Part IV
Their Pockets filled with the Newsie's hard earned coins, Lightfingers, Tricksy and Gypsy found their way to a marketplace. They wove around the people who flocked the streets. Their pockets a bit heavier, and other's a bit lighter, the girls decided it was time for lunch.
They found a vendor with good food that was conveniently out of the wayl with no bulls lurking nearby. Gypsy and Lightfoot wandered aimlessly, staying close to the vendor, but not close enough to attract any attention. Tricksy walked straight up to the sandwich man. He heard the jingle in her pockets, and saw the quality of her dress. Tricksy Blanchard may have been a thief, but Caitlyn Bennet was perfect in every way.
The kindly old gentleman who ran the sandwich stand cheerily asked if she was well, and Tricksy looked down sadly. "No sir. I've lost my mother! I was following her and then she was gone and I cant find her!" The old man was filled with pity for this frightened child. She looked up at him, her big blue eyes filling with tears. "What's your name child? I'll help you find her!" "My name is Ca.. Ca.. Caitlyn, Caitlyn Bennet" Tricksy responded mournfully. While the man was busy consoling Tricksy, Lightfingers and Gypsy put three sandwiches and two apples in Gypsy's bag, and headed off to their meeting place in central park. A moment after Tricksy saw them leave, She yelled "MAMA!" and took off running after some imaginary person, leaving the old man feeling quite pleased with himself.
In The Newsie's lodging house, everyone was in a dull mood. No one could work,
Because they had no money to buy papers. Most of these boys wouldn't eat today, some wouldn't have the money for a week or so. Some of the older boys had money saved for occasions such as this but the younger kids had nothing.
Jack in particular, was angry. He was the only newsie who knew what had happened that morning. Well, other newsies knew what happened, but only Jack knew who was responsible. Blink, Race, Mush and the others just thought the girls who stole their money were pickpockets. Only Jack knew they were shadows. First Snipes, now this? Jack knew the shadows had never liked newsies, but why the sudden outburst of hatred? Why now? What had the newsies done? Jack knew he needed to talk to the Shadow again. This time he would be prepared. He'd ask Conlon to get her to come, that kid knew everyone.
In The Dark, all was quiet. The shades were draw, the lights were off, and the few who were moving didn't speak. The night workers were fast asleep, or most of them anyway. Angel had already woken and was assigning jobs for the night ahead. The shadows picked their own jobs that would support them, but all the shadows had a common duty to do whatever was necessary to keep the group a secret. For the pickpockets, this was rarely needed. For people like Blade, Visible and Angel on the other hand, there was almost always a job.
Angel, finished writing assignments then went to wake the sleepers. "Almost Dark Shadows! TIME FOR WORK! GETUP GET UP GET UP!" she called a little too cheerfully. She immediately ducked as several pillows; shirts and other random objects flew in her direction. She picked them all up and chucked them toward Blade. No one ever wanted to get near enough to wake him up. He had a tendency to act without thinking when being woken up, and it was a well-known fact that he slept with knives under his pillow.
There was of course, the usual moaning and groaning, but at last all the shadows were awake. 6:00 pm was the usual shadow meeting time. Night workers were expected to be awake, and day timers were supposed to be back in time for the meeting. All of the Shadows who were sleeping, all the pickpockets, and some others, who had been away on more long-term jobs, were present. When all were assembled, the group consisted of, Angel, Top Hat, Blade, Visible, Gypsy, Tricksy, Lightfingers, and Arson. Chase, still running from the cops, was the only one absent. Back from long-term jobs, were Italy, a 17 year old girl who happened to be the daughter of a Mafia boss, Bait, who was very good at bribing people with the jewels that Top Hat stole, and Spot Conlon, who went simply as Brooklyn when among the shadows.
"We have a problem" Spot immediately spoke up. All eyes turned to him but he waited for Angel's approving nod before continuing. "Cowboy's been askin questions. Yer pickpockets wiped theah boys clean dis moahnin. On top of dat little boy getting snuffed, dey think youse got it out foah dem. Moah dan dat, deys comin to me foah help. If I says I wont help dem cuz im scahed a da shadows, me boys ruin dere reputations, and we aint got no moah powah. If I openly sides wit youse, we stahtes a newsie wah and I don't wanna do dat. It also puts youse in dangah of bein found. Da Cowboy wants anodda meetin with youse."
Angel listened intently, inside her stomach was churning with angry thoughts. Why didn't you kill him when you had the chance? Mercy like that gets people killed, sent to jail, brings down leaders. YOU KNOW THAT what is wrong with you! Top Hat spoke up. We can't launch open war on the newsies now, they'll be expectin dat. And we cant kill da Cowboy eidda. He'll be expectin dat too." Angel though about this and then agreed, "We cant kill the Cowboy now, we'll get caught. And besides, he keeps the boys in line, We kill the leader and we have almost two dozen angry boys on our hands. I don't wanna deal with that. …….." Angel paused, considering their options, few though they were. "Wese gotta scare dem. Pick off a few newsies. Not leaders, but close enough to the Cowboy so they's gonna be missed. Maybe a kid or two, shake em, scahe dem enough so dey keep dere mouths closed. Sound good?" When all the shadows nodded, She went on, "Brooklyn youse in chahge of dat. Youse gott figgah out which Kid's Cowboy will miss da most. But don't pick kids that will put im in a rage. Don't pick his family or goilfriend oah sumthin. That will put him in a blind rage, make him staht a full on wah and wese wanna avoid dat."
Spot hesitated a moment before responding, "Ise can do dat. When do youse need ta know?" "Youse got three days," Angel replied.
Switching gears to focus on the night at hand, Angel dished out assignments. "Blade deres a bartender who needs yoah attention. Someone shoulda told da man dat eavesdroppin would get him inta trouble,", Angel smirked and Blade returned the grin. "Italy, I needs ya to take dis lettah to yah fadda. And tell yer uncle Harry dat he can send Chase back, da bulls gave up." Angel nodded and left, throwing her curly black hair over her shoulder. "Dats I guys! go ta woik oah bed oah wherever it is youse go!"
The Dark was soon quiet, the only sound being the chatter coming from Lightfinger's bunk. Downstairs in the room that served them as something akin to a common room, Spot Conlon sat pondering, Which of the Manhattan Newsboys would survive the month, more importantly, Which would not?
