"I'm glad that you do," Lindsay answered, but didn't move to leave. Instead, she just stood there awkwardly, not wanting to go with Ginny angry, but at the same time unwilling to explain herself.

Ginny remained silent as well. She had, she knew, no claim on Lindsay's time. Still, she didn't appreciate being passed to Christian like a troublesome puppy who needed to be watched while Lindsay was out of the room. Her eyes took on an inner fire that screamed, 'I'm a grown woman who can take care of herself, Lindsay! Deal with it.'

Lindsay looked away.

The tension between the young women grew until Christian couldn't take it anymore. He gallantly jumped to the rescue. "I'd be most honored if Ginny would stay for the afternoon and join me for lunch. She can meet with the children afterwards, and I would be most pleased to fill her in on how the adoption process on these orphan trains works. If that's acceptable, that is." He looked questioningly at Lindsay, not because he sought her approval over Ginny's, but because she was closer. A split second later, when his gaze swung to Ginny, he realized his grave error. Ginny's eyes shot him so full of daggers the man was honestly surprised he wasn't bleeding.

Lindsay smiled gratefully at Christian."I'll be back before dark."She slipped her arms into her coat, pretending to be too occupied in her task to notice the angry flush of Ginny's cheeks."Then we can find a place to stay for the night."

"Please," Christian insisted, "I don't have a proper bedroom to offer you tonight, but you can bunk down in my office or here in the parlor. We can put blankets on the floor and-"

"Thank you, Christian," Lindsay accepted quickly, not giving Ginny a chance to say differently.

Ginny's back went ramrod straight in reaction.

Lindsay fastened her top button."We'll take whatever room you have."

Wordlessly, her face a mixture of anger and confusion, Ginny stomped out of the room, slamming the door on her way out.

Lindsay and Christian both jumped at the sound, and the pictures on the walls rattled helplessly."Oh, boy," Lindsay muttered, rubbing her forehead with the fingertips of one hand.

Christian let out a low whistle."She's got quite a temper, doesn't she?"

"Whatever gave you that idea?" Lindsay answered wryly.

The man stuck his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels."You will be careful, won't you?"

"I... well-"

Christian snorted to himself."Just be careful. I suspect whatever it is you're going to do is something I wouldn't really want to know about anyway, correct?"

"Probably," Lindsay admitted, a little surprised. Maybe the man was more savvy than she'd given him credit for."Frankly, I can't believe I'm doing it myself."

It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her that maybe she should just stay here then, but he didn't. Ginny was already madder than a wet cat, and by any estimation, one angry woman was more than enough to deal with. "If she doesn't punch me in the nose for my efforts, I'll try to keep Ginny busy this afternoon so she doesn't spend it watching the clock."And stewing about being separated from you.

Lindsay's mouth curled into a grateful, lop-sided grin. Sometimes, she admitted, you find allies in the strangest places. Now, String Bean, you get your ass back here this afternoon in one piece so that you can explain things to Ginny yourself. She extended her hand to Christian."I owe you one."

"Nonsense," the man scoffed good-naturedly, giving her hand a firm shake. "One can never have too many friends. And helping my friends is always my pleasure. If you'll excuse me now, I have another friend to attend to, who I fear is not very happy with me at the moment."

"You and me both, buddy," she mumbled unhappily, as she stepped out into the hall.

Across the street and down a few buildings from the orphanage, Delano restlessly paced the sidewalk, trying his best to stay warm. His alert eyes never left the Society for the Betterment of Children's doorway as he waited for his quarry to emerge.

The last of the afternoon sun was just beginning to disappear when Lindsay carefully approached the alleyway. Even if she left now she wouldn't make it back to the orphanage until well after she'd told Ginny to expect her. This was her last stop and if she didn't find them here, she'd be forced to admit that she simply couldn't find them at all. At least today. She'd hitched a ride on several trains as she searched, and her ribs and fingers ached from jumping in and out of boxcars that usually posed no problem at all.

