Disclaimer: I do not own Newsies or any of its characters, Disney does. I own Lillian 'Lily' Snyder, Lucinda 'Pretty', and Patrick Sullivan. I also own Arthur.

(A/N: This hairstyle described in this chapter is called the "Braided Chignon". You can find it in the Klutz Book "Hair: A Book of Braiding and Styling." :) )

"Spend the day with me?"

"Please, father, we haven't much time left with one another before Alexander and I wed," Lily replied as she clasped her hands at her waist. Throughout the entire conversation she thought of every sad moment she had lived through. In result her eyes shined with evidence of gathering tears, and her mouth was down turned.

Snyder paused, then shook his head, "This is childish."

"No, father....It is sadness. I will not be seeing you as much as I do now, seeing Alexander and I shall be moving."

"Pardon?"

"We are moving."

Lily watched her father's face turn from annoyed to perplexed. From his look, she gathered her fiance had not told his future father-in-law that the day he married her they would be leave the state. He wanted to start the Busby Times in Arizona. There was a large town out west that seemed to have promise into growing into a large city...She continued forgetting the name but she was almost certain it was called Phoenix.

"Mr. Busby mentioned nothing of this move to me," Snyder replied, "When did you both speak about this....Proposition?"

"This morning on the telephone, he said he had already discussed the matter with you."

"No...He did not," Snyder replied, "In this case, yes, you may spend the day with me."

"Alexander wishes to come by at lunch and - "

"He cannot see you until tonight after I speak with him," her father replied with a curt nod, "Finish getting decent than we shall go."

"Yes, father," Lily replied before she returned to her bedroom. She shut and locked the door after him and smiled when she faced Madeline, "How was I?"

"I believed you were truly upset for a moment," the detective replied, "Ye were beginnin' to make my heart bleed."

"I wasn't that good."

"Oh yes, indeed you were Lillian. You shall be makin' a fine detective, fine. Now I must return to m' 'maid' duties, oh Lud! Will I ever be grateful when this despicable job has ended. Humph, it is a woman's place to clean, says James. Well, after all this is over will 'e learn what a foine British woman like meself is made of! I'll show 'im a thing or two, I will!"

Lily watched Madeline walk to the door and return to her normal slouch and return to her meek behavior. Her British accent faded away in the wind when she walked out and yelled for James to get the horses ready.

Lily shut the door and dressed in a favorite light blue dress with embroidered crocheted pansies and leaves all over it. The dress has a triangular collar made of frilly lace, it stopped an inch after her collar bone. The torso of the gown clung tightly to her until the gown started. Unlike most of her dresses which required hoops, this one required nothing more than her chemise. It was starched so it stood up at the hips as it should. The skirt ended at her ankles where the tops of her pearly white boots were seen.

Madeline came in a moment later and separated her hair into three different braids. Then separated her hair at the nape of her neck and slipped the braids through, after this she tucked the tails into the space where Lily's braids had been flipped through and slipped a bobby in to draw the braids close together. After this she used a pearl barrette to keep the braids in place.

"Thank you, Madeline," Lily smiled as she slipped on her white gloves and grabbed hold of her light blue parasol with the white lace edgings.

"Of course, Miss Snyder," she replied with a nod as the butler walked in.

"Your father awaits...Impatiently, in the coach, Miss," he exclaimed before turning his face away and giving a powerful sneeze. His hair piece slid off the top of his head and down his face, until it stopped over his nose.

Lily had to quickly a place a hand over her mouth to muffle her giggles as she watched the flustered and blushing butler/chauffeur grab hold of his hair piece. He placed it atop his head and his bulb like nose stuck out like a sore thumb, it was red and swollen.

"My apologies, Miss."

"None are necessary, and I will not speak of this to anyone," Lily assured.

"Oh thank you, kindly, miss!" The butler exclaimed before he rushed outside before he embarrassed him once again with another powerful sneeze.

