"He's gone!"

"What?"

"Tyke! Gone!"

Red awoke the voices downstairs. Tyke. Gone. As soon as comprehension hit, she bolted out of bed, wasting time only to grab her vest and pants.

"What?" Her voice joined the cacophony. Blink found her in the younger newsies' room. "What is going on!" she demanded.

"Tyke is missing. They left a note." He shoved the paper into her hand.

Her hands shook as she read it.

Find him in three days and we might spare him. Better start looking – there are lots of places to try. A clue a day – a finger per clue – and if you don't find him, we'll come after you, Red.

The note dropped to the floor. Blink scooped it up and started talking to her. "We'll need to start a search party…" He looked at her face and his voice dropped off. Other voices started in.

"We kin git all da newsies ta help!"

"At least Brooklyn. Don't know 'bout some boroughs."

"For all we know dey took him."

"Nah, all da leaders are stable. Most of us are on speakin' terms at least." Jack's voice, calming everyone down.

"Now who wants to go to Queens? North Side? Mid-town? The Bowery?" Hands raised and voices shouted their willingness as Jack took volunteers. Blink just continued looking at Red.

Her face was white. The lips set into a hard line. The eyes stared straight forward, not seeing anything.

"Alright evrybody! Let's go!"

"No." Even though she spoke barely above a whisper, somehow everyone heard her. She turned to them. "No. That's just what they want us to do."

"How would you know?"

"Hey, yeah, how would you know?"

"More people, more looking power. If I wern't smarter, I'd say you was wit them."

"Shut up Skittery!"

"No, that's not what I mean!" Her voice rose and carried over the dissenters. "It's me they want. If I find him before the three days is up, then they'll keep both of us alive. Three days up, they'll kill both of us. One of you finds him, and they'll kill me." Her voice rang true. Everyone still listened. She took a deep breath.

"If one of you knows where he's hidden, come and get me. Let me find him. It's the best for all of us."

"How do you know they want you?" a voice sneered.

"If they hadn't, my name wouldn't be involved in a death threat on the kidnapper's note."

Slowly, heads started nodding around the room. Jack studied the scene, arms crossed over his chest. Finally, he spat. "Alrigh'. Evryone git out dere. Ya see da kid, ya find Red. She gonna be by me 'r Blink all day." He discontinued his orders to grin. "Mo' likely Blink dan me. I ain't near as good lookin' as our friend Blink here."

Red blushed. "C'mon Jack, be serious. Find Tyke, find me."

Murmurs of assent floated through the newsies as they flooded out the door. Jack stayed until Blink and Red were left.

"Ya gonna be ok, Red?"

Her lips were back to the hard line. White was tinged about the mouth as she nodded once. Blink caught his eye and shook his head, motioning that he'd take care of her. Jack nodded and stepped toward Red. "If'n ya need me, I'll stop by once or twice by Strawberry Fields. And that's where you'll be. Selling with Blink. Alright?"

This time she unclenched her lips. "Alrigh'."

Jack nodded. "Good."

- - - - - - - -

"Where'm I goin'?"

"'Round town, buddy-boy. You eva been heah before?"

"Yeth! Thith ith where Red thowed me how to climb a twee!"

Tyke proudly rode piggyback through the crowded streets and into Central Park. But at the mention of Red, he sobered. "When we gonna get to my thurpwrithe?"

"Soon, buddy-boy."

And indeed it was. For they pulled up to the railyards not moments later.

"Oh boy! Can I go in a car?" Tyke asked excitedly as he slid to the ground.

"'Course, kid. If ya ever jump trains in your life, dis is where you'll start."

Tyke looked up quizzically. "You eva jumped twains b'fore?"

"Lotsa times. You wanna hear some stories?"

"Yeah!"

So the odd pair settled into a railcar to hear daring, adventurous stories.

- - - - - - - -

Red lethargically sold another paper. Blink half-heartedly hawked a headline. (ooh! Alliteration!) Halfway through the day, Red made the mistake of looking Blink in the eye. Her eyes welled up with unbidden tears as she turned away and tried to compose herself.

She wasn't given a chance to. Blink came and wrapped his arms around her. The tears once again surfaced, and she turned to cry into his chest. He whispered comfort to her and stroked her hair as the trials of the day and even the past few months soaked the front of his shirt.

The moment was comforting, but short. She quickly pulled away, wiped her eyes, and continued selling, sniffing every so often, but red eyes quickly cleared. He soon saw the strong, composed woman he'd come to admire.

Late in the afternoon, Mush came by. Blink was over selling a paper to a group of ladies and only noted his presence.

"Find anything?" Red asked eagerly.

"Nah. Jist wanted to see if you was ok." He swiftly pulled off his hat, ran a hand through his hair, then tugged the hat back on. Seeing her disappointment, he added, "Uh…you ok?"

Red smiled weakly. "I…I guess I'll make it. You done sellin'?"

"Almost. I took less papes taday ta look for 'im."

Red nodded. "Thanks."

"I'll git runnin'." Mush turned to leave.

"Oh, Mush? Ya wanna look somewhere fer me?"

Mush turned back to her. "Sure. Where?"

"Since Jack won't let me outta Blink's sight, and Blink ain't movin', I'd appreciate if'n ya'd look down near the docks. It's…well, a place I used ta go. They might be there."

Mush nodded. "Sure. I kin do dat."

Red smiled weakly. "Thanks."

Blink came over. "What was dat all 'bout?"

She crossed her arms over her chest. "Not much. Just…well, I had an idea."

- - - - - - - -

Tyke slept soundly in the straw as his captor looked on. Soon after the guard was switched for the night.

"Is he a good kid?"

"Yes, sir."

"Anyone come by?"

"No, sir."

"Come back tomorrow just before dawn."

"Yes, sir."

"Go get some sleep." The relived kidnapper looked warily at the dark shadows in which the transfer guard resided. "I said beat it!"

He nodded and ducked out the door as the new guard settled down in the hay to watch the little unknowing captive.