appreciate his efforts, they were just too nervous to talk.
Denton walked up to the front counter and placed a piece of paper on the desk. "We're here to see William Sullivan and Christian Lynn," he said calmly.
"Alright," said the man behind the desk, "Are you all seeing both of them or separately?"
Denton looked back at them.
"Together," they answered at the same time.
"Whom would you like to see first?"
"Whomever you can get here faster."
"That would be Mr. Sullivan," the man glanced at the list and missed Jack gulping, "I'll be back in a moment." The guard disappeared through a door that led back to the prison. When he came back he gave Denton a pass and spoke, "Go back to the third door on you right. If you show the guard that pass he will let you in. When you want to leave just knock on the glass and the guard will let you out. Mr. Lynn will be in the fourth conference room in a few minutes."
"Thank you," Denton took the key and ushered the two down the narrow hall. Hotshot was the only one who noticed that Jack was shaking. "Do you want me to stand outside or stay against the back wall?"
"Come inside," Hotshot answered for Jack.
The Manhattan leader looked in the window and took a shuddering breath, "I can't do this." He began to turn and tried to walk back to the front of the building.
"Jack," she grabbed his arm, "Calm down. You've screamed at Pulitzer, how can this be hard?"
Denton opened the door and the three of them entered. Denton stood against the back wall, just inside the door. The two teens walked up to the table and sat in the two chairs on the side close to the door. A large man who resembled Jack slightly sat on the other side. The light was dim so it was not easy to see.
Even in the dark the man could see Jack trembling. "Who are you?" he asked.
Jack cleared his throat, "Jack Kelly the Cowboy." His voice sounded much calmer than he looked.
"Well Mr. Kelly, what can I do for you?" The man's face hadn't changed at all at Jack's aliases.
"You don't recognize me do you?" Jack choked out.
"Should I?"
"Jack Kelly is my adopted name, to keep me safe from the bulls. I'm Francis Sullivan."
"You making it alright out there?" His father's expression didn't change, "Got a good job?"
"I'm a newsie."
His father's face darkened, "A newsie," he laughed at the word, "That's the reason your mother died, the reason I'm in here."
"Whatta you mean?" Jack looked up confused.
"You. You killed her. You put me in here."
"Dad-"
"She got sick because she had to work so hard to take care of you. Then after she died I was left with that burden. I had to spend my money to take care of you."
"You have no right to be disappointed in him," Hotshot stood up, "Do you know your son led the newsie strike a few months ago? He stood up against the most powerful man in New York and won. You should be proud of him."
"Newsies," the man explained to her, "Are the lowest of the people in New York, even lower than the beggars and pickpockets. And girls like you are even lower than the boys."
"Don't talk ta her like that!" Jack yelled, "Don't you dare talk to my friends like that. If you're disappointed yell at me but don't take it out on her."
"Fine, I'm disappointed. You could have done something great but instead you chose to be the scum of the city."
Denton stepped forward, "Sir, you may think being a newsie makes these two the scum of New York but your son has more respect than half of the officials in this city. If that doesn't make him worthy of your approval then maybe you're not worthy of being his father. C'mon you two, let's go."
Jack stopped at the door as his father called after him; "I'm sorry Francis."
Jack turned around with Spot's stone-face on, "It's too late old man. I'll tell you right now, you ain't ever gonna see me again." He left the room with Denton and Hotshot and only let it fall once the door was closed. "Gimme a minute." He sat against the wall and let a tear run down his face.
"Jack, I'm so sorry," Hotshot said sitting next to him.
"Not much worse than I expected," he said, "I just sort of hoped he wouldn't be like that."
"Hotshot?" Denton was standing at the next door, "It's now or never."
She froze on the floor and felt Jacks hand on her arm, "Let's go then." He had a slight smile on his face.
"Wipe that smirk off your face Kelly, 'less you want me to slap you again." She followed Denton into the room and they took the same positions. She gasped at the sight of her father. Like Andres he was pale and thin, but still full of life.