The temperature had risen to a few degrees above freezing and the afternoon sun had begun to melt the heavy layers of ice that blanketed nearly every surface. Long icicles that hung from the buildings' gutters and roofs shone blue in the shifting light, their constant dripping making it sound as though the city was being drenched in steady rain. Shallow puddles of smelly water had formed on the sidewalks and streets, and Lindsay waded through them gingerly, knowing that sometimes ice still lay hidden beneath. The last thing she wanted was to jar herself with an unexpected fall.

Then she heard them and her mouth shaped into a feral grin.

"Shut up, Wop. I said two bits. The bet was two bits," Jacque barked.

"Fine. Fine," Albert conceded ungraciously, throwing his coins on the ground with a petulant hand.

Jean laughed.

The alley was lined with crates, strewn with stinking garbage and empty metal drums that had rusted beyond use. Lindsay hid behind one as she watched the men shoot craps.

"Dammit. Snake eyes," Jacque hissed, kicking his coins closer to Albert. "Pick 'em up, fat fuck."

A fourth man stood behind Albert, his hands in his pockets, apparently a bystander rather than a player in the game. Lindsay's eyes narrowed. He looked familiar. But then, so did a couple dozen rail-riders she'd run into over the last decade. No matter, she told herself. I've come this far. Nothing is going to stop me, including him.

And then she waited.

It was full dark, the moon and streetlamps providing the only illumination, before the game began to break up.

"That was a seven. I saw it! Look."Jean reached down and picked up the dice. He held them up for Jacque and Albert's examination.

His cousin shoved him hard, causing him to drop the dice."Bullshit. You cheated and turned the dice when you picked them up. Don't cheat me, Jean."

"Whatever," Albert groaned tiredly."It's too dark to play. I want something to eat."He scooped up his change and began to exit the alley in Lindsay's direction. The man who'd only been watching moved ahead of a lumbering Albert, his step light in comparison. They both walked right past Lindsay, oblivious to her hidden presence.

She let them get a few paces in front of her, then followed behind them quietly, picking up a large, heavy icicle that lay half submerged in a puddle as she moved.

The cold stung her palm and her grip slipped a little as her fingers tightened around the icicle. Just before Albert made it to the mouth of the alley, she took several large strides, until she was right behind him. Her upper lip curled into a snarl as she raised the icicle high above her head, bringing it down against his skull in a blow so vicious the ice shattered into dozens of small pieces.

Albert dropped like a sack of potatoes, his body thumping to the ground with barely a sound.

The other man walked on a few more paces before he realized that he was alone. He turned around and blinked in surprise at what he saw. He peered uncertainly through the shadows at Lindsay, deciding whether or not to bolt. She was crouched over Albert and her cap was pulled down tightly over her head, leaving her face a mystery.

Lindsay's breath was coming in short pants, and with trembling hands she rolled Albert's hefty form over onto his back."Go away," she hissed at the other man, sensing his continued presence but not bothering to look up as she rifled through Albert's pockets."He owes me money and I'm collecting it. That's all. This is none of your business."

The man stood frozen and Lindsay tilted her head upward, her eyes appearing an eerie black in the moonlight as she gazed up from beneath the brim of her hat. "Are you deaf?"

The man lifted his palms in surrender and shrugged. He didn't want any trouble."Nope. Not deaf. And it's not like I'm pals with that useless carcass Rat Face." He spared a look Albert. "I was just bored today so I tagged along for some action." The man grinned, but the lamplight was at his back and his smile was lost on Lindsay. "I don't have any money. I lost it all in the first five minutes to those crooked Frenchmen."

"I don't want your money. I told you, I'm not stealing from Rat Face, I'm only taking back what's mine." What's coming to me. Lindsay's eyes narrowed. The man's voice sounded vaguely familiar, but not enough to place it. "Then I guess you didn't see a thing, right?"

"Not a blessed thing," he agreed softly, before nodding and exiting the alley. He disappeared around the corner.

Lindsay breathed a shaky sigh of relief. She checked Albert's pulse, not sure whether or not she was truly glad to find one."Bastard."He had nearly two dollars in change and she took it all before she dragged his body over to the wall and propped it up against one of the cool metal drums. God, you weigh a ton! One down. Two idiots to go.

