Kloppman woke me the next morning with a vigorous knocking. I struggled to
open my eyes as I fell off my mattress. Slowly I crawled to the door and
cracked it open.
"I'm up." I said groggily. " I'm up, I missed you too Kloppman."
He gave me a grin and returned to the task of awaking the rest of the sleeping beauties scattered amongst the bunks. I shut the door and slowly dressed hoping I got all of my buttons buttoned right. I shivered as I did wondering where the cold air was coming from. Glancing around I found my window partially open; curious I neared it wondering how that had happened. I usually kept my window tightly locked. Especially after my ordeal with Ox, I had nightmares of someone sneaking in and attacking me. I shrugged off the prickling at the back of my neck and firmly shut the window twisting the lock back into place. Maybe I had been sleep walking, I did that on occasion when something was on my mind. After all I had been through there was still a lot on my mind. With that logical explanation firmly placed in my mind I opened the door and sat on my bed to brush out and braid my hair.
I knew I had a little time before Mush and Blink to finished getting ready. Whatever male said women take longer to get ready was an idiot. They had to wash and shave before getting dressed for some reason it took them longer than me. Mush took longer than Blink; pretty boy that he was had to make sure everything was in place before leaving. When we teased him he'd tell us he never knew when he might run into the girl of his dreams, which he did pretty well every week.
Of course had I been dressed like all the other women of this time period it would have taken me a little longer to get dressed, I reasoned. I quickly tied off my hair and stood looking around my small room for that one article of clothing that was forever eluding me. It was definitely starting out as a normal day.
"Where in the hell is my hat." I growled as I tossed my pillow and sheets around in an effort to find it. "How is it that I always managed to loose my hat in a room the size of a broom closet?"
I heard Crutchy chuckle as he passed on his way back to his bunk to grab his hat. I turned and flashed him a brief smile before retuning to my hunt.
"Mimic." I called and was rewarded with his small figure darting amongst the boys and into my room.
"Yeah?" he looked up at me with a worried look on his face. I noted it, but at the moment my hat was more important. If I didn't find it soon Mush and Blink would be ready and then I'd get the teasing of a lifetime. I made a mental note to ask him as soon as the missing article of clothing was found.
"Where is my hat?" I asked, "You can always find it, so find it, please."
He glanced around the room it was as if he had this built in radar for my hat. If I couldn't find it he always could. I watched as he moved about the bed poking here and there before he pulled it from beneath the sheets piled at the end of the bed.
"Thank you." I sighed fitting the hat to my head and sitting down again to wait some more. His face had kept its worried look and he sat down next to me. "What is it?"
He gave me this look of complete trust. It was a look that told me he was telling me he would believe me no matter what I said. That he was preparing to take what I said and never look back. That he loved me enough to believe me even if I lied to him. It made me feel slightly guilty despite the fact I had done nothing wrong.
" Did ya wake up at all last night Cameo?" he questioned in voice that went beyond his six years of life.
"No, I slept as I always do like the dead." I replied truthfully. "Why?"
"Last night I woke up and saw a lady sneakin around and I saw her sneak back into your room and disappear. I went into ya room and you were sleeping, but I wasn't sure." He said slowly, looking at my face for my reaction.
"Are you saying a woman came in here and disappeared?" I asked smiling brightly at him despite the fact that the prickling was back. My mind flashed back to the window that had been opened. I shrugged it off, remembering the ghost story Race had told the kids before bed. A move I had berated him for, but he had shrugged as he started a game, he didn't care if I ended up with half of the Lodging House in my room because they were cared or not. " Was she white and filmy, wearing a long dress? "
"I'se serious Cam." He said softly taking my teasing good-naturedly, but still continuing with his seriousness. " This woman looked kinda like you and she stole money."
"Stole money?" my teasing look vanished and I looked at him seriously " Whose money."
"Jack, Snoddy, Bumlets, Snitch, Racetrack and Snipeshooter. I don't know who else that was all I could see." Mimic told me earnestly. "Then she went into ya room, shut the door and when I went to check on ya, I saw ya fast asleep."
I shivered as I thought about the window that had been unlocked and open this morning. Maybe he was right, maybe he had actually seen someone, and if he had there was one person that would be best equipped to handle the situation. Or at least as leader he better be able to handle it.
"Hold on a minute Mimic." I said standing; glancing around the bunkroom I saw that our fearless leader was nowhere to be found. I headed for the forbidden washroom figuring this was big enough of a problem to enter uninvited.
"Jack." I cried throwing the door open and stepping inside ignoring the dashes for modesty and irritated grumbling. Jack turned to look at me his left cheek still covered in shaving cream. "Finish quick, we have a little problem."
"Ya know ya ain't allowed in here Cameo." He said teased as his boys continued their complaining. "If ya want a peek ya don't have to pretend to need to talk with me, any of us would be happy to oblige ya."
"Keep it in your pants Casanova." I said wryly as he wiggled his eyebrows at me knowing it was all in good fun. " I doubt Spot would be too happy with me if I took you up on your offer. Now I'm serious, I need to see you in my room."
