Disclaimer: I don't own Newsies or any other media references I may make throughout the duration of this fic.

Living in Suburbia

Starring: The Mayor (Reginald Hudson), Benjamin Rodmore, Marshall VanMasian, Garret Jones, James Langford, Thomas Stewart, Patrick 'Spot' Conlon, Marguerite O'Connor, Sue-Ellen Conlon, Anna (the housemaid), Jack Kelly, Nathaniel O'Connor, Alexander 'Specs' Conlon

Chapter 14

—General PoV—

In the early morning, due to an anonymous tip, the mayor was shocked from his sleep. At his door were five police officers that he himself had appointed, along with a warrant to search his home and his office.

The mayor had no choice, he let the men in and made himself a cup of coffee.

The officers found nothing unusual on the premises, not in his room or the refrigerator. Not in the garden shed or the vegetable cellar. They each, in turn, tipped their hats and apologized for the disturbance.

By this time the neighbours had woken up and, seeing the two police cars in the driveway, were craning their necks to see what was the trouble.

The mayor sipped his hot, black coffee and watched through spiteful eyes as the cars drove away.

The warrant lay on the table, unmoving and glossy in the morning air.

Issued by Jeremy Conlon, it read. The mayor's hands tightened around his cup.

0o0o0

When Spot woke up, a filtering of blood-red came through his eyelids. The crimson maple wood blurred into view. The full red comforter was warm and heavy. From downstairs came the thick smell of waffle and a citrus-orange tinge. Spot, with his hair on end, rolled out of bed and dragged himself downstairs where his mother and Marguerite O'Connor were drinking tea, while Anna—Mrs. O'Connor's housemaid—used the waffle iron.

"Good mornin' Simon," said Mrs. Conlon. Her face was tired and her eyes hallowed, but she tried to smile.

Anna prepared a plate for Spot three waffles his and decorated with cubed oranges and whipping cream.

Halfway through his second waffle the foorbell rang. Anna ran to answer it, keaving three of them alone in the kitchen.

"Who could that be?" wondered Mrs. O'Connor aloud. "Calling so early in the morning. Nathaniel and Richard aren't even out of bed yet."

When Anna returned to the kitchen she was followed by Jack.

"The mayor's been taken downtown!" exclaimed Jack breathlessly. "My mama saw them this morning, when they cane 'round and searched his place. Not they've come back and have taken his off in the back of a car."

Marguerite offered Jack a seat and together they all ate waffles and discussed this strange occurrence. Only Spot felt something at the back of mind. Something that tugged and reminded him of Kid Blink's idea.

Lindale: town of conspiracy?

0o0o0

By the time the afternoon paper came out there was already a buzz about the street. Everyone wondered. Where was the mayor? Why was he gone?

On the front page of the Lindale Banner was a long article by Bryan Denton about the arrest of the mayor.

Early this morning the mayor himself, Reginald Hudson, was woken from his slumber at a knocking on the door. He answered it, surprised to find five police officers, Benjamin Rodmore, Marshall VanMasian, Garret Jones, James Langford and Thomas Stewart standing on his porch. They were equipped with a warrant issued by the sheriff, Jeremy Conlon, who we discover was laid off shortly after the visit.

"An anonymous tip was phoned in and it is our duty to follow through on them," explained Conlon in a conference this morning. "We are very concerned as to the perpetrator of the drug ring that plagues Lindale, and we will do what we see fit to end it."

And, indeed, there was a large door in the wooden floors of the mayor's office. Beneath it twenty-seven pounds of illegal substance, including cocaine and marijuana. When the officers returned to the mayor's home to make an arrest they found him packing his bags and preparing to leave. However, he left quietly at gunpoint and is currently being held at the main station.

"His house was a mess," Garret Jones informed us. "He appeared to have been stumbling around in his haste to leave. We are just lucky that we could get back before he got away."

Conlon has not been able to trace the origin of the tip, but he is very grateful to whoever did so.

"You have saved many families from being destroyed in the path of Hudson. Be proud that you have helped and even changed someone's life."

Recently Conlon's son has been publicly outed as a drug user. The mayor said in a statement earlier today: "Jeremy Conlon is just sore over the misfortunes of his son. He seems to be cutting corners to find a villain, including issuing a warrant without proper reason."

The mayor also denies any contact with illegal substances and claims that he was not aware that he even had a trap door in his office.

Bryan Denton

Spot's eyes darted over the article again and again. Kid Blink sat in a chair at the kitchen table and shot him a smug sort of look.

"Didn't I tell you?" he asked superiorly.

Spot nodded, awestruck. "You tipped them off?" he gasped.

Kid Blink laughed a little. "Don't be silly. I thought you did."

But Spot had not.

"I 'ad always known 'at mayor fellah was a no good scumbag," said Anna loudly in her thick accent.

Kid Blink regained his smile. "Me too Anna. I always had the feeling."

0o0o0

It arrived in the mail, from his father. Specs tore the envelope open with his nail and dumped the contents onto his lap. There was a thick letter filled with Jeremy's penmanship, as well as a large, well-pressed newspaper clipping. Specs read them thirstily.

When he was done he sighed heavily and folded the paper neatly. He placed them both on his bedside table. When he was done thinking about the mayor's odd plot of conspiracy he took out a piece of paper, addressed it to his mother, father and brothers, and wrote only one sentence.

I've only got one month; I'm coming home.

The End (Entirely)

Was that too rushed? I know, I know, I'm really sorry. I couldn't help it! I juts ran out of plot. I hope you liked it anyways. I'm thinking of making this into a series, y'know, the whole Lindale thing. Tell me if you all think I should.

Review!

Shoutouts:

C.M. Higgins: aw! I've been missed! I feel so special. I'm at school. Sssh.

Erin Go Bragh: I know it was short. I'm very sorry. I didn't have much time and I was tire.

icanreadncount: Yeah. Jack's such a sweet heart, isn't he? Aw! Everyone love Jacky Boy!