*** Your reviews have been AMAZING! I'm so thankful to have readers that encourage, inspire and make me feel like what I'm writing is worthwhile! I hope you continue to enjoy the story! ***

*** Brandi emerges mainly unscathed, but meets with a few more questions before she can escape. ***

Answer me and take your time,
what could be the awful crime he could do at such young an age?
If I'm the only witness to your madness offer me some words to balance out what I see and what I hear.
All these cold and rude things that you do I suppose you do because he belongs to you
and instead of love, the feel of warmth you've given him these cuts and sores that won't heal with time or age.

– What's the Matter Here, 10000 Maniacs

Brandi wandered down the dark hall and into the dimly lit front rooms. The fireplace had been stoked while she was gone and the orange glow of flames triggered a fleeting memory of trash barrels amidst the snow. Peter stood to meet her as she headed into the kitchen. Eyes blurry with tears and fatigue, Brandi focused on the task of getting a drink of water. She just wanted to crawl into Peter's bed and forget this night. Forgetting was easy.

"Hey," he said softly, stroking her shoulder. "You okay?"

She smiled tightly. "Yeah. You know, I was thinking I'd rather head out of town tomorrow instead of Saturday. If that's all right with you. Give us an extra day in Phoenix and…well…just get away."

"Sure. Not a problem. That's the nice thing about being the man upstairs. My calendar can be cleared very quickly," Peter teased.

"Hey, can we go to that one restaurant again? The one near that park with the really neat cactus?" Brandi asked, leaning into Peter and trying to lighten the mood. "I remember that being really nice."

"How's Mary?" Marshall asked from his seat across the room.

Brandi startled and put one hand to her chest. "Geez, Marshall! You just about gave me a stroke. I didn't know you were still here." She was uncomfortable for some reason. "Mary thought you left already."

Marshall had watched Mary's sister try to avoid the situation for a few minutes. She had Mary's knack for sweeping something under the rug so quickly you weren't sure you had actually seen it. The difference being that Brandi truly could forget what she had hidden under there…Mary never did. He decided he wanted a few answers tonight, and he knew Mary would be locked down tight. Brandi was an easier target.

"Seemed prudent to stay this time," he said. "Is she okay?"

Brandi shrugged and sidled closer to Peter. "She's…dealing. She wants the house to herself."

Marshall looked at her for a moment. "You know, I don't know what you talked about in there, but I can say I've rarely seen your sister quite as rattled as she was tonight. It might be best to keep Scott away from here for a little while."

Brandi cleared her throat and glanced at Peter for support. She had already upset Mary; she didn't want to incur Marshall's displeasure also. "Yeah, I know. Look, um, I'm really sorry about that whole argument and stuff. I really didn't know the picture was going to be such a big deal. Mary explained it to me and I'm not going to bring anymore pictures home."

"It's odd," Marshall retorted, "I keep thinking it wasn't the picture itself that upset her as much as it was the year it was taken. Granted, the image would be…unsettling at best, but I suspect something significant happened in 1982. Something that makes that year especially painful to remember?"

Sighing, Brandi bit her lip in thought. "I was six, Marshall. I don't remember much, you know. There are things that Mary won't talk about, even to this day, and I think some of those things happened then." She seemed lost in thought for a minute or two.

"Does anything in particular stick out in your mind?" Marshall asked.

Brandi tucked some hair behind her ear and crinkled her nose. "I know she didn't go to school much after Christmas that year because I had to walk there by myself. She had to repeat some of seventh grade. I remember staying in a lot of different places…being outside a lot. But I can't say for sure if that all happened then."

"What about Robert? That seems important to both of you," Peter asked gently.

Brandi was irritated. The quick escape plan had backfired and now both men were harassing her. She really wanted to get out of the house before her sister emerged.

"God," she huffed. "What is this? The Inquisition? Can we just go?" She looked at Peter pleadingly.

Peter stared over Brandi's head to meet Marshall's eye. The tall man urged him on gently with a slight nod. Get the story.

Rubbing Brandi's arms, Peter lowered his voice and caught her eye. "You were really upset. I want to be able to help and I care about you."

She sighed after a moment and then spoke quietly, "I just remember parts. Pieces, really. He was big and loud, and he hit. Mostly Mom. They fought all the time." She paused with brow furrowed in thought. "Mary would yell at them both. She would hide me in the closet, or under the bed. Sometimes she'd hide with me."

"Did he hit her too?" Marshall asked.

"I can't say for sure. Probably?" Brandi grimaced, "It all came to a head one night. I remember a lot of yelling, then things crashing and breaking. Robert pushed me down and Mary jumped on him. There was so much yelling." Brandi rubbed her forehead, narrative interrupted as she tried to gather memories. Peter stroked her arm. "Then Mary was grabbing me and pulling me down the hall. Robert was coming. She pushed me into the closet and tried to crawl in after me. He caught her and dragged her out. She yelled at me to stay. It gets really crazy in my head after that," she trailed off, pain on her face.

"You don't have to talk about if it's too upsetting," Peter said, shooting Marshall a warning look.

Brandi shook her head. "It's okay. I just wish I could remember more." She sucked air through her teeth and squinted. "I was crying and Mary was screaming…and screaming. Then she stopped and Mom started yelling at Robert and there was just a lot of noise. It was horrible. I remember thinking something really bad was happening but I couldn't move. The next thing I remember was the closet opening and Mom bringing me out. I guess the cops had come and took Robert away."

There was no ending scenario in Marshall's mind that didn't cramp his gut. "What happened to Mary?"

Brandi shrugged. "I don't know. I don't remember seeing her after Mom took me out of the closet. I asked her just now, but she avoided the question." Turning to Peter, she took a deep breath. "Can we please go?"

Peter helped her gather her things, gently coaxing her out of the house as he tossed back a quick goodbye. Marshall watched them walk out the door and leaned back to listen to the crackle of the fire. He noted that his hand shook as he reached for his drink.

*** That doesn't sound good for Mary. Protecting her sister again and again. And Marshall's left to his own dark thoughts. As always, your REVIEWS are my reward! ***