"Sure sweetface." He replied. I rolled my eyes, men can't take anything seriously when you need them too and they take things too seriously when you don't want them too. I ignored the hoots and whistles as I turned on my heel and headed back for my room.
"Where'd ya go?" Mimic asked softly as I returned.
"To get Jack, if anyone should know about this it's Jack." I told him reassuringly. "He'll know what to do."
"I don't know if that was a good idea." I thought I heard Mimic murmur, but before I could ask him about it Jack interrupted me.
"So what's so important?" He looked from me to Mimic and back again.
"Some money was stolen last night." I began. "Mimic saw a woman stealing money from the newsies then she disappeared into my room. When I got up this morning my window was unlocked and cracked."
"Stole money huh, from who?" Jack asked in an indulgent tone that told me he didn't quite believe me.
"You for starters." I told him in a tone that told him I didn't appreciate it. He looked at me for a moment as if weighing my answer then calmly walked to his bunk felt in the mattress for something. I watched as he removed a pouch and dumped the contents in his hand. His cheeks burned red with anger as he looked from the pouch to me and back again.
"Alright boys we got a thief in our midst, check ya stashes." Jack called out. The boys immediately jumped at his words looking in their various hiding spots for their money. I heard Racetracks hiss of anger, Bumlets said nothing, but I saw his jaw tighten. Snipeshooter punched the small stand between his bed and Racetracks. I looked at Snitch who just looked shocked, a few others had various reactions that I missed, but I knew that there were quite a few of them that were missing money. "Now ya sayin they snuck out ya window last night?"
"Yes." I replied. "Mimic saw a woman moving around the room last night taking money then she disappeared into my room. My window was unlocked and cracked this morning when I got up."
"Whatta we gonna do Jack?" Bumlets asked. "I don't even have enough for papes today."
"Ya gonna partner up with someone else that does or bum some off of those that got money." Jack replied thinking quickly. I had heard about the strike and about David's brilliant words, but often I wondered when watching Jack what had been Jack's words and what had been David's. While David was educated, Jack was incredibly brilliant. He was a leader just as Spot was; he knew what needed to be done and did it. He thought quickly and on his feet always ready to take on what came next. That was where David had floundered, for all his pretty words he didn't know what needed to be done. Jack came up with the brilliant ideas; David found a way to make it reality. They made a good team I couldn't deny that, but without Jack's charisma the strike would never have happened. Without Jack's quick thinking and brilliant ideas it would have as well. Jack could have muddled through without David's words, though it would have been harder.
"Cameo." Jack's voice broke me away from my random musings and I looked at him curiously.
"Jack." I replied.
"We're takin the mornin off, you, me, and Mimic." He told me. I nodded absently as I watched the dejected newsies. "Mimic describe this woman."
"She had long hair so I couldn't see her face, she was dressed like a man and other than that I don't know." Mimic said hesitantly, he looked to me, his eyes pleading for me to allow him to stop. I gestured for him to continue trying to encourage him, I can't believe now I didn't see what a six year old could. He took a deep breath and continued to describe her as I slipped from the room into my own. I left my door cracked so I could continue to listen as I pushed the bed across the small room. Once the bed was out of the way I opened the little cubby I had created that held my bracelet, the gypsy amulet and my money. I sighed as I counted out the money I had made and counted some from it. There was hardly anything left as I replaced the remaining coins, just enough to get Mimic that hat and gloves I had been planning on. Looks like I would have to skip lunch at Tibbys for a few days. I shrugged as I replaced the floorboard and moved my bed back over it.
"How tall was she." I stopped dead as I stood waiting for an answer that my intuition told me I wouldn't like. The same intuition that was screaming at me to grab the amulet and the bracelet just incase.
"Almost as tall as Cameo." He whispered. " As first I almost thought it was her, her hair looked dark and it was kind of wavy."
"What makes ya think it wasn't Cameo?" I heard a voice I didn't entirely recognize ask. I felt a shiver run down my spine, I had never stolen anything in my life. I listened to the little voice that was making every fiber of me scream to get my amulet and bracelet. I turned and moved everything to grab it before moving everything back and standing.
"Cameo wouldn't do that." I heard Blink protest." She ain't like that, maybe you took it Snitch."
"Funny ain't it that you and Mush ain't missin nothin, neither is the pipsqueak." Snitch shot back.
"Come on Blink we almost knows nothing about her." Bumlets sighed. " She coulda been makin nice with us until she could get away with it easy."
"Why would she steal from us?" Mush broke in " Don't ya think she would have done it before now? Before she was almost killed savin Mimic?"
Slowly I opened the door, effectively silencing the conversation I couldn't have missed. They all looked at me as I came back out some a little more accusing than others.
"What ya got there Cameo?" Jack asked trying not to let me see the suspicion on his face he was failing miserably. Jack had a suspicious nature to him when the moment warranted it and this was one of those times. It probably was not the best time to come out clutching money. I tried to ignore the hostility I felt as I stretched out my hand.
