So it occurred to me awhile ago that some of the girls from the factory lived at the Working Girls' House. Those were the most vulnerable ones-girls with no family. And my female newsies lived there-Goldie and Gemma and Pixie and Fists were the older ones. Maybe they had heard something. But of course I would need to be discreet. Goldie would be best for that. She and Katja had gotten along well when they'd met, and she was better at both getting information and being discreet. I just needed to phrase it carefully so that she wouldn't make the connection that this was about Katja. Even if she put two and two together, as I am sure Red had, she wouldn't say anything. I was not going to tell anyone anything Katja didn't want them to know.

I could also ask Katja. I know she had put it out of her mind, but we did need to talk about it. Maybe she could think of someone to ask. Heck, maybe asking herself might help her feel better about all that's happened. I know she's feeling insecure, though I haven't quite been able to pinpoint why or in what capacity. We'll have to work on that, too. She's never been super confident. Maybe that's why she wants to learn to fight?

I thought about that, too. I couldn't see Cat throwing a punch, though I would certainly do my best to teach her. I figured a slingshot would be a good way to go, and I could certainly teach her some ways to defend herself.

"Hey, doll," a voice broke me out of my reverie. I turned and saw Gina walking toward me.

"Gina," I said, trying to keep my voice guarded and neutral.

"Haven't seen you in awhile. Where you been?" she asked.

"Been busy," I said evasively. I hadnt seen Gina or anyone at Ms. Cara's in over eight months.

"Last I heard, you were looking for someone. A girl. I've been keeping an eye out. Find her yet?" she smiled at me firtatiously. I could see she was trying to be helpful and understanding, but at this point I just wanted to get back to my thoughts about helping the girl in question.

"Yeah, I did. Thanks for the help, though," I said. It does not pay to be rude and cut off a flow of information or burn a bridge.

"So is this girl the reason you haven't been to see me? She keep you satisfied like I do?" Gina asked coyly. She didn't mean anything by it-it was her business to talk this way-but it nearly sent me over the edge to hear the implication about Katja, especially given what had happened to her.

"She's a friend, and she's only sixteen. Don't you dare speak about her that way again," I ground out, not quite keeping the anger and menace out of my voice. Gina recoiled.

"Sorry, Spot. I didn't mean anything by it. I'm glad you found your friend," she said, all pretense of flirting gone. It's rare that the girls at Ms. Cara's drop the hustle, and I didn't remember ever seeing it from Gina, but her instant change reminded me that she'd always been good to me and I needed to treat her like the friend she was instead of the prostitute she needed to be.

"Didn't mean to snap at you, Gina. It's just been a rough time for her, losing her folks and all," I said. She smiled and nodded.

"I'm glad she has someone like you to take care of her;" she said, and I nodded in acknowledgement.

"You should know that before I came here, I went through a lot. If she wants to talk, woman to woman, I'm available," she said. I was surprised. That was good of her. To be honest, I had never really considered where Gina had come from. She was two years older than me and had been working at Ms. Cara's since before my first visit, so I had never really thought about her life outside of that place.

"Thanks, Gina. I'll keep it in mind. Good of you to offer," I said, giving her a genuine smile as I hefted my papes back onto my shoulder. "See you around."