Jean and Jacque were still arguing over their last bet when Lindsay crept deeper into the alley, hiding behind the same metal drum she'd used only moments before. She searched for another handy weapon, but there was none to be found. Her pocketknife was small and she doubted it would do much damage, considering the thick coats the men were wearing. But it was all she had, and so she carefully extracted it from her trouser pocket and opened the razor sharp, 3-inch blade. The thought of actually stabbing the men made her sick. I won't let things get to that point, she promised herself, all the while knowing how easily things could spin out of control. She was playing with fire, but she was willing to get burned if she had to.

Now what? This is what you came for. Think. Albert, she had known, wouldn't pose much of a problem. Lindsay had bested him before. Jean and Jacque, however, were another story. She was grateful it was only craps they were playing, and she shivered, remembering the dog's nasty breath against her face as he tore into her with deadly intent.

Deciding that her best chance of success was a sneak attack, she waited impatiently for the cousins to move in her direction.

Jean said something in French and Jacque laughed, then lewdly adjusted his crotch. Jean cursed at his cousin in English, then spat at him to boot. Jacque dodged the glob of spittle, his laughter increasing.

Lindsay made a face, glad she couldn't understand most of what they were saying.

When Jacque drew even with Lindsay's barrel, she sprang to her feet, her hand darting out and tangling itself in his greasy black hair. Jacque's hat fell off and he screamed as he was yanked to his knees, ice water splashing on him and Lindsay as he crashed to the ground. She moved in behind him, dropping to one knee and tightening her grip on his hair. She pressed the blade of her knife under his chin with enough force to draw a thin line of blood.

"Hello, boys," she said in low voice."Bet you're surprised to see me."

"Who?" Jacque choked out, his eyes bulging with fear."See who?"

Jean wrinkled his nose."It's that girl. The one the dog killed."

"Do I look dead, moron?" Lindsay snapped.

Jacque swallowed carefully, feeling a trickle of hot blood trail down his neck. "String Bean, right?" He licked his lips."That... well, that was a just a little joke. Isn't that right, Jean?"

"Oh yeah. A joke," the other man dutifully answered, taking a large step backwards.

"Uh huh," Lindsay chastised, pressing the blade deeper into Jacque's skin, ignoring his high-pitched scream."I guess you've noticed by now that I'm not laughing. It's payback time."

Jean shook his had sadly."Adieu, Cousin."

Lindsay rolled her eyes. "Not that sort of payback."She gave Jacque's head a firm tug for emphasis."Not unless you make me."

Jacque's heart resumed beating.

"Empty your pockets," Lindsay instructed Jean, jerking her chin in his direction."I figure that since you made money while you watched me get mauled by that evil dog, it's only fair that I get in on the action. After all, it was my blood."

Jean chewed at his scraggily, newly grown mustache. In his pocket was a shiny $10 gold coin. Even Jacque didn't know about that. And there was no way in hell he was going to surrender it to some girl."No," he said finally, thinking of how bossy his cousin had been lately."Go ahead and kill him."

"Bastard!" Jacque wailed, causing the knife to nick him again.

Lindsay jerked his head back and repositioned the blade lower against his thick, sweat-slicked neck, not wanting to accidentally slit his throat."I said, I'll kill him! I'm not bluffing, Jean," she warned, all the while inwardly cursing her rotten luck.

Jean shrugged again.

Jacque began to cry."My mother is your mother's sister and your Godmother, and this is how you treat me? Your own blood?"

Broken sobs filled the alley, mingling with the endless plinking sounds of water droplets striking metal drums.

Jean's eyes softened."No more bossing me, Jacque?" he asked warily, his hand sliding into his coat pocket.

"No more," Jacque sobbed."I swear to the Holy Mother. No more."

Jean nodded and removed a pistol from his coat pocket. He drew in a deep breath and pointed it straight at Lindsay and Jacque.