"I saved some of my money by not going to the Vaudeville Theater and not eating at Tibby's every day." I said quietly. " Anyone that can't afford papers today, I'll give you what's here and you can pay me back."
"Is that so ya can sleep better at night?" I heard a voice say. Angrily and stunned at the accusation there I turned in the direction I heard it come from.
"I have no money other than what's here and a few more pennies I need to buy some things for Mimic." I snapped, I threw the money on the floor at the boy's feet and stomped out of the room. Jack caught me just as I started to slam the door, I hit him with it, but neither of us cared.
"Come back inside Cameo, there's only one way this is gonna get settled and that requires ya to follow me nicely." He said between clenched teeth, I didn't have much choice as he dragged me back in. "Okay I'm gonna search her room and if I find the money then she's guilty, if I don't she ain't. We ain't Judge Monahan, we're gonna actually give her a fair shake."
I tried to protest, but Blink silenced me as I watched Jack enter my room a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. I hadn't stolen anything, I hadn't. I kept thinking, he wouldn't find anything, but I had a feeling he would. For some reason I just knew it. He moved things around pulled loose bricks from the walls. I placed the necklace around my neck ignoring the hungry eyes that fell on the antique that would probably fetch a fair price. The bracelet I just clenched in my hand afraid for anyone to find it. Blink edged me closer to the door, I could tell they could feel the tension that was making me a guitar string ready to snap. He had almost finished, I was starting to relax when he reached inside the small pitcher on my washstand and pulled out some bills. Dumping it in the middle of my floor coins fell in a heap.
"Okay Cam, ya caught." Jack said in tired voice.
"NO!" Mimic cried. " It was a lady I tell ya, it wasn't Cameo, it wasn't, Cameo was asleep in her nightgown. The woman was wearin clothes like us."
"She probably threw it on over her clothes because she saw ya awake." Snitch said bitterly.
"Listen to me." Mimic yelled as the boys began to murmur amongst themselves.
"Whatta ya got to say Cameo?" Jack asked me.
"I was framed." I whispered still staring at the pile of money in shock.
"Sure ya were." Snitch growled " Some woman came in here in the middle of the night dressed like you to frame ya."
"Funny you should get so upset about it when, you've been flitching money from us since ya came here Snitch." Mush snapped. " What's the matter angry ta be caught at ya own game?"
"I oughta soak ya for that." Snitch hissed.
"Try it." Mush said in a deadly tone I had never heard him use before. I turned blindly walking from the room unnoticed as they tried to keep Mush from ripping the younger boys to shreds. Hurt and anger flowed through me as I reached the top of the stairs. I had gone from a whore to a thief. I pounded down the stairs taking my anger out on the creaking wood not caring that the boys were rushing to the steps after me. I ran out of the Lodging House and into the street ignoring the cries of Jack and Blink. I dodged among the people swift as a deer not even poor Mimic could keep up though he tried. I ran until my breath came in gasps and I had to stop for the pain that was aching in my side. As I stood there trying to get air back into my laboring lungs I felt hand clamp on my arm. I closed my eyes figuring one of the Manhattan Newsies had managed to keep up. I turned ready to fight my way free as a combination of fear and anger ran through me. I whirled to face the person who held me and found a worried pair of blue eyes looking into mine. Eyes of the man I knew could fix this mess. I felt the tears well up in my eyes as I launched myself into his arms.
"Spot." I was all I said my voice muffled against his shoulder.
"What's goin on Brair?" he asked pulling back enough to look down at me.
" They think I stole it, I've never stolen anything in my life. I wouldn't do it, but the woman left through my room Mimic saw her, but they think it was me. They think I did it. I didn't, I wouldn't you have to believe me Spot." I babbled too upset to be coherent.
"Wait a minute, what did you steal?" Spot asked "Slow down take a deep breath and then speak."
"Nothing." I responded as I exhaled loudly. " They think I stole their money."
"Did ya?" He asked looking at me critically, I knew had I been lying he would have caught it.
"No." I replied. He nodded and wrapped an arm around me. I glanced at his companion realizing it was a person I knew I greeted him. "Hello Shadow."
I smiled at the newsie I hadn't seen since the night I had been taken by Ox. I suppose he had been off on official Brooklyn business.
"Hello Cameo." He responded giving me a smile of his own.
"Shadow go back to Jacky's boys and tell them I have Cameo." Spot ordered, he quieted my protests by saying. "She's stayin in Brooklyn until they find the person behind it. The real person."
"What if they don't." I asked a little fear in my voice.
"Then you'll have to stay with me." He replied " If they found the money they shouldn't care where you go as long as you stay out of Manhattan." I close my eyes for the second time I had been exiled to Brooklyn, only this time there might be no going back.
"We are going to find who did this." I vowed, Spot looked at me and nodded. "And then I'm going to beat them within an inch of their life."
"That's my girl." Spot said with a bit of pride as I wiped my tears and straightened my shoulders. I knew the truth and I was going to rub their faces in it when I found a way to prove it. I was so preoccupied searching my brain for someone that would actually go to the trouble of framing me that I didn't even realize that Spot had just called me his girl.
