The newsies stared at Raindrop, unbelieving. She stood up unsteadily, grasping the pape.

"Where youse goin'?" Mush asked.

"Dis jail," she said, gesturing the pape, "I gotta talk ta Bev." She walked out the door. The newsies looked at each other a moment, until Mush turned and followed her. Jack began explaining things to the rest as best as he could, considering he only knew a little of what had happened.

Mush caught up with Raindrop easily, who was still in shock. He fell in step with her. He tentatively asked her if she knew her way around New York. Her curt nod answered his question and warned him from asking another. They walked in silence until they neared the jail. Several yards away, Raindrop's pace began to slow, as if she was reluctant to enter. Mush grasped her hand and they entered.

"I need to see Mrs. Beverly Allen Pickett." Raindrop said steadly. The man on duty looked at her.

"Oh? Who are you, and what business do you have with Mrs. Pickett?" He looked stern, if not rather curious, seeing a dirty newsboy, and a girl dressed as as newsboy, asking to see their most recent infamous prisoner. Raindrop stood up straighter.

"I am Lissa Allen, I'm Beverly's sister." The man raised his eyebrows.

"Oh really? Somehow I doubt that. Two street rats associated with a lady like her, even if she is a murderess... But I'll check with Mrs. Pickett." He chuckled to himself as he walked out another door. Mush squeezed Raindrop's hand and she looked at him gratefully.

"T'anks fer comin' wit me." She looked as if she was going to say more, but decided not to. Mush smiled and shrugged.

"I'se not gonna let ya go all by yerself. Nevah know who's gonna jumps suchah goigeous goil like youse." He grinned, obviously embarrassed, and they both turned crimson. Mush silently scolded himself.

Fool! She'll t'ink ya like her like dat now! T'ain't enough ya t'ink she's da poittiest goil ya seen in yer lousy life, ya have ta tell 'er dat too!

The man returned, no longer laughing. He sat down at his desk and busied himself with some paperwork.

"She's in the first room on the left. No funny business." he said gruffly. Raindrop walked calmly into the room, never waverly. She stopped short when she saw Beverly. Her sister stood facing her with tears in her eyes.

"Lissy...Lissy honey, I'm so glad you came," she said, wiping a tear from her cheek. "I didn't do it. I didn't kill Mama and Papa. You must believe me!" Raindrop hugged her, starting to cry, herself.

"I know Bev. I know," Raindrop began sobbing. "Bev, I've missed ya so much, an' Mama an' Papa...like I ain't got nuttin' left me but hoit."

About an hour later Raindrop and Beverly were still talking - considerably calmer at that, too. Mush sat uncomfortably on the floor, near the doorway. He shifted, and suddenly Beverly noticed him. She grinnned at Raindrop.

"So...Lissa...is this your boyfriend?" Raindrop snapped her head around, looking back and forth between Mush and Beverly, immeditatly turning bright red.

"What?! Mush? No! No, no, no! Bev, Mush is a friend of mine, not my boyfriend. He came with me because I was upset!" Mush laughed.

"Naw, I like Raindrop awright, but not like dat. She's really goigeous an' all, but like me best friend, like Race an' Blink." Beverly laughed.

"Well, you two would make an adorable couple alright." Mush and Raindrop didn't reply, just sat silently, both scarlet.

"So," Beverly said, changing the subject, "have you seen Jonathon?" Raindrop's face darkened.

"No. He ran out on me right after...you know. I haven't seen him for a month, and I hope I never do again." Beverly stared at Raindrop in shock.

"Lissa Marie Allen! How dare you say that about your brother! How dare you?!"

"You don't know what it was like!" Raindrop yelled, "You didn't have to sit through the funeral by yourself!" Beverly slapped Raindrop.

"You're right," she said coldly, "I wasn't there. I was in jail. I was in jail because the authorities thought I killed Mama and Papa. They still do." Raindrop's eyes flashed.

"Jonathon deserted both of us. He didn't care. All he was concerned about was his bloody honor." She fished a piece of paper out of her pocket. "This is the note he left me. He left in the middle of the night. The night after Mama and Papa were killed, and they took you away." Beverly took the note and read it out loud in a grim voice.

Lissa,

Sister, I know things must be hard for you, but I need to go somewhere. I have left to hunt down Winston. We both saw him commit the murders, and I intend on making him pay. Wait here for me. I will be back someday. I will be back when I have found him. It is a matter of honor. It would not be honorable to let him live.

Jonathon

Beverly folded the paper soberly. Raindrop shifted her weight and then spoke.

"And so he left me. No money, no food, no home, and no family. And he expected me to wait for him. I hate him for it. He is a cold-blooded ruthless killer...no different from Winston. I know Bev. He's ruthless. He'll do anything to kill Winston." Beverly hugged her. Suddenly there was a noise at the doorway. The man from the desk stood there.

"You've had enough time. You can talk to her again day after tomorrow." The three stood. Beverly and Raindrop hugged, gave Bev the note, and she and Mush walked out of the building. They walked aimlessly and silently for a long time. The darkness grew around them until they could barely see each other in some places. At last Mush grasped Raindrop's hand outside an alley. He pulled her aside.

"We doesn't have ta go inta da Lodgin' 'ouse right away. But we should be nearby. If ya want we kin jist talk fer awhile. Da roof's kinda nice." Raindrop smiled slightly.

"Dat'd be real nice Mush." They began walking again, this time towards the Lodging House.

"I'se lucky ta have ya as me friend Mush. Did'ya mean what ya said oilier about Race an' Blink?" Mush nodded.

"Yeah, I liked does two right away, an' I like youse. We'd give 'r lives fer each uddah, an' I'd do da same fer youse."

"Good. I'd do dat too." They walked on silently for a few minutes.

"Raindrop," Mush asked, "what exactly happened anyhow?" Raindrop shrugged.