"Good afternoon Mr. Lynn," Denton said leaning against the wall.
"Good afternoon gentlemen," he smiled warmly, "Which one of you is here to see me?"
"I am," Hotshot said quietly.
"What can I do for you, young man?"
Hotshot took a shaky breath, he didn't recognize her, "I want to reopen your case and get you out of here."
"Why would you want to do that?"
"Because you're my father."
"No, you must be mistaken," he looked her over, "You couldn't be either of my sons."
It was then that she realized that she was still wearing her hat. She pulled it off, "What about your daughters? Brooke."
His face went even paler, "Brooke. My God I haven't seen any of you in so long. I know your mother married Jonathan, how is everyone?"
"They didn't tell you?"
"Tell me what?"
"Verdomme. Dad I didn't wanna be the one to tell you this but five years ago, when I was twelve, there was an accident. The carriage tipped over and mom and the twins died. When I woke up they said Jonathan and Andres were in critical condition. I got sent to stay with Pulitzer and no one told me what happened. They're both alive but Andres couldn't come."
Her father looked less shocked than she expected him to. "I heard rumors," he said, "but I don't want you swearing in any language. So why are you here now?"
She explained to him about the court battle, finding Andres, and how Rebel and Spot had seen the killing. He only nodded as she told him who had done it.
"If you haven't been with Pulitzer where have you been?" he asked.
"When I was seven Andres introduced me to some newsies. After the accident I stayed with the newsies in Brooklyn. A was second in command until a few months ago. Spot, the leader, sent me to Manhattan 'cause Pulitzer sent some detectives out to find me. This is my friend-"
"Jack Kelly," he nodded, "I've heard about the strike. That's the biggest news story we've heard in here in a few years. But we never found out how it ended because the guard who told us about it was fired. You beat 'em right Jack?"
"Yes Sir," Jack smiled, "We got all the woikin' kids in New York togetha an' we beat 'em. Hotshot wasn't there but I know she helped talk Spot into coming ta Manhattan."
"How's it been in here, Dad?" she asked hesitantly.
"Just like the refuge when I was a kid," he said, "I trust you and your brother were never in there." He raised an eyebrow at her.
"No sir, we avoided trouble more than the other newsies. That and we had them to hide us if we did get in trouble."
"Good, it's been rough but I lived through it. Now you were second in command in Brooklyn?" He looked at her with an impressed look.
"Yeah, you left Dock in charge when you left, right?"
"Yes."
"Well he left this guy called Rebel in charge when he left. Rebel was leader when Andres brought me and he was one of Andres' friends. Anyway Andres left me with Spot because everyone knew Rebel was gonna leave him as leader. Spot taught me how to fight, and sell and, everything. I sold with Spot and Lockpick so when Spot became leader Lock and me were second in command. He chose whichever one of us was better for any situation and left the other in charge of the newsies."
"Isn't that Spot kid kinda scrawny?" he asked remembering the picture.
Jack gulped at the comment but Hotshot laughed, "He is on the small side but no one will make fun of him. He's a really good fighter. I'm one of the few people who can get away with making fun of him, reason being that I'm a girl. He's also got an attitude and glare that. I swear to God, can stop any newsie dead in his tracks."
"I'm very proud of you."
"Thanks Dad," she introduced him to Denton and left the two of them to talk while she and Jack moved into one of the corners.
A guard came in a few minutes later, "Visiting hours are over."
"Bye Dad," Hotshot said as they filed out of the room. Jack was coming back to the mansion for the night so the carriage dropped them both off there.
"You know there's a price for Jack coming today and for him staying here." Denton told her after Jack had gone inside.
"I figured, so what do I have to do?"
"Visit the Pulitzers on Wednesday. I'm sorry."
"I'll survive," she turned and went inside. She joined the three newsies in one of the rooms where they were playing poker. She sat down and they all looked at her as she spoke, "Deal me in. Prepare to lose."
"Stress?" Racetrack asked.
"You have no idea."