"I warned him not to tell me that cooking and cleaning are woman's job," Madeline exclaimed when James exited the front door.

"What did you do?"

"Oh, nothin' but accidentally 'sneeze' some pepper in front o' his nose. He'll live," she beamed with satisfaction and walked Lily to the door, "Now ye remember what to look for?"

"Yes, a brown envelope with cash inside from Mr. Pulitzer. Might I inquire what this transaction is for?"

"I was not to tell ye, but seein' he is your father. The money is from Mr. Pulitzer to your father to find the leader of the strike and, excuse m' language, shut him up. He is to arrest the newsboy in charge and bring him to Mr. Pulitzer, after this he will get paid the rest. All ye need to do is tell our 'eyes' where ta look and we'll 'andle it from there."

Lily nodded, "May I ask who your 'eyes' are in the refuge, besides me?"

"I'm sorry m'dear, but I can't go givin' that information until this is all said an' done. Ye understand, don't ye?" Madeline questioned with her eyebrows arched.

"I do," Lily replied before stepping out the front door and opening her parasol.

"And Lily!"

"Yes?"

"You forgot your hat, miss," Madeline handed Lily her light blue hat with feathers and blue silk roses sewn around the brim.

"Thank you, Madeline," Lily smiled and walked towards her father's carriage. It was going to be a long day.

------------------------------------

Patrick Sullivan's chest swelled with pride as he watched his son lead his small band of newsboy through the gates of the World Distribution Center. Pinkerton Detectives along with other muscle attacked the newsies and trapped them. However his son and his boys never gave up, minutes later more newsies appeared along the rooftops. When a boy shorter than his son appeared with a slingshot the newsies erupted in shouts 'Brooklyn!' and 'It's Brooklyn!'

The trap ended minutes later, with Brooklyn's help the goons were escaping and being pushed back behind two large wooden gates. As the goons were retreating 'Brooklyn' opened the iron gates and allowed another large group of newsboys in.

After their photograph was taken they rushed off to a nearby restaurant called Tibby's. Patrick didn't bother to follow them. He was impressed with his son's fighting skills. He would be tough enough to help steal the duke's jewels. He reached into his trouser pocket and took hold of his pocket watch and glanced at the date window. Only 15 days until the Duke arrived. He was going to have to grab his son soon. He thought for a moment and decided. He would take his son in two days and then return out west with him.

He would make sure his son knew not to become greedy, because his old man cherished wealth more than human life. If Francis attempted to escape, Patrick would kill him after the job was finished.

But now he had more pressing matters to attend too. He watched 'Pretty' glance around the street before she took off running in another direction.

"That's it, Lucinda," he said softly and mockingly, "Lead me to Arthur, like a good little detective."

---------------------------------------

Lily couldn't believe the day was already half over. The morning was slow and boring: her father did paperwork and paid bills (surprisingly), then lectured the children about speaking to his daughter in any inappropriate language. He then 'taught' a class about behavior in the real world. When Crutchy dared to laugh he slapped the poor boy upside the head and placed him on "servant duty."

Servant duty meant Crutchy would from now on be cooking and cleaning for the Warden and Lily. Now it was lunch time and her father had excused himself to go into a private room and call Alexander.

When he left the room, Lily took advantage of the opportune moment and squatted in front of the locked drawer. She picked the lock once again and blushed with the awareness of how unlady like her stance currently was. She grabbed hold of the envelope and coughed loudly and cleared her throat. She quickly left the room and walked into the Ladies' Washroom. She returned five minutes later and found the envelope sealed on the desk. She wondered if the 'eyes' had seen it.

She turned when someone tapped on the frosted glass in her father's office's door. Crutchy stood on the other side with a large grin on his face and a thumbs up.

"Deys got da picturahs," he whispered after opening the door.

"Thank you, Crutchy."

"Youse welcome, I'se hope youse will come every day. Believe it or not, 'e's a lot nicah when youse ah around."