Chelci: Yup you're getting married, Spot's little sister is all grown up how will he ever deal with it? You already know who's thieving and besides I can't answer that question here, it will ruin it for everyone. You know I'm not sure I'm actually going to have an opening to write Skittery and Glimmer's wedding. Though maybe I'll write Glimmer's full story in another story and it will be there. Hmmmmmmm Muses are chittering excitedly over that. HMMM will have to contemplate that idea.
Rhap: Okay, my leg is now officially asleep! Are you saying Spot need anger management or just a class on how to get his head out of his ass? I think that neither would happen, he wouldn't be Spot without his temper and well all men have their head up their asses, it's a genetic problem at birth. (sorry to any men, but you probably think the same about us women. The problem is we really don't. He he he. Okay sorry really) As for the thief sorry next chapter... Keeps you reading doesn't it?
Skittles: Okay you know (holds fingers to lips) SHHHHHH! Neither you or Chelci know the end though that's between me and the muses. They like it that way, they have a tendency to change it otherwise. Hope you love this one too!
Hotshot: Yes a thief dum da dum dum. Uh oh poor Cam, I think she's ready to kill me for the hell I keep making her life. She just wants a nice normal life and then I come along create her and put her through hell. He he he ahhhh the writers prerogative. Don't you love it? Pranks do tell more Cam wants to know! Typical male see Rhap's SO for why they act the way they do. Glad you were so amused by Spot's wake up call, it defiantly amused me as I wrote it. So did the drunken moment, drunken idiots can be the best amusement.
Dreamer: Pueblo, well all I can say is I've been through there. We go to Pueblo Reservoir every summer to boat and we've driven through on our way to Durango. Oh and to the dirt bike track out there, that's about as far into it as I've been. He can stroke my hair any day too. I loved that moment gave me warm fuzzies. I understand the whole not knowing were to go from here feeling let me know if I can help, I would have no problem brainstorming with you if you'd like. Hope you like the chapter.
Lomelinde: (does infamous new reviewer dance ask any other reviewers it's well known) Yay for me a new reviewer that likes my story. Thank you I hope you enjoy this installment too! Wow I just felt like an infomercial.
Erinkathleen: Honey if you didn't already love Spot I don't know how this story could make you love him. He's a great character though completely under played in the movie. He can be so complex and fun to work with. I love him too. Bad boys they always have us pegged, there's nothing like them. Unless it's the reformed bad boy and we all want to be the one reforming. Of course you got a dance, its tradition. I looked back on the chapter and I agree it is a little bit of Fiddler on the Roof though I never even thought about it. Though asking the fathers or nearest relative's permission was a vital thing if you didn't want to piss off your in-laws right away. I was trying to keep with that idea. Though again it's very Fiddler on the Roof, not too surprising since it is one of my favorite musicals. Along with My Fair Lady, Gigi and West Side Story. I just can't choose between them. Speaking of when Duvall ( Pulitzer) does his little dance while they're plotting to screw the newsboys I so thought of Fiddler. I sing I wish I was a rich man every time I see him do that.
Rumor: You definitely made up for the missed chapters. Wow what a review. I loved every minute of it! I'm glad you caught the story I told you about. I figured you would though. Yes we are practically neighbors, though the closest I've been to Kansas is when we drove through it to get to Lake of the Ozarks about 6 years ago. More you saw well here you go! As for your whip, I'm enjoying the fact you can't swing it over my head right now, my favorite slave driver. He he he. Funny that you actually do own one. As for the innuendo filled humor, honey look at me I spend my spare time at Ren Faire where the man who sells pickles yells at the passers by that his pickle is bigger than their pickle and that's the tame part of faire. I know all about having your head in the gutter, but not actually one to act on it, usually. Hope you enjoyed. Glad Chapter 22 didn't suck I was beginning to worry.
Ali: Sadistic? Oh hell ya. I write the romance for you dear. Well and Spot and Cam because I think they would jump me other wise and I'd hate to try to fend off both of them. Hell one at a time would be hard enough. Of course they blame her why else would the thief leave through her room? Bet you'll never guess who's framed her. I'll give you a hint; it's an enemy she hasn't had to deal with in a long time. Sorry had to do it, it's the groundwork for what's going to happen next. Hope you liked it despite the fact that you were right.
Fearless: Okay I'll try to get on soon, sorry I haven't I hope to talk to you soon, You need a Yahoo IM makes thing so much easier, I can't download two IM's onto my computer at work causes too many problems and upsets my boss. Anyway hope you liked it.
Galaxy: Yeah well they did find the proof in her room, but they'll get to the bottom of it. You know they have too and Cam will rub their faces in their mistake. Yay for Cam! Hope you enjoyed!
JP: I saved the best for last now give me my animal crackers and O.J.! Yummmy! Damn it you found out my kryptonite. Okay here's the next chapter. I hope to talk to you soon, I miss you! Shh no brainless wonder cracks you'll let the other reviewers in on what you can guess so easily since we share a brain. Updated now please can I have my treat? Love you hon!
