A/N- hey guys- sorry it took so long for this...blame Specs...she had to go to camp and forbade me to write anything without her. SPECS- HEY! It really wasn't my fault, I HAD to go to camp...anyways, enjoy the chapter, we hope that you all like it!!

Chapter 9

"Are we shoah about dis?" Blink asked, uncertainly, as Jack helped him through the window. He squinted his eye in the bright daylight. He hadn't been outside in a week and now that he was outside; he wanted nothing more than to go back in.

Skittery had to stay behind. Snoddy had agreed to keep him company. Once Blink was acquitted, they hoped that everyone would forget about "the maniac" and Skittery would be free to go.

"Good luck," Skittery called up through the window.

Blink muttered his thanks and hoped that this was not the last time he would see his friend. He turned to Jack and asked, "How do we know da boys'll toin demselves in?"

"Race and Mush are woikin' on dat as we speak. You'se gotta stay focused heah." Jack straightened Blink's vest and laughed at the boy's nervous expression. "Look, things'll woik out. Don't worry."

Blink wished that he could trust Jack, but what if their plan fell through? It seemed much too easy to Blink. They were relying on Charlie's gang, a group of murderers. Who knew what they would do?

Jack pushed him out into the street. Blink glanced back at him questioningly. "Just wander around, someone's bound ta find ya."

Blink sighed and then wandered out into the street. There wasn't a cop insight, and Blink wondered if this had all been just some stupid joke the others had decided to play on him. He wondered that until he heard a familiar, and unwelcome, voice behind him. Then he started to run. He knew that his part of the plan was to get caught, but he wasn't going to give up with out a fight.

Glancing over his shoulder, he noticed two cops, both with their clubs raised, and Mr. Kerry, the man that had been chasing him since the day Swinger had died.

Blink turned a corner and found himself dodging kiosks of fruits, vegetables, flowers, clothing, and dozens of other things as he passed through the market. He overturned a few of the stands to create obstacles for his pursuers.
His efforts weren't enough though. They were still hot on his trail as he turned another corner and found himself at a dead end. Maniacal laughter behind him caused him to turn around, defeated. A second later he was on the ground again, as the police cuffed him.

Mr. Kerry grinned triumphantly into Blink's eye as the men dragged him back through the streets under the gaze of curious onlookers.

Mush hoped things were going well with Blink. He, Racetrack, and Snitch were making their way to the distribution center like they did every morning, and where they knew Charlie's gang would be.

Sure enough when they arrived, Munch, Gus, and the rest of the gang sat in a corner looking murderous.

"Ready?" Race whispered to the two other boys. They both nodded determinedly.

They set their path to pass directly by the gang, who stared at them with eyes narrow, and fists prepped for a fight.

Racetrack raised his voice loud enough for the gang to hear him, but still quiet enough to not draw too much attention from the others. Even so, a few curious newsboys had gathered around as Racetrack's words peaked their interest.

"Did ya heah about Kid Blink?"

The targets continued their gaze in the direction of Blink's hopeful saviors.

"Dey's sayin' he killed Charlie. Do ya think he actually did it?" Snitch asked looking from Mush to Racetrack.

"Of course he did it," said Racetrack. "I knew from da moment I met him he was trouble. Never trust a kid with one eye, I always says."

Mush noticed movement from the gang's position and chanced a glance over his shoulder at them. Munch, who seemed to have taken over Charlie's position as the leader, had stood up and taken a few steps toward the small crowd.

Mush tried to hide his pleasure as he added, "He's gonna be famous ya know."

"Dat's a given," supplied Racetrack, lighting a fresh cigar. "A corse all da papes are gonna cover da story. He'll be famous from here all da way west!"

"And dey'll probably write books 'bout Kid Blink, the most famous murderer ever," Snitch said, almost dreamily.

"Kinda make ya wish youse killed Charlie, eh?" Mush asked.

"Oh yeah," said Race. "Dere's no doubt about dat. I mean, I'd never kill a guy or nothin' unless I had to, but ya know, bein' in da papes can't hoit can it? Every where ya go people know who ya are 'cause dey read about ya in da papes."

Munch was suddenly right in front of Racetrack, staring down at him with dark eyes, clearly expressing his loathing for the current conversation. He addressed his question to Racetrack. "What about murderers? How is being in the papes good for them?" His voice was quiet but deep, almost a growl.

"Murderers have it da best," Racetrack growled back, less successfully, but still maintained a steady and determined lock on Munch's eyes with his own. "Shoah, everyone's afraid, but even da big guys know better dan ta mess wit a man accused of murder."

"What do you mean?"

"You t'ink guys like Spot Conlon are stupid enough ta mess wit someone who can kill a man? 'Specially a big one like Charlie?"

Munch seemed to be considering his words.

Race turned back to the others. "And anyway, I know for a fact all da Newsies love Blink."

"Why's dat?" Asked Munch.

