Making this work of art was part of Lori's journey into quitting seeingLuke as her nemesis and as her ally. The painting was a peace offeringfrom her....The gift was a physical manifestation of the Treaty of theCove, the ending of the War of the Twins. This gesture was the beginningtoward the normalization of the relationship between her and her brother.Another factor in the importance of this painting to Lori was hernewfound friendship with Shy. They might have only spent an afternoontogether,. She had been told stories of the elusive Darryl and the women who would worship him while he and his friends systematically used and abused them. Once finished with them, they would be discarded, the lucky ones were dumped back on their husband’s doorstep after several months. The not-so-lucky ones were passed between Darryl’s friends or pimped out, many of them numbed the pain with drugs. Bea hadn’t spoken to her mother for over a year, but Rosie had heard through Melissa that Bea was living. “It’s not enchanted,” Ellerie said. “It looks expensive, though.”“If the gems are real, yes,” he said, slipping the necklace into his coat pocket.It pained Ellerie to see another piece of art removed from the city, but she didn’t say anything. If she wanted to convince Varsin and the other investors to agree to her plan, they would first need to make a solid profit on the expedition.Marco reached for the bejeweled sword, but Corec stopped him.“You’re going to need your hands free for real. We get through the check point without incident and have to drive another half mile to get the the inner city. We'll stop at a bar first, probably Clyde's, that's the same one we always go to. We'll get a few drinks then get on with our business in the city; finding some tools and mechanical supplies, probably some food and water too.We leave the jeep outside Clyde's, normally anyone wouldn't do something like this, a car is bound to get stolen in ths place. Though they know I drive it....