Okay a page of S.O's and I hope I got everyone. If I didn't I send smooches and huggles your way. Thank you!
"I'm up." I said groggily. " I'm up, I missed you too Kloppman."
He gave me a grin and returned to the task of awaking the rest of the sleeping beauties scattered amongst the bunks. I shut the door and slowly dressed hoping I got all of my buttons buttoned right. I shivered as I did wondering where the cold air was coming from. Glancing around I found my window partially open; curious I neared it wondering how that had happened. I usually kept my window tightly locked. Especially after my ordeal with Ox, I had nightmares of someone sneaking in and attacking me. I shrugged off the prickling at the back of my neck and firmly shut the window twisting the lock back into place. Maybe I had been sleep walking, I did that on occasion when something was on my mind. After all I had been through there was still a lot on my mind. With that logical explanation firmly placed in my mind I opened the door and sat on my bed to brush out and braid my hair.
I knew I had a little time before Mush and Blink to finished getting ready. Whatever male said women take longer to get ready was an idiot. They had to wash and shave before getting dressed for some reason it took them longer than me. Mush took longer than Blink; pretty boy that he was had to make sure everything was in place before leaving. When we teased him he'd tell us he never knew when he might run into the girl of his dreams, which he did pretty well every week.
Of course had I been dressed like all the other women of this time period it would have taken me a little longer to get dressed, I reasoned. I quickly tied off my hair and stood looking around my small room for that one article of clothing that was forever eluding me. It was definitely starting out as a normal day.
"Where in the hell is my hat." I growled as I tossed my pillow and sheets around in an effort to find it. "How is it that I always managed to loose my hat in a room the size of a broom closet?"
I heard Crutchy chuckle as he passed on his way back to his bunk to grab his hat. I turned and flashed him a brief smile before retuning to my hunt.
"Mimic." I called and was rewarded with his small figure darting amongst the boys and into my room.
"Yeah?" he looked up at me with a worried look on his face. I noted it, but at the moment my hat was more important. If I didn't find it soon Mush and Blink would be ready and then I'd get the teasing of a lifetime. I made a mental note to ask him as soon as the missing article of clothing was found.
"Where is my hat?" I asked, "You can always find it, so find it, please."
He glanced around the room it was as if he had this built in radar for my hat. If I couldn't find it he always could. I watched as he moved about the bed poking here and there before he pulled it from beneath the sheets piled at the end of the bed.
"Thank you." I sighed fitting the hat to my head and sitting down again to wait some more. His face had kept its worried look and he sat down next to me. "What is it?"
He gave me this look of complete trust. It was a look that told me he was telling me he would believe me no matter what I said. That he was preparing to take what I said and never look back. That he loved me enough to believe me even if I lied to him. It made me feel slightly guilty despite the fact I had done nothing wrong.
" Did ya wake up at all last night Cameo?" he questioned in voice that went beyond his six years of life.
"No, I slept as I always do like the dead." I replied truthfully. "Why?"
"Last night I woke up and saw a lady sneakin around and I saw her sneak back into your room and disappear. I went into ya room and you were sleeping, but I wasn't sure." He said slowly, looking at my face for my reaction.
"Are you saying a woman came in here and disappeared?" I asked smiling brightly at him despite the fact that the prickling was back. My mind flashed back to the window that had been opened. I shrugged it off, remembering the ghost story Race had told the kids before bed. A move I had berated him for, but he had shrugged as he started a game, he didn't care if I ended up with half of the Lodging House in my room because they were cared or not. " Was she white and filmy, wearing a long dress? "
"I'se serious Cam." He said softly taking my teasing good-naturedly, but still continuing with his seriousness. " This woman looked kinda like you and she stole money."
"Stole money?" my teasing look vanished and I looked at him seriously " Whose money."
"Jack, Snoddy, Bumlets, Snitch, Racetrack and Snipeshooter. I don't know who else that was all I could see." Mimic told me earnestly. "Then she went into ya room, shut the door and when I went to check on ya, I saw ya fast asleep."
I shivered as I thought about the window that had been unlocked and open this morning. Maybe he was right, maybe he had actually seen someone, and if he had there was one person that would be best equipped to handle the situation. Or at least as leader he better be able to handle it.
"Hold on a minute Mimic." I said standing; glancing around the bunkroom I saw that our fearless leader was nowhere to be found. I headed for the forbidden washroom figuring this was big enough of a problem to enter uninvited.
"Jack." I cried throwing the door open and stepping inside ignoring the dashes for modesty and irritated grumbling. Jack turned to look at me his left cheek still covered in shaving cream. "Finish quick, we have a little problem."
"Ya know ya ain't allowed in here Cameo." He said teased as his boys continued their complaining. "If ya want a peek ya don't have to pretend to need to talk with me, any of us would be happy to oblige ya."
"Keep it in your pants Casanova." I said wryly as he wiggled his eyebrows at me knowing it was all in good fun. " I doubt Spot would be too happy with me if I took you up on your offer. Now I'm serious, I need to see you in my room."