"'Cause," replied Racetrack, "da headlines haven't been dis good in a real long time." He plastered a triumphant grin on his face as he turned away. Mush and Snitch began to follow him, but all three turned around again when Munch asked his final question.

"When's his trial?"

"He in jail yet?" Jack asked walking up to Dutchy and Specs, who were sitting on a brick wall about a block from the jail house.

Specs nodded, "We saw dem drag Blink in there kickin' and fightin'."

"Atta boy," Jack said, settling down on the wall beside Specs. "So, how long ago did dey get him?"

Specs shrugged, "maybe thoity—"

"Forty minutes," Dutchy corrected. Specs narrowed his eyes at Dutchy.

"Good. Now we gots ta sit and wait for da others ta come back."

Sitting and waiting seemed to take all afternoon. It wasn't until the sun was beginning to set that Specs leapt to his feet. "Hark! Dey cometh!"

"You read too many books," Dutchy said also leaping to his feet and pushing his friend aside. He stared off down the street. "He's right, Cowboy. I see dem!"

The three boys climbed off of the wall and hurried to meet their friends, making very sure to steer clear of the jail house, and the cops, that until that morning had been crawling the streets.

"So, how'd it go?" Jack asked Racetrack.

"Dunno yet. Dey sure looked mighty angry though," Racetrack replied.

"When did dey set Blink's trial for?" Mush asked suddenly, anxiously.

"Tomorrow mornin'," replied Jack.

"Good. Cause dat's what we told dem," Mush said. His eyes were large and still anxious, and probably would be until Blink was safe back at the lodging house.

"Well, I'd say my plan worked pretty well, wouldn't you?" Snitch smiled proudly.

"It ain't ovah yet, Snitch," Jack said, vanquishing Snitch's triumphant smile. "All we can do now is wait."

"And pray," added Race.

"Maybe dis plan weren't such a good idea," Skittery said nervously, making Snoddy jump. His friend had been silent almost from the moment Blink had left the room that morning.

"Come, on Skits. T'ink positive."

Snoddy made his way over to the bed and sat down beside Skittery whose elbows were resting on his knees, his face buried in his hands.

"I'm tryin' ta. It's just..." Skittery trailed off.

"Just what?" Snoddy inquired.

"I'se worried about him is all. He's a good kid, and he don't deserve all dis."

Snoddy nodded, even though he knew the gesture went unseen. Then Skittery added what they all had been considering that day. "What if da plan don't work, huh? We'se gonna spend da rest of our lives t'inkin' about how we coulda saved Kid Blink if only we hadn't gone t'rough wit' dis brainless idea."

Snoddy placed a comforting hand on Skittery's shoulder. "Ya wanna get out a heah?"

Skittery looked up then. "What?"

"Come on," Snoddy said, standing up and reaching for the latch on the window.

"Snod...we can't! What if we get caught?"

Snoddy looked at him incredulously. "Skittery worried about gettin' caught? Dere's a foist."

Snoddy knew it was reckless, but he hated seeing Skittery in such poor spirit. And besides, it wasn't as though they were going to cause trouble or anything...

Blink sulked. Being in a cell with Skittery had been bad, but bearable. At least then, he'd had company, even if it wasn't always pleasant.

Being left with his thoughts was agonizing without someone to vent to. He paced his cell, and wondered how long it would take him to wear a pathway into it.

Not very long, he noticed after a while looking down at his foot trodden path. He grinned. At least those cops would remember him for a long time.

"Come on boys, we're gonna be late!" Jack yelled impatiently, standing in the door way of the bunk room.

Dutchy, Specs, and Snitch were still doing last minute dressing. Mush had left earlier that morning to see if he could get a glimpse of Blink as they brought him in to the court house. The other newsie boys had already left as well to get some good seats.

"We'se comin'," Dutchy said pulling on his hat and making his way to Jack. The rest of the boys soon followed after that.

"Where's Race?" Jack asked, noticing for the first time his missing comrade.

The others shrugged. "He left earlier," explained Specs. "Said he'd meet us dere."

"Well, t'anks for tellin' me," Jack rolled his eyes and then ushered the others outside. They hurried to the courthouse, walking briskly.

"Ya t'ink Munch and dem will come?" Snitch asked, slightly out of breath, as they entered the courthouse.

Jack shrugged, "hope so." He stated simply.

The courthouse was almost completely full. Rich folks lined all of the front row seats, the others, mostly the Manhattan newsies, lined the back rows. Jack signaled to his friends and they made their way to the back to stand against the wall.

Jack surveyed the room for signs of Mush. He found him right in the front row off to the side, his head bent down over the newspaper. Jack smiled; he figured Mush would get a pretty good glimpse of Blink as he was brought through the door that stood on his side.

The room was pretty warm; women fanned themselves with expensive looking fans. Jack began to wish he had one as he began undoing the first few buttons of his shirt.