"Oh shit," Jacque and Lindsay breathed in unison, shocked.

"You had a gun?"Jacque questioned, suddenly indignant."And you were still going to let her kill me?"

Lindsay didn't loosen her grip on her captive, instead, she ducked down a little behind Jacque's bulky body, using him as a shield.

Jean told Jacque bluntly, "You shouldn't pick on me so much, Jacque." His gaze swung round to Lindsay." Now, bitch, let him go before I shoot you."

"No," came the immediate response."I'll slit his throat before you can shoot me."

Jean considered that."I don't think so."He re-aimed the gun.

Jacque wet his pants."No! No!" He screamed, heedless of the blade."You'll miss and shoot me, you-"

BANG!.

"Arghhhhh!"Jacque crumbled to the ground, howling and grabbing at his thigh."Dieu! You son of a whore!"

The knife was torn from Lindsay's grasp by the force of Jacque's movement, and she hit the dirt the same time he did. It took her a few seconds to realize that she wasn't dead and that Jacque's prediction had proved true.

"You shot me! I can't believe it."Jacque's chin was bleeding from where the knife had sliced him when he fell, and dark blood was pouring from his thigh, blending with the icy water of the puddle he was lying in."Jesus Christ!"

Jean stood paralyzed, staring with an open mouth at his writhing cousin."Uh oh. That was an accident, Jacque."

Lindsay pushed herself to her feet and hurled herself at Jean. Her shoes left the ground as she tackled him, sending the gun scattering across the ground.

"Ugh." Jean barely avoided a wild punch. "Bitch, I'm gonna kill-"

She managed a single blow to his mouth, feeling his front teeth give way under her fist, the skin covering her knuckles splitting, a jagged flap of skin exposing the bone. They separated, both managing to stagger to their feet. He stumbled towards the gun and she jumped on him again, ramming her knee into his ribs and crying out herself when he grabbed her hand and twisted her barely healed fingers out of shape. They fell to the ground in a tangled heap, rolling several times and drenching themselves in frigid, dirty water that had chunks of fish carcasses from the fishmonger next door floating in it. They cursed and grunted as they scratched and fought, exchanging blows to the face and chest.

Lindsay managed to grasp the gun first. She turned it on Jean and fired without looking, sending the bullet zinging into the alley wall behind him. He scrambled to his feet and backed away.

"Take it easy, eh, String Bean."He sounded funny with no front teeth.

Jacque moaned, not so caught up in his own agony that he couldn't laugh at his cousin. "Kill him, you chickenshit, bitch. Shoot him for me," he roared.

"No hard feelings, okay?" Jean tried again.

"Yes, hard feelings, you asshole," Lindsay muttered darkly."You're just lucky there's nothing here for me to feed you to. Because I would."Her lip and nose were both bleeding sluggishly and she cradled her damaged hand against her chest. The pain was making her nauseous and she was starting to shake. She waved the gun recklessly at Jean, whose lip was split all the way to his nose. She needed this to be over quickly, before she passed out. Every breath hurt and she could feel her ribs grinding against each other whenever she moved. "Empty Jacque's pockets. Now! Or I'll shoot you and do it myself."

"Here," Jacque said, holding out a handful of coins and two tattered bills to Jean. "Give it to the bitch."

Jean hesitated again.

"Hurry up! I'm dying here."But the bleeding from Jacque's leg was starting to slow. The bullet had passed through the meaty portion of his thigh but missed his femoral artery."For God's sake, asshole, you can't spend the money if you're dead."

Begrudgingly, Jean took the money and turned to face Lindsay.

"Set it down."She motioned to the ground in front of her."And keep the cash out of the water."Lindsay shook her a head a little, trying to clear away a shock of dark wet hair that was stuck to her cheek.

Jean did as she asked and took a step backwards again.

"Not so fast. Now yours," she instructed, her finger tightening on the trigger. This was the first time she'd ever held a gun. It was heavier than she expected and the blast from both shots was still ringing in her ears.

Jean's eyes narrowed, but he did as she asked, pulling out a small handful of pennies and nickels.