"Sure sweetface." He replied. I rolled my eyes, men can't take anything seriously when you need them too and they take things too seriously when you don't want them too. I ignored the hoots and whistles as I turned on my heel and headed back for my room.
"Where'd ya go?" Mimic asked softly as I returned.
"To get Jack, if anyone should know about this it's Jack." I told him reassuringly. "He'll know what to do."
"I don't know if that was a good idea." I thought I heard Mimic murmur, but before I could ask him about it Jack interrupted me.
"So what's so important?" He looked from me to Mimic and back again.
"Some money was stolen last night." I began. "Mimic saw a woman stealing money from the newsies then she disappeared into my room. When I got up this morning my window was unlocked and cracked."
"Stole money huh, from who?" Jack asked in an indulgent tone that told me he didn't quite believe me.
"You for starters." I told him in a tone that told him I didn't appreciate it. He looked at me for a moment as if weighing my answer then calmly walked to his bunk felt in the mattress for something. I watched as he removed a pouch and dumped the contents in his hand. His cheeks burned red with anger as he looked from the pouch to me and back again.
"Alright boys we got a thief in our midst, check ya stashes." Jack called out. The boys immediately jumped at his words looking in their various hiding spots for their money. I heard Racetracks hiss of anger, Bumlets said nothing, but I saw his jaw tighten. Snipeshooter punched the small stand between his bed and Racetracks. I looked at Snitch who just looked shocked, a few others had various reactions that I missed, but I knew that there were quite a few of them that were missing money. "Now ya sayin they snuck out ya window last night?"
"Yes." I replied. "Mimic saw a woman moving around the room last night taking money then she disappeared into my room. My window was unlocked and cracked this morning when I got up."
"Whatta we gonna do Jack?" Bumlets asked. "I don't even have enough for papes today."
"Ya gonna partner up with someone else that does or bum some off of those that got money." Jack replied thinking quickly. I had heard about the strike and about David's brilliant words, but often I wondered when watching Jack what had been Jack's words and what had been David's. While David was educated, Jack was incredibly brilliant. He was a leader just as Spot was; he knew what needed to be done and did it. He thought quickly and on his feet always ready to take on what came next. That was where David had floundered, for all his pretty words he didn't know what needed to be done. Jack came up with the brilliant ideas; David found a way to make it reality. They made a good team I couldn't deny that, but without Jack's charisma the strike would never have happened. Without Jack's quick thinking and brilliant ideas it would have as well. Jack could have muddled through without David's words, though it would have been harder.
"Cameo." Jack's voice broke me away from my random musings and I looked at him curiously.
"Jack." I replied.
"We're takin the mornin off, you, me, and Mimic." He told me. I nodded absently as I watched the dejected newsies. "Mimic describe this woman."
"She had long hair so I couldn't see her face, she was dressed like a man and other than that I don't know." Mimic said hesitantly, he looked to me, his eyes pleading for me to allow him to stop. I gestured for him to continue trying to encourage him, I can't believe now I didn't see what a six year old could. He took a deep breath and continued to describe her as I slipped from the room into my own. I left my door cracked so I could continue to listen as I pushed the bed across the small room. Once the bed was out of the way I opened the little cubby I had created that held my bracelet, the gypsy amulet and my money. I sighed as I counted out the money I had made and counted some from it. There was hardly anything left as I replaced the remaining coins, just enough to get Mimic that hat and gloves I had been planning on. Looks like I would have to skip lunch at Tibbys for a few days. I shrugged as I replaced the floorboard and moved my bed back over it.
"How tall was she." I stopped dead as I stood waiting for an answer that my intuition told me I wouldn't like. The same intuition that was screaming at me to grab the amulet and the bracelet just incase.
"Almost as tall as Cameo." He whispered. " As first I almost thought it was her, her hair looked dark and it was kind of wavy."
"What makes ya think it wasn't Cameo?" I heard a voice I didn't entirely recognize ask. I felt a shiver run down my spine, I had never stolen anything in my life. I listened to the little voice that was making every fiber of me scream to get my amulet and bracelet. I turned and moved everything to grab it before moving everything back and standing.
"Cameo wouldn't do that." I heard Blink protest." She ain't like that, maybe you took it Snitch."
"Funny ain't it that you and Mush ain't missin nothin, neither is the pipsqueak." Snitch shot back.
"Come on Blink we almost knows nothing about her." Bumlets sighed. " She coulda been makin nice with us until she could get away with it easy."
"Why would she steal from us?" Mush broke in " Don't ya think she would have done it before now? Before she was almost killed savin Mimic?"
Slowly I opened the door, effectively silencing the conversation I couldn't have missed. They all looked at me as I came back out some a little more accusing than others.
"What ya got there Cameo?" Jack asked trying not to let me see the suspicion on his face he was failing miserably. Jack had a suspicious nature to him when the moment warranted it and this was one of those times. It probably was not the best time to come out clutching money. I tried to ignore the hostility I felt as I stretched out my hand.
"I saved some of my money by not going to the Vaudeville Theater and not eating at Tibby's every day." I said quietly. " Anyone that can't afford papers today, I'll give you what's here and you can pay me back."
