Chapter 7 – The Truth Will Set You Free
"Hey, um, Dave?" Race asked when David met him in Central Park.
"Don't worry, she's alright," David said.
"That's not what I'm worried about. Look right here," Race said turning to the page where the sketch of Kate's face was.
"What is Kate's face doing-" David started to ask.
"We never thought to ask what her last name was. I never knew it, I don't think you knew it either," Race said.
"It's… it's…" David was stumped. He didn't know it. "What does it matter what her last name is, anyway?" he asked.
"She's the murderer. All along we thought she was just some girl being beat by her father, when she killed him all along. She gave us that story about bein' afraid of the bulls because her father was one. Yeah, right, she played us. Dave, who knows what she plans on doin' to your family!" Race began to say suspiciously.
David was starting to feel sick. "I have to go!" he said as he took off running.
He ran home as fast as he could.
Kate gathered all her money and small necessary items. She wrapped a kerchief over her head, and smudged her face with ashes, hoping it would alter her appearance. It helped a little. She would go to Grande Central Station and take a train to as far as saved earnings would take her. Tears started coming down her eyes. Would she never see David? Or the Jacobs family? Or all of the newsies? The thought broke her heart.
Suddenly the door burst open.
Oh no, thought Kate. They've found me! She turned to see that it was David. Now she was sure her heart would break.
David slammed the front door closed.
Kate walked towards him slowly.
David didn't know what he was feeling. Anger? Betrayal?
"You're a liar!" he said suddenly. "You lied about your father! You lied about running from the bulls, and what an idiot I was to believe you! You didn't even tell me your last name!"
"I never lied to you, David. And you never asked for my last name. It never even occurred to me that you didn't know it," Kate said in her defense.
"All that time, I felt sorry for you- and all along you were a murderer!" David yelled.
Tears burst from Kate's eyes. "I DIDN'T KNOW! He was coming at me, he was pushing me against the range, trying to burn me. I just wanted to get out! I hit him, but I didn't know he was dead! When he fell, I just ran!"
"Well, maybe you should keep running!" David said angrily.
Kate felt as if she had been punched in the stomach. She was telling the truth, and yet he wouldn't believe her. Her heart was bound to be broken. Maybe it was better this way. But she would not hold any malice against him.
"Yes, maybe I should keep running," she said trying to compose herself. "Goodbye, David," she said sadly as she walked out the door.
David released a sigh. She was gone. He didn't know what to believe. He needed to get some air. He walk toward his bedroom, and sitting on the window sill was a letter. He knew it was from Kate. Should he read it? It might be full of lies. Well, she was already gone, why shouldn't he read it?
Dear David,
By now, you have read the paper. It is true; I struck my father a mighty blow, but only thought him unconscious. I should feel guilty, I should feel absolutely terrible for this heinous crime, and yet, I don't. It is as if all the blows I had ever received, and all the blows my mother had received trying to protect me, had all been combined into that one hit.
And if that hit were never made, I would have never met you- my first love, your family- my first real family, or the newsies- my first friends. My only regret in all of this is not being able to see you before I leave. Were you here in front of me, I would kiss you a thousand times so you would know I love you. I will not write the words goodbye- instead, I will say, until. Until I am safe, until I am in your arms.
Your Ever Loving,
Kate
David hit his hand to his forehead. "Idiot!" he said aloud to himself. Suddenly, he began to remember himself carrying the battered Kate to his home, their first kiss on the fire escape, all the times she helped his mother cook breakfast and dinner, how she made his father laugh, the way she would entertain Les, or joke around with the newsies. She was never violent or vengeful. Then he saw himself in Tibby's, his words echoed through his mind, "If he lays a finger on you, I'll kill him…"
He ran out of the apartment in search of her.
