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Post by michael on Aug 10, 2009 19:34:38 GMT -5
Mike sighed, knowing he wasn't going to be setting foot inside. Pulling out his pad of paper he made a note before glancing back up at the young man before him. "What can you tell me about it? Living here I assume you come in contact with many newsboys, yes?" He was starting to feel hopeless, perhaps what he got from that blond kid in Manhattan was all he was going to get.
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Post by Joe on Aug 10, 2009 23:54:05 GMT -5
Joe leaned on the fire escape above them and took a drag of his cigarette his face obscured by his cocked hat.
"Maybe the bettah question is what do you know about the kidnappings Dobson."
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Post by Zeke Cooper on Aug 11, 2009 0:30:22 GMT -5
'Zeke raised a brow and fell to side with Joe, he smirked a little. That was Joe for you, just being the extra muscle at that point Zeke folded his arms and waited for Dobson to give them an explanation.
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Post by michael on Aug 11, 2009 15:16:09 GMT -5
Mike glanced briefly at the voice from above and sighed, his lips forming a thin line in frustration. tucking his pad away he shrugged indifferently. This was a waste of his time. "Listen, this aint my problem, isn't even my case." He looked back up at the boy on the fire escape before returning his gaze to the boy in the doorway. "If you have it under control, I'll leave you to it." With that he turned and walked away, tiring of the ungrateful attitude he was constantly finding among the kids he was trying to help.
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Post by Lucky Volpecillia on Aug 11, 2009 15:23:05 GMT -5
Lucky sholdered past Zeke, she looked worked over and looked at Mike for a moment. "It was cops.." simple, but the fact was when she heard his voice that was probably the only bull they could trust.
Zeke reached over and grabbed her around the waist gently trying to get her back inside but it was useless, she was ignoring him like she did so many others when she was in a mood. Her bruises ached and she closed her eyes as she said it again.
"You're about the only good one, I got jumped by a cop, Dobson.." her ribs were killing her, so was her head and she looked well worked over. "He had a badge and he tried to work me over to get me to go somewhere.."
Zeke could have clocked her himself, did that rattle to the head knock her brains loose.
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Post by michael on Aug 11, 2009 17:40:30 GMT -5
"It was cops.."
Mike froze on the spot, the girl's words fell on him like a weight and he couldn't move. Everything he had suspected, all those little thoughts he kept locked in the back of his mind were suddenly confirmed.
"You're about the only good one, I got jumped by a cop, Dobson. He had a badge and he tried to work me over to get me to go somewhere.."
He could hardly hear her next words over the sound of his pulse thundering his his ears, but when he did he instantly turned to see her. The girl looked like hell. Attempting to swallow Mike found his mouth had gone too dry and he cleared his throat gruffly. If anyone got word of this, of him investigating in Brooklyn at all... He looked at the beaten girl again and swore under his breath, glancing around swiftly at nearby buildings and windows. He had to make a choice. Leaving and never speaking of it again would mean keeping his job, and his life.
After a moment's pause Mike cursed again and stepped forward, his eyes continuing to dart around him in paranoia as he approached the lodging house. He motioned to the two in the doorway, all pretense of authority gone. "Inside. Quickly."
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Post by Lucky Volpecillia on Aug 11, 2009 20:56:01 GMT -5
Lucky nodded and moved towards the door and vanished inside, she knew how dangerous it was and she limped a bit as she moved in. This was a load of bollocks in her mind. Zeke wasn't far behind her grumbling as he shut the door after the cop.
"We don't trust cops Lucks."
She turned on him and glared, "I'm the one that got the snot kicked out of me, Zeke. Take a look, I'm not exactly in fine form but this cop.." she motioned towards Dobson. "Is a good egg, he let me out of jail without paying any fines or anything. I'd say he's probably about the only one we CAN trust. And you know how I don't like to trust anyone.."
"Spot's going to have a cow, Lucky and you know it," Zeke wasn't above fighting with his fellow Brooklynites especially when he thought they were being stupid.
"He'll understand.." she looked up and folded her arms, finally turning towards Mike. "Kids are gone all over the city.. anyone alone, anyone weak. As you can see it wasn't a walk in the park. Little kids can't stand up to that big a bloke.."
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Post by Joe on Aug 12, 2009 1:46:13 GMT -5
Joe's face was impassive. His eyes covered by his hat. He followed Luck with his eyes as they went inside then turned his gaze out over the streets. It was the first time he'd seen her. Dead. The streets were empty and if the Bull knew what was good for him he'd stay well away from Brooklyn for awhile. Otherwise Joe would kill him no questions asked.
"I'll be seein you bastard, real soon." he pushed off the rail and climbed into the window to join the others inside.
"Dobson you can trust." Joe said walking past the two whispering between themselves. He looked at Zeke. "Got that, Thomas Lash." The name signaled that he wanted Zekes attention. It was the name he used when they fought. When Zeke kept getting up again and again regardless of injury to himself, regardless that victory wouldnt come. It meant back down for now, wait and watch.
Joe turned his unreadable eyes to Lucky. "Da question Dobson. What do you suspect bout da kidnappings?" He asked before turning away from her to lean against the far wall and meet the bulls gaze unblinking.
