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."How long have you been standing there, Mom?""Long enough, Brandy, long enough," Donna admitted as she walked into the room."You two were sointent that I guess you didn't hear me come in.I've thought for years now that something must havehappened to you and that whatever it was, it had to be pretty ugly.You just wouldn't tell me and I wasn'tsure what to do except wait.Go on, finish your story," she continued, as she sat down and put her armsaround her daughter."Get it out.""I don't know all of it, Mom.I think he slipped me some kind of drug, maybe.I have flashes of memory,sort of pictures in my head." Donna held her daughter tightly as Brandy started shaking."They're awful.He did things, things that make me sick to think of.I couldn't talk about it.What would you havethought of me, if I told you? What would anybody think?"All three women were crying, and talking at once.In Brandy's case, years of poisonous thoughts, self-recriminations, fears of betrayal and discovery poured out.For Justine, it was months, but the feelings ofdegradation weren't limited by the time.Eventually, the emotional storm began to wear down.Gradually, over a space of time, the weeping diminished.Finally, Donna stood and shook herself intosome kind of order."Okay, you two.It's out.You can go on with life and we can make it better.There's not a thing we cando to the man who hurt Brandy, Justine, but there is something that can be done about this Arend person.You need to tell your brother.""Mein Gott, Henning! It is so late, he will be worried.I must go.He does not know where I am.He wasto meet me after the work, and I am not there."The knock on the door startled everyone.Donna was relieved to find Blake Haggerty standing on theporch, along with another young man in an MP uniform.Behind them stood another man who, judgingfrom his looks, could only be Henning Drugen, Justine's brother."Mrs.Bates, do you know where Brandy is? We were passing the research center and found Henninghere going a little crazy trying to find his sister.Mr.Reardon said that Miss Drugen might still be withBrandy.""They're both here, Blake.Gentlemen, come in," Donna answered."There's a bit of a problem, andyou're just the people we need to see."* * *Mary Emerson smiled as Gannon sat down at the dinner table.For a change, all four of her family wouldhave a chance to talk over dinner.The last two years had been incredibly hectic.Between Gannonworking the "B" shift, her own work at the library, young David's birth, and the Ring of Fire, Marysometimes felt like she had lost touch with her family."There's nothing like a dinner with two beautiful women to make a guy happy," Gannon joked."Acouple of gorgeous blondes, a bouncing boy, and a quiet dinner at home seems like heaven to me."Mary and Vicky both grinned at Gannon, pleased to be together.Even the two-year-old David gurgledhappily in his highchair, chanting "Da, Da" sounds and making the usual mess with his food.file:///K|/eMule/Incoming/Flint,%20Eric%20-%20Ring%20.Gazette%20Vol%204%20(.html%20v3.0)/1011250008___1.htm (16 of 27)4-1-2007 2:19:44 - Chapter 1So much has been going on in our lives, Mary thought.The addition of the housekeeper and herdaughter to the household, while relieving her child-care concerns and domestic responsibilities, hadalso added an element of reserve between Mary, Vicky and Gannon.Tonight, with Margrethe and Evaaway, Mary had both the time and the privacy to pay attention to her husband and daughter."Vicky, I swear it seems like you've grown-up all of a sudden.I never noticed that outfit before tonight.It looks really good on you."Vicky blushed, a bit, and breezily answered, "Well, I haven't had it very long.All my old stuff wasgetting kind of short.I wonder if I'm ever going to stop growing up and start growing out."Gannon looked a little embarrassed suddenly.He hastily changed the subject, "All your investmentsmust be going pretty well then.I was kind of surprised when I had to buy a new shirt.Just couldn'tbelieve the cost.""Oh, I'm in pretty good shape, Dad.I can afford a few things.""You know, Gannon," Mary said, "that reminds me about our own savings.That money is just sitting inthe bank, not doing much.Don't you think that we should probably take advantage of having a financialgenius in the house? Vicky, I used to think that you might be a little young for this, but now, with you sogrown up and all, maybe you could recommend some investments for me and Dad."* * *Vicky sat at her desk and thought hard."You've been stupid," she told herself, "You've been stupid,silly, jealous, and acting like a brat." The other girls might have a point.She had been a little extravagantlately
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