I didn't get as many review on my last chapter:( sad face please review, it really helps! begs on bended knees anyway... here's the next chapter:...

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"Go knock on the door River," Tony instructed. River sighed but did as he was told. People generally didn't argue with Tony.

Knock, knock, knock...

A very blury eyed Jack answered the door a few seconds later.

"Uh... yea?" Jack asked sleepily. He looked outside, it had to be very early morning.

"Do you kids wanna make some extra money?" River asked. His brown eyes glinting in the moonlight.

"Ermm.. how much money?" Jack said, rubbing his eyes.

"A garunteed twice what your making now," River said, "per day,"

Jack perked up a little.

"Uh... that sounds great, but erm, it's in the middle of the night... why'd-"

"Just meet us on the docks at seven a.m." Tony said over River's shoulder, "don't be late,"

---

The next morning the newsies assembled on the docks at seven sharp. Tony, River and Zade were already waiting for them. They all stood, looking at each other for a moment before Zade spoke.

"Okay, so, you're here to help us out,"

"And we will pay you for it," River interjected.

"All you have to do," Zade continued, "is move some boxes,"

The newsies looked at each other, a puzzled expression on their faces.

"That's it?" Racetrack asked.

"That's it." Tony said.

"Alright then," Spot said, "when can we start,"

"Follow us," Zade said. Again the newsies exchanged glances. They began walking, hurrying to keep up with the older boys hurried pace. The ended up in a pretty grimy area of town. There was trash all over the place and the smell of smoke lingered in the air. Up ahead of them the newsies could see hundreds and hundreds of large wooden crates.

"Those the ones?" Switch asked. He had been silent until just then.

"Yup," River answered.

"Okay monkeys," Tony addressed them, "get to work, I want all these boxes on that boat moored behind this hill before the sun goes down,"

"What-?" Star began.

"I suggest you start," Tony cut her off. He looked at her with his cold, cold eyes and Star stopped talking.

---

It had been five hours and the newsies were still busy hauling crates around a muddy hill and onto a small barge.

"What are we going to do?" Zade asked Tony.

"I don't know," Tony said, lighting a cigar.

"We can't pay them!" Zade said.

"I know we can't fucking pay them!" Tony spat.

"They're gonna figure it out sooner or later once we don't pay them right away," River said, "then they'll quit,"

"They won't quit," Tony said.

"Oh yea?" Zade taunted.

"Yea..." Tony said dangerously.

River and Zade eyed their best friend. Somthing flickered behind those impenetrable eyes and it made River and Zade squirm.

Jack stood breathlessly against the wall, listening in on every word. He'd taken a short break when he'd noticed their employers sulking off. He'd been having trouble trusting them since the begginning and now his worries were confirmed. He was tempted to just run back and tell everyone to stop working, but the tone in Tony's voice told him it was best to play dumb for a little bit. At least until they were safe at Brooklyn Mannor. Jack turned around quietly and left.

Tony turned his head ever so slightly so that he had eye contact with his friends again.

"That boy's going to be a problem," he said, but there was an air of confidence in his voice. He tilted his head in Jack's general direction and Tony and Zade started walking.

"Take the girl," he said, "the thin one."

---

Back at the fort later that night, Jack hurridly explanied what he'd overheard. The newsies for the most part seemed shocked but easily accepted Jack's story.

"Okay, so, we dissapear for a few days until they leave," Spot said, he had his arm around Jamie, "we can stay with some friends of mine,"

"I agree," Jamie said, "they know were the fort is so we can't stay here,"

"Alright," Blink said, lets clear out, the sooner the better.

"You're all fucking morons,"

They entire room turned to face Switch, who was sitting against a wall, looking down at his splintered fingers.

"And what was that for, may I ask," Racetrack said, smiling like Switch had just complimented everyone.

Switch sighed.

"We can't leave," he said matter-of-factly.

"And why's that?" Mush said, stepping in front of Switch.

Switch looked up at the boy in front of him.

"Where's your girlfriend?"

Silence.

The newsies looked around the room. Switch was right. Star wasn't there.

"Where did you see her last?" Jack asked Mush.

"Uh... moving the crates... right before we left I saw her and..." Mush trailed off, "and then she took one last crate down to the barge... I don't think she came back,"

"Brilliant," Blink said, kicking the wall.

"How could I have missed that," Mush said to himself.

"I dunno, how could you?" Switch asked sarcastically.

"Shut the hell up, you obviously didn't notice either!" he spat.

"Not my job, she's your girl,"

The next thing anybody knew, Mush was grabbing for Switch's neck. Several newsies jumped foreward to pull him off but Mush swatted them away.For the second time he and Switch were duking it out. Switch had grabbed Mush's throat as well so now neither of them could breathe.

"Stop it!" Mouse yelled as Mush's flailing feet nearly hit her shins.

Smack!

Mush recoiled as a cold hand slapped his face. A second slap caused Switcha moments dazed confusion as well.

"What was that for Jamie?" Mush asked, rubbing his cheek.

"My friend is out there somewhere and you two are acting like children!" She screamed, a tear rolling down her cheek.

Neither Mush nor Switch said anything. Just then there was a knock at the door. Spot looked at it for a moment but then got up to answer it.

It was River.

"Where's Star!" Mush shouted but Jack held a hand across his chest, preventing him from moving any further forward.

"Star is with us," River said. It sounded like he was rehersing lines, "and she'll stay safe as long as you keep moving boxes for us... otherwise..."

With that he turned and left. A cold draft blew into the fort and Spot hurridly closed the door.

The newsies exchanged glances.

"So now what?" he asked openly.

"We work," Mush said coldly, "until we get Star back."

Several newsies nodded.

"Better get some sleep then," Jack said.

More nods.

As the last lantern was blown out Jack sighed. What had they gotten themselves into now?

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Hope you enjoyed it, it's just taking me a little bit to get into this phase of the story... it'll pick up! PLEASE REVIEW!

Thanks a million.