trewnacrossthefloor,tippedliquorbottlesoable,thickcurtainsblogthewindow.

SilverRingloungedonaredlip-shapedsofa,fiddlingwithasmalldigitalcamera.Cocrouchedbythebed,armsbraeithersides,staringather.

SilverRingloweredthecamera,"Bro...shelooksunderage."

apped,"Doesn''''''''tmatter.heothers''''''''parentsdaredreportus.Theycareabouttheirdaughters''''''''reputations.Eveniftheydid,theoldmanwouldha.Whatareyouscaredof?"

ReyawatchedSilverRingraisethecamera,lenspoiher.Shetuggedatthegagandwhimpered.

"Takeitout.Thesoundproofinghereisperfeoonewillhearherscream,"Cosaid.

SilverRiated,thenlooseheknot.

"Howoldareyou,littlegirl?"Co''''''''stonedrippedwithsicklysweetness.

Reyastretchedhertongue,slurring,"eeeen."

"Areyoulyingtous?"SilverRingaskedskeptically.

Reyamethisgazewithoutfling."Ineverlie."

Coflickedopenaswitchbde,pressingitnearReya''''''''sface."Beagoodgirl,andbigbrotherswilltreatyouwell.Ifyoumisbehave..."Hestabbedthekoatatteredteddybear."...you''''''''llenduplikethis.Uand?"

Thebearwasalreadyriddledwithholes.Reyadidn''''''''twantthoseinherbody.Shewouldn''''''''tdie,butshe''''''''dfeelthepain,aedpain.

Shenodded.

Copattedherhead,smiling."Goodgirl."

He''''''''sprettierwhenhesmiles,Reyathought.

"What''''''''syourname?"

"ReyaLu."

"Prettyname,"hemused.

"Thankyou."shewhispered.Dadhadtaughtheralwaystobepolite.

Thetwomenexgedamusedgnces.

"Lookslikewepickedupsomeohafewscrewsloose."SilverRingcooed.