Disclaimer: blah blah blah If you really want to know read my other chapters 'cause if the Newsies were mine I would NOT be writing about them :)

A/N: Yeah Yeah I know I dropped off the face of the earth. Now don't get mad but this chapter has been done for a few weeks now but I caught pneumonia the day after I finished it so yeah that lasts for a few weeks and then I had 2 tournaments. I'll be busy for awhile before I can start updating more regularly.

Chapter 9: Close, But Not Close Enough

Detective Conelley walked away from the Emerson Mansion, shaking his head in despair. 'How am I supposed to find this girl with the scant information I have. I can't just go up to every teenage girl and ask her if I could see her necklace.' he thought, as the shouting of newsies became more audible.

"Son of Railroad tycoon, Emerson, killed in freak accident." a girl newsie shouted out.

"Hey, that was a good one, Petals." her friend commented approvingly, "Not bad after only a couple o' days o' sellin'."

'Hmm... before I check newsies, I'd better check the girls who have families.' Detective Connelley thought as he paid the girl for a newspaper. "Keep the change, I'm sure you need it more than I do."

Petals' brown eyes grew wide as she looked from the quarter to the man, " Th-thanks mister." After the man left she turned to her friend, "Soccer, pinch me I think I'm dreaming. Ouch!" rubbing her arm where he'd pinched her, "I guess I'm not dreaming after all."

Before long they had finished selling their papes, and were on their way back to the Brooklyn Lodging House, when they were tackled by two giggling girls.

"Whoah, settle down goils. I'se glad youse two are having a good time, but that doesn't mean youse can just plow t'rough people." Soccer scolded mockingly, trying very hard to keep a straight face.

" Well, you two looked like youse could use a good tackle!" Lindi stated breathlessly. "Right, Manders?"

"Right!" Manders answered with a giggle.

Petals rolled her eyes, "You're both crazy!"

"Yeah, but you still love us!"

"I'm not too sure about that." Petals teased

Lindi mock pouted, " We jus' wanted ta brighten your day."

"Well, if it makes ya feel bettah, youse at least brightened up my day." Soccer said with a smirk, " a little."

"At least we accomplished something!" Lindi replied as she started off running, "Race ya to da Lodging House!"

"Hey! No faiah. Youse got a head staht!" Soccer called out. Then he looked at the other two girls, "Race ya!"

Five minutes later they all collapsed out of breath and laughing on the steps in front of the Brooklyn Lodging House, "I beat you all!" Lindi exclaimed, giggling maniacally, which caused them all to laugh.

"Yeah, you may have won, but you Cheated!" Manders teased. " Which means that I actually won."

"Oh, no, I'se personally believe dat I gave youse guys sufficient warning so I did win."

"Whatevah." Soccer said, a smile playing at his lips.

A week later

"Detective Connelley, are you telling me that it is impossible to find my daughter without more information than her locket!" Mr. Emerson growled indignantly, not comprehending what Detective Connelley meant.

"Sir, it is impossible to find a 16 yr. old girl with a locket that probably she does not even realize connects her to a rich family." Taking a nervous breath, " I need to know where she was taken, when and by whom to whom."

"A week or so after Elisabeth was born, I had one of the maids take her and give her to any one who'd wanted her. She was my first born, but she couldn't keep my tycoon-ship if I died at least a the time she would not have been able to, but now she can, especially since Edward's recent death. Which-"

"What was the name of the maid? Does she still work here?"

"Anna, and yes , she does still work hear."

"May I speak to her? I may find out something more about your daughter which could help the search."

Mr. Emerson rang a bell and a few moments later one of the maids appeared, "Anna, please tell Detective connelley who you gave Elisabeth to." Mr. Emerson commanded impatiently.

"Uh, well, I took the little lass to the Collins, a young couple at my church. But I'm afraid that won't help you much." Anna stated with a light Irish accent.

"Why is that?"

"Well, the Collins died on that shipwreck a week or two ago."

"Was Elisabeth with them?"

"No. She was staying with someone, but I can't remember whom, and she doesn't go by Elisabeth anymore. It's Anne."