I grabbed a few more beers from the fridge in the hanger as I walked into the office. Turning on the lights, I realized that everything was a mess. Dad either left in a hurry or somebody already went through it. Knowing about the security we have I knew it had to be because he was in a hurry. I turned on the computer and started to sort the papers on the desk. Maybe there are answers in this disaster, somewhere. I see some boxes on the shelves above my head. Pulling the chair farther out I climb on the desk and try to grasp the huge boxes.

"Can I help?" Ranger says from the door.

"The only reason I'm asking is because I don't want to get fired for you breaking your neck." He walks over to the desk and offers his hand.

"You know what help would be great, and after you get those boxes down a have a few other ways you can help me."

I climb down off the over sized desk as he takes my place pulling all 4 boxes down.

"Thanks for your help but you can go back in the main house and go to bed."

"Stephanie I thought you needed help with something else." He says as he makes his way to stand in front of me.

"I can't find the password for the computer. Think you could help me?" Taking another step towards me he replies,

"on one condition, you tell me about South America."

I hold my finger up gesturing one second as I leave the office and head back to the fridge to retrieve a few more beers. When I return Ranger looks up from in front of the computer.

"Haven't you had enough already?" Pointing to the empties on the center table. I hold them up.

"These Sir, are to get me through this story." I open one and hand it to him as I open one for myself and sit down on the corner of the desk.

"Are you sure this information is going to be important?"

"The story was part of this deal, so get started."

Leaning back in the chair imploring me to start. I start to feel sick again as I prepare for the flashbacks. " It was the summer after my 15th birthday and my parents and I went to Brazil to spend the summer."

I take a pull of my beer and set it on the desk. "We had only been there for a week. My mother and I decided we wanted to go shopping, so we left my father at the hotel and we walked to the shopping area."

I slid off the desk and started to pace. Ranger sits up in his chair. "I think we had only gotten a few blocks, well that's what the police said based on where they found my mom's jacket."

Starting to pace faster I continue. "A group of men surrounded us. I screamed and we both tried to fight back but it wasn't any use. I don't remember getting to the place they kept us."

Ranger stood up and stopped me, "if you want you can finish this story another time. I didn't know how painful it was."

"It isn't painful," I responded. "I have learned to compartmentalize my life quite well, and thank you but I might as well finish."

"Will you at least sit down?" I sat down in the chair and continued.

" When we got to this place they separated us, tied me up, beat me and tried to rape me. For what seemed to be forever to me. Then I woke up in a hospital with my father standing over me." I turned away from his chocolate gaze, I didn't want pity or sorrow.

" I went back to the states the next day my father returned a few days later with my mother's body. She was shot and left in a ditch not far from where we were taken."

I stood up and lifted my shirt to reveal scars going across my abdomen from where I had been beaten and restrained with chains.

"They say I have these scars because I tried to fight and resist. The scars are my reminder of the last time I saw my mother alive. A few years later my dad married Val's mom."

Ranger motioned to the chair and I pulled my shirt back down before sitting. "Look under the keyboard." Flipping the keyboard over I discovered a key taped to the back and used it to unlock the drawer. There on a piece of paper was the computer password.

"Stephanie, I think maybe we should continue sorting out this room in the morning."

I nodded in agreement, we walked out of the office and into the house towards the bedrooms. We said good night and went down opposite ends of the hallway. Laying in bed I played back today's events. Trying to sort them out. Then there was a knock on the door.

"Come in". I sat up as Ranger stalked in, "Is everything okay with your room?" I asked.

"Everything is fine. I just wanted to tell you I'm sorry about what happened to you and about your mom."

"Thank you."

"One more question." Stepping closer to the bed,

Nodding my head to encourage him to continue.

"How come your sister wasn't sad her mom was killed?"

Laughing, I watched his head tilt in confusion.

"Helen ran away with Joe's aunt a few years back, it was a big scandal. I wasn't really sad about it she couldn't stand me."

Nodding his understanding. He walked back out of the room and I eventually drifted off to sleep.