AN: I need to stop writing today geez

Katherine was growing weary of storming into her father's office, especially when it never seemed to do much good. But she couldn't just sit back and do nothing while she waited for Davey to come to the Lodging House and watch the newsies try to work out. Especially since her father could easily fix this problem. Whether or not he would, however, was a whole different story.

"Katherine, I am sorry, but my hands are tied."

"That's a lie, and you know it."

"I assure you, I have nothing against Mr. Kelly," Katherine scoffed, and her father glared at her, "but I cannot change the fact that he is an escaped convict and must serve his time."

"Do you have any idea how bad it is in there? Father, it's worse than prison!"

"I highly doubt that."

"That man, Mr. Snyder, he beats those boys! He beats them, he doesn't feed them, the conditions are awful - "

"Katherine, dear, I'm sure if that was true, we certainly would have heard about it by now."

"Have you ever met a reporter who would be willing to expose a government facility like that?"

"I have."

She raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

"You."

Katherine faltered. "I... excuse me."

"You would be willing to do it."

"Yes, I am - "

"So, write it."

Katherine wanted to kick herself. How had she not thought of that before? Not only did this have the potential to be her big break, but she could get Jack, and all of the other kids out of there.

"Really?"

Pulitzer nodded. "I would suggest asking your editor first, but yes. That is what I would suggest."

She watched him carefully. "You have the power to just shut that whole place down, you know."

"Yes, but what would you learn from that."

Katherine laughed. "No offense, Father, but it's too late to start trying to teach me life lessons. Now, I'm going to head over to The Sun. Have a good night."

"You too, Katherine."

That was the most pleasant encounter she'd had with her father in months, and Katherine smiled to herself as she left the building.

oOo

"Absolutely not."

Katherine was now at The Sun, staring at the firm face of her editor, who was declining her request to write an exposé on The Refuge. "And why not?"

"Because you can't give me one good reason as to why I should let you!"

"Those boys are being hurt!"

"I said a good reason. A logical reason that helps me sell more papers, so that I can make more money, so that you can get paid!"

"That shouldn't be your reason for publishing something!"

Her editor gave her a look. "That should precisely be my reason. I am running a business here, and you are asking me to allow you, a female reporter, to write a hard-hitting article about a government institution that is helping to keep our streets free of criminals, and is being run by a man who most likely has connections in high places. The only way an article like that could affect me would be negatively. I won't risk it."

"Those 'criminals' only did what they did because they had no choice!"

"Everyone has a choice, Miss Plumber. I've never stolen a thing in my life, and I seriously doubt that you have."

"Because you and I grew up in expensive mansions and were given everything we could ever need! Those boys have nothing."

"That may be so, but that should not be a deciding factor in whether or not I want to purposefully run this newspaper into the ground. And I do not."

Katherine glared at him. "This is far bigger than just this newspaper, and you are a fool if you can't see that."

"Miss Plumber, you are about ten seconds away from losing your job. I suggest you get out of my office before those ten seconds run out."

The two of them glared at each other for a moment before Katherine let out a cry of frustration before storming out, slamming the door behind her.