"Is that so ya can sleep better at night?" I heard a voice say. Angrily and stunned at the accusation there I turned in the direction I heard it come from.
"I have no money other than what's here and a few more pennies I need to buy some things for Mimic." I snapped, I threw the money on the floor at the boy's feet and stomped out of the room. Jack caught me just as I started to slam the door, I hit him with it, but neither of us cared.
"Come back inside Cameo, there's only one way this is gonna get settled and that requires ya to follow me nicely." He said between clenched teeth, I didn't have much choice as he dragged me back in. "Okay I'm gonna search her room and if I find the money then she's guilty, if I don't she ain't. We ain't Judge Monahan, we're gonna actually give her a fair shake."
I tried to protest, but Blink silenced me as I watched Jack enter my room a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. I hadn't stolen anything, I hadn't. I kept thinking, he wouldn't find anything, but I had a feeling he would. For some reason I just knew it. He moved things around pulled loose bricks from the walls. I placed the necklace around my neck ignoring the hungry eyes that fell on the antique that would probably fetch a fair price. The bracelet I just clenched in my hand afraid for anyone to find it. Blink edged me closer to the door, I could tell they could feel the tension that was making me a guitar string ready to snap. He had almost finished, I was starting to relax when he reached inside the small pitcher on my washstand and pulled out some bills. Dumping it in the middle of my floor coins fell in a heap.
"Okay Cam, ya caught." Jack said in tired voice.
"NO!" Mimic cried. " It was a lady I tell ya, it wasn't Cameo, it wasn't, Cameo was asleep in her nightgown. The woman was wearin clothes like us."
"She probably threw it on over her clothes because she saw ya awake." Snitch said bitterly.
"Listen to me." Mimic yelled as the boys began to murmur amongst themselves.
"Whatta ya got to say Cameo?" Jack asked me.
"I was framed." I whispered still staring at the pile of money in shock.
"Sure ya were." Snitch growled " Some woman came in here in the middle of the night dressed like you to frame ya."
"Funny you should get so upset about it when, you've been flitching money from us since ya came here Snitch." Mush snapped. " What's the matter angry ta be caught at ya own game?"
"I oughta soak ya for that." Snitch hissed.
"Try it." Mush said in a deadly tone I had never heard him use before. I turned blindly walking from the room unnoticed as they tried to keep Mush from ripping the younger boys to shreds. Hurt and anger flowed through me as I reached the top of the stairs. I had gone from a whore to a thief. I pounded down the stairs taking my anger out on the creaking wood not caring that the boys were rushing to the steps after me. I ran out of the Lodging House and into the street ignoring the cries of Jack and Blink. I dodged among the people swift as a deer not even poor Mimic could keep up though he tried. I ran until my breath came in gasps and I had to stop for the pain that was aching in my side. As I stood there trying to get air back into my laboring lungs I felt hand clamp on my arm. I closed my eyes figuring one of the Manhattan Newsies had managed to keep up. I turned ready to fight my way free as a combination of fear and anger ran through me. I whirled to face the person who held me and found a worried pair of blue eyes looking into mine. Eyes of the man I knew could fix this mess. I felt the tears well up in my eyes as I launched myself into his arms.
"Spot." I was all I said my voice muffled against his shoulder.
"What's goin on Brair?" he asked pulling back enough to look down at me.
" They think I stole it, I've never stolen anything in my life. I wouldn't do it, but the woman left through my room Mimic saw her, but they think it was me. They think I did it. I didn't, I wouldn't you have to believe me Spot." I babbled too upset to be coherent.
"Wait a minute, what did you steal?" Spot asked "Slow down take a deep breath and then speak."
"Nothing." I responded as I exhaled loudly. " They think I stole their money."
"Did ya?" He asked looking at me critically, I knew had I been lying he would have caught it.
"No." I replied. He nodded and wrapped an arm around me. I glanced at his companion realizing it was a person I knew I greeted him. "Hello Shadow."
I smiled at the newsie I hadn't seen since the night I had been taken by Ox. I suppose he had been off on official Brooklyn business.
"Hello Cameo." He responded giving me a smile of his own.
"Shadow go back to Jacky's boys and tell them I have Cameo." Spot ordered, he quieted my protests by saying. "She's stayin in Brooklyn until they find the person behind it. The real person."
"What if they don't." I asked a little fear in my voice.
"Then you'll have to stay with me." He replied " If they found the money they shouldn't care where you go as long as you stay out of Manhattan." I close my eyes for the second time I had been exiled to Brooklyn, only this time there might be no going back.
"We are going to find who did this." I vowed, Spot looked at me and nodded. "And then I'm going to beat them within an inch of their life."
"That's my girl." Spot said with a bit of pride as I wiped my tears and straightened my shoulders. I knew the truth and I was going to rub their faces in it when I found a way to prove it. I was so preoccupied searching my brain for someone that would actually go to the trouble of framing me that I didn't even realize that Spot had just called me his girl.