"Wheah's da lead guy?" Snitch whispered quietly to Jack searching the room as well.

"Ya mean da judge?" Jack asked, Snitch smiled and shrugged.

Jack answered, "He ain't heah yet."

"Wheah's da Kid?" Dutchy asked.

Jack rolled his eyes, "what? Do ya t'ink I knows everyt'in'?"

The door behind Jack opened, and a grinning Race stepped inside. He squeezed himself in between Dutchy and Jack, and the whispered to the latter, "I got everythin' taken care of."

Jack looked at him quizzically, but before Race had a chance to explain himself, a door toward the front of the room opened up and two officers, each gripping one of Blink's arms securely, drug the one eyed boy into the room. The sat him in a chair facing the Judge on Mush's side of the room. Jack noticed Mush suddenly perk his head up and drop his paper haphazardly.

Blink looked around the room apprehensively. He gulped several times until his eye fell onto Mush, and he gave him a weak, nervous smile before being pushed into a chair behind a desk.

A few moments later, the other door on the opposite side opened, and a tall, old man wearing a long black robe came striding into the room. "All rise," ordered a voice from somewhere near the front.

Everyone stood.

The judge took a seat and the same voice from earlier said, "You may be seated."

Everyone sat.

The judge was handed a piece of paper, which he examined for a moment or two before looking over to Blink. Then he coughed and the trial began.

"Jason Thomas," the judge motioned for Blink to stand, "please come forward."

Blink hesitated before slowly rising and making his way up to the large desk. His hands were fidgeting, still in the cuffs behind his back.

"My records show, Mr. Thomas, that you have been accused of murder two times in the past year." The judge looked at him before turning his eyes back to his paper.

"I didn't kill dem," Blink said as though he was trying to convince himself instead of all the people in the room. Jack shifted slightly where he stood. He looked at the front door, still no sign of Munch or any of those boys. Time was going to run out.

"Lucky for you, because of lack of efficient evidence, one charge of murder was dropped." The judge continued, "You also attacked several officers and escaped from prison. Twice."

"I didn't attack dem!" Blink shouted, "Dey attacked me and Skittery!" People murmured around the room, until the judge hit his gavel on his desk several times.

"Do you plea innocent, then?" The judge asked peering down at Blink.

Blink stared at the ground, and then muttered, "Yes." His voice was barely louder than a whisper.

The judge leaned closer to Blink and lowered his voice a great deal before saying, "You know, you can change your mind now Mr. Thomas. I assure you the punishment will be much less severe."

"I didn't do any of dat!" Blink shouted, surprised at his own boldness. "Well, except escape from jail, I did do dat. Both times. But I was in deah foah somet'in' I didn't even do in da foist place!"

Blink cringed under the judge's critical stare.

Jack looked once more at the door, if they didn't come now, the boys would not come at all. He sighed, slightly panicked, and looked at Blink up at the front, figuring that this may just be one of the last times he saw his friend.

"I have here in my hand, three official witness accounts of the incident, by respectable men whose word I trust more than yours. All three of them are in agreement on every event that took place that night. I have no choice, Mr. Thomas, but to sentence you to—"

Suddenly the doors of the courthouse swung open, and a very smug Munch, flanked by Gus and another member of their gang, stumbled inside. Jack could have sworn that Munch was drunk, or something very close to it. Munch proceeded to stagger toward the front of the courthouse, causing the ladies in the room to gasp in horror.

Racetrack turned and looked hopefully at Jack. All eyes remained on Munch, who had settled right in front of the judge, swaying slightly.

"What is the meaning of this?" the Judge hissed. "Remove these boys from my courtroom at once!"

Two officers hurried forward to carry out the judge's orders, but Munch raised his stick threateningly. "I gots some things I gots ta say," his speech was slurred and almost incomprehensible.

"This is a government building, son! You have no right to—"

"Dis one eyed freak didn't kill Charlie."

Another murmur ran through the room and Jack looked at Race. They grinned at each other, but Jack more so when Race opened his vest to reveal a bottle of Kloppman's special cold remedy.

Jack knew all too well the effects that bottle of unidentifiable liquid could have on a person. No one knew what was in it but Jack was sure it contained a fair amount of whiskey. "We was just havin' a round of poker." Race winked. Jack figured out the rest in his head. Not only was Race probably a great deal richer suddenly, but he had also provided "drinks" for the game.

"What are you saying, boy?" the Judge asked.

"I'm sayin' that me and my boys here killed Charlie, and I done the world a favor by doing it too." There was another audible gasp, and Jack noticed Blink sigh, relieved.

"What is your name, boy?"

"Munch."

"Your real name?"

"Matthew. Hunchman."

"Well, Mr. Hunchman. Are you positive that you are responsible for Charles Rossier's death?"

"Yeah. Sure as I'm standin' here."

The judge turned to Blink. "Well, Mr. Thomas. It seems that because of this new evidence, you are free to go."