"Do not tell him that," Lily frowned.

"Nevah! Dat would be a death sentence fer awll of us!" He exclaimed and shut the door. Lily placed the envelope back into the drawer, shut it and locked it. She returned to her seat and had enough time to smooth out her skirt when her father walked in.

"Alexander and I will be having a long discussion tonight," her father remarked.

"Please do not be angry with him, father. He is full of ambition, he cannot help that he is young, nor can I."

Snyder looked up at her and shook his head, "You've grown into a beautiful and adult woman so quickly, Lillian. Especially during these last few days. Are you certain there is nothing you wish to discuss with me about this....Sudden change?"
"I am sure, father. I wish to be a perfect wife to Alexander. I....I fear he may not love me if I do not."

"Nonsense," her father scoffed, "You are as lovely as your mother, with her mind and her looks. It would be impossible for him not to love you. Go on and eat your lunch."

"Yes father."

------------------------------------------

When Lucinda was made aware of Arthur's whereabouts she left as soon as the brawl had ended. She had excluded herself from the photograph, not wishing to have evidence that could help any convict find her.

Her feet skidded as she slowed down in front of the small apartment building that was a block away from newspaper row, or as some called it Newspaper Square, or Newsie Square. She walked calmly into the lobby and nodded to the attendant and climbed the stairs to the third story. Then knocked on room door 302.

"Only in the land of Spain, you will find a dog named Payne," she said softly. The door opened a moment later. She walked in and turned as her father shut the door.

"How are you, Arthur?"

"I'm doing well," he replied.

Lucinda paused, her father's voice had a Scottish accent. The man who had spoken had a voice that was deep, gravelly, with an accent somewhere between Manhattan and Western.

"Who are you?"

The man turned, the long scar down the side of his face was recognizable. Patrick Sullivan. Arthur had told her stories of his first nemesis.

"W...What are you doing here?" She backed slowly and played the role of a damsel in distress.

"Just here to see daddy," he replied with an open toothed smile. Lucinda looked away in disgust. The man's teeth were an unhealthy yellow shade and his breath stunk.

"Leave my father be," she whispered.

"Oh, I will, after I kill you. After all, in my world, it's an eye for an 'eye'. Get it! An eye for an 'eye!'" He howled in laughter at his own joke. Lucinda looked around and found her father sitting atop a counter, he was bruised and bleeding. His lower lip had been busted open, both his eyes sported shiners. He coughed and Lucinda was horrified when a small splatter of blood landed on the tile floor of the kitchen. Arthur was bleeding internally! Oh, God, no!

She spun in time to miss a bullet whiz past her. She screamed and ran into another room, then shut the door. she had to find a way to rescue herself and her father. But how? She looked about the small and empty bedroom, there was nothing of use. Then from the corner of her eye she saw a small black spider weaving its web. She paled, how she hated spiders, bugs, and rodents!

However, she was going to have to get over her and quickly. She spider was going to save her life.

-------------------------------

"Open the door, Lucy," Patrick exclaimed in a sing-song tone of voice as he shook the door knob.

"Get...The....Hell...Away...From....Her..." Arthur coughed from across the room.

"Oh, I'll walk away when she's nothing more than a corpse," Patrick shrugged, "Open this door Lucinda, I won't hurt you! I promise." Annoyance built itself into his body as he tugged the doorknob. He was going to have to find the damned ax and force her out of the room. Why couldn't she just be agreeable and handle her death with dignity? It would be so much simpler that way!

"Open the damned door, girl!" he shouted.

----------------------------

Lucinda opened the door open quickly, causing the man behind it to yelp in pain. She darted in front of him and threw the spider on his shirt and ran towards her father.

"Go!" Arthur shouted, "Don't look about, go!"

"But father, he'll kill-"

"I'm dying anyway, go! Lucinda, everything you will need is with your sister!"

