"Are you going?" I whispered.

He nodded in answer. "If McCain kills you when she finds out...I'll come back an' kill her, an' then they'll be glad ta know dat I really did kill somebody."

I tried to smile at his humor attempt, but something inside told me that things were going downhill from there. Greyson winked at me, put on his cap, and slipped out the door.

Unable to sleep any longer, I got out of bed and went to the window. It was cloudy out again; no doubt it would rain. I spotted Marconi crossing the street, his cap pulled down low over his eyes, his good hand in his pocket, and his head down.

"McCartney?"

I turned toward Skweeker's voice. "Yeah?"

"He left, din't he?"

"Yeah."

"I'm gonna kill 'im."

I looked at her for a moment. "Just rest, Skweek. We've got a tough road ahead."

"Ya t'ink I don't know dat already, McCartney? Cheez."

She pulled the blankets over her head, and I sank down onto the sofa. All we could do now was wait.

Later that afternoon, McCain was digging through the cabinets, trying to find something for us to have for lunch. Upon finding nothing, she cursed.

"I guess I'll hafta go 'cross th' street an' pick up some stuff," she sighed. "I'll be back."

With that, she left me alone in the apartment. I curled up on the sofa and closed my eyes. Soon, I had dozed off.

A loud knocking on the door awakened me. I had no idea how long I had been asleep or how long Skweeker had been gone. Groaning, I pulled myself up off the couch and made my way to the door, opening it.

There stood Jack Kelly, Racetrack Higgins, Kid Blink, Mush Meyers, Cheater Molloy, and Coaldust McGinty. All six of them glared daggers at me. My heart was pounding; I had no idea what to do, so I tried to slam the door. Unfortunately, Jack was too fast and caught it open with his foot.

"Well, well, well, if it ain't Monkey McCartney," Jack sneered.

"Tell us, Monk, why ya hangin' out heah? In on th' murder, too?" Kid Blink asked cruelly, taking hold of my shirt collar.

I opened my mouth but formed no sound. "Whassat? Scared, Monkey?" Race hissed, looking up at me with genuine hate on his face.

I looked to Mush, Cheater, and Coaldust for help; they were, or had been, my friends. Mush averted his eyes; Cheater rubbed the back of his neck and turned as if to walk away; Coaldust opened his mouth as if to speak but shut it again.

Finding myself, I took hold of Blink's hand and wrenched it away. "Marconi didn't murder anybody!"

"Oh, yeah? Why'd he turn 'imself in to th' bulls, then, huh?" Jack asked, getting up in my face.

"Because a real murderer doesn't do that," I replied. "A real murderer hides or tries to frame someone else."

Jack barely held his glare. "How d'ya know dat, huh? What if Marconi did it an' went to th' bulls ta take some heat off 'im?"

I was at a loss for words. Jack, Race, and Blink saw this, and continued harassing me.

"I t'ink Monkey's in on it," Race said. "Yep, comes ta th' lodgin' house jus' ta set everyt'in' up. Y'know, now dat I t'ink about it...McCain paid me ta take 'er. Then all dis happened. Yep. I say McCartney's been th' liddle go-between th' whole time."

Blink looked at me evilly with his one good eye. "Y'know what we do wit' go-betweens, Monkey? We soak 'em."

Jack cracked his knuckles and Blink once again grabbed the collar of my shirt. Jack made a fist and it sailed into my face, bloodying my lip. I let out a cry and sank to the floor, prepared to get the beating of my life. Suddenly, Mush and Cheater jumped onto Jack and pinned him down on the floor.

"Stop it, Jack! Stop! She ain't no go-between," Cheater yelled at him.

For a moment Jack looked like he was going to kill Cheater, for he grabbed his collar and was ready to slug him; surprisingly, he let go. Giving me another look, Jack said, "Get outta town. Tell McCain dat. Ya was both involved in killin' an innocent newsy. Now, both 'a youse get outta town, or we'll come back an' kill ya."

Without another word, Jack left, followed by Race and Blink. Coaldust stood in the doorway for a moment, looking at me, but then turned and followed the other three. Mush and Cheater each took an arm and pulled me up off the floor. My head was spinning and I was shaking uncontrollably. Gently, they led me to the sofa.

"Monk...we's both sorry fer dat. I wanna soak Jack fer what 'e done to ya," Cheater said, seething.

"We know ya din't do nothin', Monk," Mush said.

"But you think McCain and Marconi did, don't you?" I asked them numbly.

Neither of them had a reply for me.