"Tyke!"
"Tyke, where are you!"
"Red!" Mush came running up to her.
"What?" Her heart leaped halfway through her skull and dropped to her toes at the same time.
"I think I know where he is."
Red grabbed him. "Bring me to him."
Mush grabbed her hand and raced toward the docks, several newsies following behind.
- - - - - - - -
"Ok, I need all of you to stay back. If there's gunshots fired, Mush can come in and see if we're alright. But don't let yourself be seen, Mush. Just see if we're ok. If either of us is down, bring the rest. Alright?"
Soft sounds of assent came from around the group. Red held up a finger signaling quiet and motioned them behind the old barn-like storage shed. Then she crept around the front and entered the building.
Most of the newsies shoved their ears up to the wall to hear what was going on through the thin walls.
"Tyke!"
"Red!"
"Hello, Red."
"What do you want?"
"You're coming with me."
"No. And neither is Tyke."
"You both are."
"Tyke, go outside."
"But…
"Now, Tyke!"
A pause. In that time, Tyke came around the side of the building. "He…!" A hand was clamped over his mouth.
"Anyone out there?"
"No. What do you want?"
"I said. You. Now get moving."
"And I said, No. Not while I live."
"That's kinda the idea."
A shuddering breath. "What can I do to get my freedom?"
"Absolutely nothing. Unless you want your head blown off, you'll do as I say."
"Never."
"But Kelly needs you now." A wheedling, sarcastic tone.
"Kelly can wait for his grave."
A short scuffle was heard. A shot fired. Mush rushed around the side of the building and peeked in the doorway.
There stood Red with a pistol in her hand. A man was fallen on the floor, face away from the doorway. Red stared at the gun, then tossed it into the straw. She looked up and saw Mush.
"Let's go."
Red grabbed Tyke's hand firmly and led the way back to Manhattan.