I try to glimpse under the table, but the heavy white starched tablecloths obscure everything from view. As I feel hands encircling my ankles, I nea...rly give a cry of alarm. A muffled sound emanates from my lips and my neighbours look at me in concern. My hands flutter to my chest and I give a delicate cough. The moment passes and the feast is the focus of attention once more. The hands under the table continue working their way up my legs, stroking the sensitive area behind my knees. I. The men were dressed in thick, winter camouflage and were itching to add a silver notch to their belts. "The head honcho is doubling the reward for this little bitch. $200,000 for her and $50,000 for the boy in gold. That'll buy one of you assholes a nice weekend in Vegas." The men chuckled.The group assembled before him represented the cream of Max's army. Most had military or law enforcement training and at least five kills apiece to their name. While his numbers were rapidly dwindling, Max. Under his influence, though, I completed my school studies, earning several diverse Master's Degrees, in my favorite subjects, although I could have added on several more if I had put in a little more effort.Al had a hard enough time getting me to sit still long enough to do as much as he did get me to accomplish. I suppose this is the time I earned the reputation of a wastrel, party animal, playboy, which followed me throughout my adult life, but can you really expect a fifteen year old boy to. She did remember the mural and all its details. How could she forget, she thought, the way Max had described it and the language he had used in doing so? The racks holding the long poles and whips were locked. Undoubtedly, to prevent her from fishing for the envelope with them. Not that it mattered, the door was locked and she had no clothes. What would she do if she was able to get them down anyway?In one corner was a large bookcase that attracted her attention. It must have held at least two.