After ensuring Katja got to work okay, I spent the day brooding as I sold. It was highly unusual for the cops to show up at the lodging house for any reason, and for them to come precisely there to look for a girl was even more odd. Something about the whole thing bothered me. I spent all day wondering what had sent them to the lodging house. Who had known she was there? Why did they bother looking for this orphan when there were so many of us in Brooklyn? I went through scenario after scenario in my head, and nothing made sense. I sold a bit more during the morning edition and just a handful of the afternoon edition. I wanted to pick up Katja. I know the police-after a day or two they won't have the time or energy to look for a runaway. Katja would be forgotten to them in no time. I just needed to stay by her side and keep her safe for a day or two.
I grabbed a quick lunch, then headed over to the factory where Katja worked. The day shift folks were leaving, but I didn't see her among them. Her friend Muriel, however, spotted me and waved me over.
"Are you Katja's friend Spot?" she asked, clearly nervous.
"Where is she?" I said, panic rising in my throat.
"The police searched the place again today. She was able to slip out the back."
"Where did she go?" I demanded. Honestly, I wondered where she COULD go.
"I don't know," Muriel responded, and the look she gave me convinced me she really didn't know. I nodded, then marched over to Mr. Santorelli, who was just locking his office.
"Where's Katja?" I demanded.
"She slipped out when the police showed up," he said. "I don't know where she is, but she should be at work tomorrow, I think." He shrugged, and I glared at him. I didn't trust that man.
"If you hear from her, tell her she needs to come back to the lodging house," I ground out. I spun on my heel and ran out of the factory. I had to find her, and for that I needed help.
When I give an order that says get back to the lodging house immediately, it happens quickly. However, it still takes time. Brooklyn is a big borough. I thought I would go crazy in the two hours I spent hunting down newsies, spreading the word, and getting everyone together. In that time I did find Brown and Legs and sent them to follow Santorelli home. They didn't know why, but they did as I asked. By late afternoon, I had most of the boys together. Greasefoot and Red got everyone quiet, and all the boys stared at me expectantly.
"Katja is missing," I said, and there was a buzz of noise as the boys reacted. Greasefoot had everyone silenced in moments, though. Good kid.
"Santorelli said she left his place last night to come here. Nobody has seen her. I want everyone to keep their eyes peeled. Ask around. Tricks, Trug, Speedy, I want you guys to spread the word. I want every newsie, bootblack, street kid, and factory girl in New York looking for her. Henry, Silver, Mole I want you to keep your ears to the ground with the bulls and the orphanages. The Refuge and the morgues, too. Everybody helps. Everybody looks. Everybody asks around. Talk to your clients, the shopkeepers, the schools. Leave no stone unturned in your selling area until she is found, got it?" There were nods as the boys started thinking about how they could find Katja. "Ace, Pancho, Red, Goldie, stay back. Everyone else, get out there. Keep selling, but start looking."
The boys cleared out in a buzz of noise. I knew they would look because I told them to, but I also knew they would look because they adored Katja.
"Goldie, you're our in with the dames of the town. I'm counting on you to help us out," I said to the blonde girl in front of me. She nodded seriously. I remembered telling Katja that Goldie was no lady. Well, it was true, but she was loyal and fierce. "Ace, talk to Ingrid. The Meyers may have ideas or have heard something." Ace nodded as well.
"Red, Pancho, I need you to help Legs and Brown. I want you to trail Santorelli and to check his apartment. Make sure she really isn't there," I said. Both boys nodded, and I gave them all a curt nod of thanks. They took their cue and left, leaving me alone-but not for long. I heard a sniffling noise and turned around. Roller was standing behind me, tears in his eyes.
"Is Katja going to be okay?" he asked, sniffling. "You'll find her, won't you, Spot?"
"I'll do my best, kid," I said. He threw his little arms around my waist, and suddenly he was sobbing into my shirt. I pulled him over to the sofa and sat him down.
"Look, Roller. We have everyone helping. We are going to find her. It just might take time. In the meantime, I have a special task for you," I said, and he stopped crying and stared up at me. "I need you to look after her dog. Take him with you when you sell. Make sure he gets food and exercise every day and give him attention. I'll make sure there is dogfood here for him, but I am going to be busy looking for Katja and need to know that her dog is in good hands. Can I trust you?" He nodded, eyes wide and serious.
"I'll make sure that when she gets back, Jimmy looks the best he's ever looked," he said, and I nodded.
"Good. Now get going. You probably still have some papers left to sell," I said, and he jumped up. He called the dog, picked up his small stack, and headed out, leaving me alone. Well, I certainly wasn't going to sit here! I headed straight over to Ms. Cara's to talk to the girls there. Nobody heard the dirty gossip like those girls, and I wasn't about to let that fount of potential information go untapped. No, I needed everyone in Brooklyn.