He didnt know who he hated more the bull who had put that look in Luck's eyes or Lucky for looking at him with them. It wasnt Lucky in there right now. No it was Miranda that he saw looking out at him from Lucky's face.
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Post by michael on Aug 12, 2009 20:09:48 GMT -5
Mike looked out the window as the kids spoke quietly behind him but at Joe's question he stiffened, turning around swiftly to face them. "Cut the shit," His words were sharp, though hardly above a whisper. "Don't you get it?" He glanced at the others, his expression pulled in a tense contortion disbelief and fear. "I'm it kids! I'm the only guy looking into this, the only one they gotta OFF to keep things quiet," As if saying it aloud made it more true he turned away and began pacing the room, rubbing the back of his neck in agitation. "Son of a bitch..." Collapsing down onto the old sofa he continued to curse under his breath as he attempted to get his thoughts in order. He was in way over his head with this one.
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Post by Lucky Volpecillia on Aug 12, 2009 20:22:30 GMT -5
Lucky ignored Joe's ramblings thinking he was probably drunk and looked at the cop for a moment before she folded her arms over her stomach. "No one ever cares," she said easily with a slight shrug of her shoulders. Even though almost any motion hurt, the fact that she wasn't afraid had her stepping towards Dobson.
"You need to go, keep your head down. We don't matter but you do and they will kill you. Who ever they are, they've got enough balls to be taking girls off of the street, regardless of if they have families or not and there are some that have families looking for them without any help from the cops. Everyone says it's just a surge of runaways." she frowned and let her shoulders drop a bit. "My old man used to say that knowledge is power, and the people in power want to be the only ones holding the cards. If they find out you're looking into something they don't want you to look into. They're going to come after you.
"If your department is corrupt, you've got to stay low before they decide that your to much of a risk... then again, maybe you can stay low but keep your ears open. If you want to help, look around you at the precinct and think of who really could do this.." she knew a few cops she could imagine doing this. And one of them was in and out so much. "Think about it, someone's got a lot of stake and is making a lot more then a cops salary here.. I mean, human trafficking didn't end after the war you know.."
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Post by michael on Aug 16, 2009 15:10:37 GMT -5
Mike listened intently to the girl's words but kept his eyes on the floor and his head resting in his hands. She appriciated his situation far more than most street kids would comprehend.
We don't matter, taking girls off of the street, stay low...
This was bullshit. It was complete bullshit and he was not going to put up with it. He didn't want to stay low, he didn't want to hide like a coward while children were snatched from their families. Glancing up at the girl he sighed, seeming to have calmed slightly with his new found determination. Sure, he would have to remain quiet at work, but he would not stop investigating. "You kids hear anything," he stood, pulling out his pad and pen and writing a moment. "You let me know first, and don't go running your mouths to other kids, you never know who might be listening..." Handing Lucky the piece of paper he sighed again, glancing out the window. Scribbled across it was his home address. "You come to me first alright? Don't go doin' anything stupid..." Somehow he knew they wouldn't listen.
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Post by Lucky Volpecillia on Aug 16, 2009 15:55:12 GMT -5
She took the paper and lifted her chin, "Be wary of the lions den, Dobson.." She folded her arms and then nodded. He was a good one, and to be honest he wasn't that much older than Dodger or Zeke. But he'd just gone another route. Nodding she pocketed the number.
"I can't be making any promises," she remarked with a shrug. But she would at least help when she thought he needed to know something. She wasn't going to tell him about the other information that had been gathered around the city. He probably should learn to trust the street kids a bit more. But hey, he was offering an olive branch and she was going to snag it. And then she'd go talk to Spot.
"Good luck, Dobson."
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Post by merc on Aug 26, 2009 16:13:28 GMT -5
"Good luck." Mercy didn't hear the name she had said, but she liked to think that she was saying it to her. Mercy thought she needed all the luck she could get.
She still hadn't found a place to sleep, but had began to sell newspapers. Since she kept to herself, noone asked for her name, or why she was there, but once she got those papes, she shouted and had the people of New York at her feet.
The alley next to the Lodging house was her home for now, so she crept towards it, but accidentally bummped into the girl who said "good luck."
With her head down towards the ground she mumbled, "Sorry."
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Post by Lucky Volpecillia on Aug 26, 2009 18:47:14 GMT -5
Sorry!? Lucky was about knocked off her feet but recoiled quickly and hit the girl before she even heard the words Sorry. She was banged up and angry, and sore and she just plowed her fist into the person that bumped into her.
Zeke swore and rolled his eyes, but it was Lucky.
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Post by merc on Aug 27, 2009 15:30:35 GMT -5
Mercy stumbled back wards and glared at the girl. No one had ever punched her out of the blue before, and she immediately had it out for her.
But a brief moment she realized that she must be a Newsie. I mean, who else hangs out in front of the lodging house? Besides herself of course...
A smile errupted on her face, a sly smile. "So I take it that you're a Newsie?" Before letting her respond, Mercy added in, "Listen, I need a place to stay and no one's been able to give me any information. I've been living on the streets for a couple years now, and hey, a bed would be nice."
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