Lucinda ran out of the apartment and made certain to scream 'murderer,' at the top of her lungs. People began opening the doors of their apartments and peeking towards her in curiosity while young boys were sent to fetch the police.

She continued her run and her father's words continued echoing around her head: Everything you need is with your sister! She knew where to look. The newsie cemetery in Bronx. Her younger sister had run away when Lucinda was ten. They found her selling papers on a street corner. One month later they were invited to her funeral after the Delancey Brothers had beaten her to a pulp for daring to steal one apple from a merchant in the marketplace. She had never forgiven those two fiends, however Patrick Sullivan and Warden Snyder demanded all her attention at the moment.

She rushed into the Manhattan Newsies Lodging House and barely heard Kloppman's surprised question on her well being. She had not a chance to answer. Her heart raced, if Patrick knew of her, then he knew where his son was, and he knew all about Lillian. He'd murder Lillian just to torment Snyder. Lucinda would not allow that to happen to another innocent person, she wouldn't! Especially a young woman, who she was beginning to call friend.

Lucinda stopped in front of her bunk as her mind slightly cleared. It hit her that she was doing exactly what Patrick wanted her too: She had led him to Arthur; now she would be leading him to Lily; and she gathered he already knew of his sons whereabouts. She shut her eyes and thought of her father. She knew what he'd want her to do: carry on her work as Pretty, stay in crowds, and when it was time to speak with Lillian again she'd disguise herself. She smirked, she knew a disguise she could dress in. One that even Arthur wouldn't have recognized her in.

She paused and twirled her hair and placed her cap back over it, she was going to have to get to Tibby's and fast. But first of all, she needed to pass a note to Madeline to give to Lily for her. She was going to need her help getting the needed information from her sister's grave.

--------------------------------

"Murder! Murder!"

Jack turned when a young newsie around 6 or 7 rushed in.

"What happened, Tumblah?" He questioned.

Tumbler's eyes were huge, "Someone murdered that old man who moved inta that fancy apartment house last night."

Jack stared wide eyed, "Who was he?"

"Don't know," the boy shrugged, "What I'se do know is da who did it, his last name is Sullivan."

Jack paled and he felt his heart stop. His father had returned to New York.

"Jack? What is it?" Blink questioned.

"Nuthin'," Jack grumbled before walking towards the washroom in back of Tibby's. He leaned over the sink and splashed water onto his face. He heard the door shut and the loud clunk of the lock. He dried his face and glanced over at Spot.

"Dat ain't nothin', Jacky-boy," the Brooklyn leader commented and crossed his arms, "What's goin' on?"

"Nuthin," Jack snapped.

"Dere's somethin'. Is it youse old man?"

"How'd youse guess?"

"Cause dats da look youse got when we foist met 4 yeahs ago and youse fadda passed. I'se won't tell no one, dough I'se will help ya be on da look out for him."

"T'anks, Spot," Jack replied, relieved that his best friend knew his secret after all, "How long have ya known?"

"About youse fadda or youse real name?"
"Both."

"Knew about youse fadda when I'se foist met ya. Youse were an open book back den, still kinda ah," he smirked, "I'se found out about youse real name from one of me little boids. Youse gonna be alright? Want some of my me boys ta stay in Manhattan?"

"Naw, if 'e tries anythin' me and me newsies will take care ah him."

"Alright, but I'se gonna tell me newsies ta be on da look out foah him," Spot replied as he unlocked the door, "Oh, and what's dis I'se heah about youse fallin' for Snyder's daughter?"

Jack stood up so fast the top of his head hit the towel rack. He winced, "Where did ya hear dat?"
"Every Manhattan Newsie is talkin' bout it. Now where is dat newsgoil of youse, Pretty?"

"I'se thought she was heah!"

"She ain't," Spot replied.

"If she ain't back by da time we'se leave we'se go lookin for her."

Spot nodded, "Agreed."