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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Queens

Rip took one last drag on his cigarette and stubbed it out against the guest room's night table. "All right Spindle, I'm going to go take care of me business now. I want you to find Tunes, Corner, Quipster, Moneybags, Rocks and Danger and meet me down at the boys' lodging house. I'll see you there in about an hour or so."

Spindle nodded, a little miffed that Rip was being secretive again. "Sure, Rip. I'll have Rocks and Danger make sure that none of the other fellas are in the bunkroom and then I'll go get the girls. See you in an hour." She leaned in and kissed Rip.

Rip stroked her hair briefly before breaking away from Spindle. If he didn't get moving, he would miss taking care of his business.

He exited the lodging house and made a quick right, laughing to himself. As headed towards the alley where he met his informant once a week, Rip couldn't help but think of that alley as his and Jess' alley even though it had been two years since they've been in the alley together. Flooded with pleasant memories of his alley, he made his way there in no time.

Once there, he peaked his head in and smiled when he saw a short girl with long blonde hair and blue eyes, waiting nervously. "Grace, how are you today?"

Grace backed away slowly, just in case Rip was in one of his violent moods that afternoon. "Fine, Rip." she whispered, once again hating herself for meeting him in the alley. Every week she swore to herself that she would ignore him and stay at the O'Connor's, but every week, without fail, she found herself telling Rip all about Jess' life in Manhattan.

Rip stalked forward, his icy blue eyes gleaming. "So, Grace, how's me 'li'l Miss' this week?" After his last encounter with Jess, an encounter that left him beaten by King and Cowboy, Rip had refused to stray into Manhattan in case the newsies there fulfilled their threat and hurt him. But he couldn't just forget about Jess, no.

That's where Grace came into the picture. One morning, at the distribution center, Danger had overheard Grace assuring the other newsgirls that Jess was safe and sound in Manhattan. After Danger told Rip all he knew, Rip discovered that there might just be some sort of link between Queens and Manhattan. Eventually, Rip was able, through many empty threats on Jess' safety, to convince Grace to snitch on Jess' weekly letter to the O'Connor's. Since Grace still lived with the O'Connor's (and had since Jess left), she was able to read Jess' letter and then report to Rip.

And she hated herself for doing it. Grace felt that she was intruding on Jess' privacy by filling Rip in on all the details of her new life in Manhattan. But if it kept Rip satisfied and prevented him from going after Jess, she told him everything she knew. Though she did tone down some of the details of Jess' love life though; Grace didn't think that Rip would like to hear how Jess though that her friend Mush had nice muscles, Blink had a nice grin or Jack had a sexy smirk.

Grace brushed her straight hair out of her eyes and listed, "Yes, yes, no, yes, no."

Rip's grin faded from his face as his mouth dropped open. "Huh?"

Grace rolled her eyes. "I'm just answering your normal questions in order. 'Is Miss Jess good?' Yes. 'Is she still single?' Yes. 'Did she say she was coming back to Queens?' No. 'Does she sound like she misses here?' Yes. 'Did she mention you?' No. Those are your usual questions. In that order might I add."

Rip stood there, stumped for a moment. But it didn't last long. "Don't be a wise ass, Grace. I'm meeting you here today to tell you that me and Spindle and some of your little newsie friends are leaving Queens. we're heading out West and before we leave, I got something that I need you to do." Rip reached into the back pocket of his trousers and pulled out a letter. Written on the envelope, in his childish scrawl, were two words: Miss Jess.

Grace accepted the letter and looked at it questioningly. Yet she didn't say a word to Rip about it; Like Jess, she learned from Rip's fist that you don't question him. At all.

But Rip smiled. "It's just me goodbye letter to Jess. I want you to send it today for me. Can you do that for me, Grace?" He reached out and stroked Grace's cheek, ignoring the repulsed look that flashed across her face. He laughed and began to walk out of the alley. "Grace," he said, pausing for a moment and turning back, "I'm sorry that I can't take you with us to California, but I still need me informant here so I know what's going on with me 'li'l Miss', right?" He stared at Grace with his smug smile in place until he saw her nod. "Right, Rip."

Once he saw Grace put the letter in her pocket, Rip headed out of the alley, making his way to the boys' lodging house, whistling as he went along.