Chelci: Yup you're getting married, Spot's little sister is all grown up how will he ever deal with it? You already know who's thieving and besides I can't answer that question here, it will ruin it for everyone. You know I'm not sure I'm actually going to have an opening to write Skittery and Glimmer's wedding. Though maybe I'll write Glimmer's full story in another story and it will be there. Hmmmmmmm Muses are chittering excitedly over that. HMMM will have to contemplate that idea.
Rhap: Okay, my leg is now officially asleep! Are you saying Spot need anger management or just a class on how to get his head out of his ass? I think that neither would happen, he wouldn't be Spot without his temper and well all men have their head up their asses, it's a genetic problem at birth. (sorry to any men, but you probably think the same about us women. The problem is we really don't. He he he. Okay sorry really) As for the thief sorry next chapter... Keeps you reading doesn't it?
Skittles: Okay you know (holds fingers to lips) SHHHHHH! Neither you or Chelci know the end though that's between me and the muses. They like it that way, they have a tendency to change it otherwise. Hope you love this one too!
Hotshot: Yes a thief dum da dum dum. Uh oh poor Cam, I think she's ready to kill me for the hell I keep making her life. She just wants a nice normal life and then I come along create her and put her through hell. He he he ahhhh the writers prerogative. Don't you love it? Pranks do tell more Cam wants to know! Typical male see Rhap's SO for why they act the way they do. Glad you were so amused by Spot's wake up call, it defiantly amused me as I wrote it. So did the drunken moment, drunken idiots can be the best amusement.
Dreamer: Pueblo, well all I can say is I've been through there. We go to Pueblo Reservoir every summer to boat and we've driven through on our way to Durango. Oh and to the dirt bike track out there, that's about as far into it as I've been. He can stroke my hair any day too. I loved that moment gave me warm fuzzies. I understand the whole not knowing were to go from here feeling let me know if I can help, I would have no problem brainstorming with you if you'd like. Hope you like the chapter.
Lomelinde: (does infamous new reviewer dance ask any other reviewers it's well known) Yay for me a new reviewer that likes my story. Thank you I hope you enjoy this installment too! Wow I just felt like an infomercial.
Erinkathleen: Honey if you didn't already love Spot I don't know how this story could make you love him. He's a great character though completely under played in the movie. He can be so complex and fun to work with. I love him too. Bad boys they always have us pegged, there's nothing like them. Unless it's the reformed bad boy and we all want to be the one reforming. Of course you got a dance, its tradition. I looked back on the chapter and I agree it is a little bit of Fiddler on the Roof though I never even thought about it. Though asking the fathers or nearest relative's permission was a vital thing if you didn't want to piss off your in-laws right away. I was trying to keep with that idea. Though again it's very Fiddler on the Roof, not too surprising since it is one of my favorite musicals. Along with My Fair Lady, Gigi and West Side Story. I just can't choose between them. Speaking of when Duvall ( Pulitzer) does his little dance while they're plotting to screw the newsboys I so thought of Fiddler. I sing I wish I was a rich man every time I see him do that.
Rumor: You definitely made up for the missed chapters. Wow what a review. I loved every minute of it! I'm glad you caught the story I told you about. I figured you would though. Yes we are practically neighbors, though the closest I've been to Kansas is when we drove through it to get to Lake of the Ozarks about 6 years ago. More you saw well here you go! As for your whip, I'm enjoying the fact you can't swing it over my head right now, my favorite slave driver. He he he. Funny that you actually do own one. As for the innuendo filled humor, honey look at me I spend my spare time at Ren Faire where the man who sells pickles yells at the passers by that his pickle is bigger than their pickle and that's the tame part of faire. I know all about having your head in the gutter, but not actually one to act on it, usually. Hope you enjoyed. Glad Chapter 22 didn't suck I was beginning to worry.
Ali: Sadistic? Oh hell ya. I write the romance for you dear. Well and Spot and Cam because I think they would jump me other wise and I'd hate to try to fend off both of them. Hell one at a time would be hard enough. Of course they blame her why else would the thief leave through her room? Bet you'll never guess who's framed her. I'll give you a hint; it's an enemy she hasn't had to deal with in a long time. Sorry had to do it, it's the groundwork for what's going to happen next. Hope you liked it despite the fact that you were right.
Fearless: Okay I'll try to get on soon, sorry I haven't I hope to talk to you soon, You need a Yahoo IM makes thing so much easier, I can't download two IM's onto my computer at work causes too many problems and upsets my boss. Anyway hope you liked it.
Galaxy: Yeah well they did find the proof in her room, but they'll get to the bottom of it. You know they have too and Cam will rub their faces in their mistake. Yay for Cam! Hope you enjoyed!
JP: I saved the best for last now give me my animal crackers and O.J.! Yummmy! Damn it you found out my kryptonite. Okay here's the next chapter. I hope to talk to you soon, I miss you! Shh no brainless wonder cracks you'll let the other reviewers in on what you can guess so easily since we share a brain. Updated now please can I have my treat? Love you hon!
Okay a page of S.O's and I hope I got everyone. If I didn't I send smooches and huggles your way. Thank you!