Title: Secrets Behind the Lies

Author: Stress

First written: June 27, 2002- March 19, 2004

Edited and replaced: May 16, 2006

Summary: Part II of the Soul Mates Series; After living in Manhattan for two years, Stress thought she knew everything about Jack Kelly or, should we say Francis Sullivan? Well, guess not.

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Back in Queens

Rip gave Spindle one last squeeze before letting go and reaching for the door handle. "C'mon, Spindle. Let's round up the lucky newsies who're coming with us to California."

Spindle giggled and pushed back her red hair. She loved it when Rip took charge. "What do we do if they decide not to come?" she asked hesitantly, not bothering with raising her tough front until she was confronting her newsies.

Rip stopped for a moment and stared straight ahead. "You still got that pocket knife on you?"

Spindle smiled. "of course, Rip."

"Good." He held the door open for Spindle and, once she had exited the guest room, slammed it tight behind them. "Good."

"Did you decide yet who we're taking with us? I mean, they gotta be the best."

"I was thinking that we'd take Corner, Quipster, Tunes, Moneybags, Danger and Rocks with us. Those four girls have been loyal to you ever since Jess left, so I don't think they would mind helping with our plan. And I need a couple of me fellas to come with us too."

Spindle scowled at the mention of Danger's name. "We have to take that oaf with us? He ain't strong newsie material."

Rip paused and ruffled Spindle's hair. "Don't you worry, Spindle, I got plans for us all."

"Whatever you say, Rip. By the way, why don't we ask Grace to come along, too? She's one of the best newsies we got here and she seems pretty loyal."

Rip shifted his weight from one foot to the other and tried his hardest not to look guilty. It wasn't that hard. "No, she was too close to Jess. She wouldn't want to hurt her and that might cause us some trouble."

But Spindle wouldn't let that matter drop. "But, Rip, if she and Jess were such good pals, how come she still lives in Queens while Jess is over in Manhattan?"

He opened his mouth, but shut it at once. She had him stumped. To tell the truth, he didn't know why Grace still remained in Queens when it would be pretty easy to go over and live with Jess in Manhattan. But he did know why Grace had to stay in Queens when the others headed West. He just had to remind Grace why.

And that was just what he intended to do.

"Y'know what, Spindle? Let's just drop it. We got the newsies who we think will work out fine and we don't need no more." His blue eyes turned ice cold as he stared down at Spindle.

"Whatever you say, Rip," Spindle squeaked out as she shivered. Rip's eyes always had that effect on her.

"Well, what I say right now is that you need to get all of the people that we picked together in the guest room of the lodging house within the next two hours. I gotta take care of some business and then I'll be back to talk with them. Then, if everything goes according to plan, we leave in a few days." Once Rip finished his sentence, he reached in his pocket and pulled out a cigarette. "Man, I love being me," he whispered as he lit the cigarette and took a drag.

Spindle looked puzzled for a second before questioning one of the things that Rip had said. "What business do you gotta take care of?"

Rip inhaled a large amount of smoke and blew it directly in Spindle's face. "My business."

If it was anyone but Rip doing that to her, Spindle would have turned them to shish kebobs. As it was, her right hand was twitching to reach for her pocket knife. But, it was Rip, her Rip, and he could do anything he wanted to her.

Anything.