" It could be just co-incidence. Lots of children matching this criterion go missing every week up and down the country." That's true but if you plot ...t statistically, there's a demonstrable trend starting three years ago that is not mirrored in other areas of the country." Surely that could just be reflecting the demography of the area. The wealth distribution is concentrated in London and the surrounding counties so you'd expect..." That's been adjusted for. We've always had a slightly higher. The heavy arrows curved downward quickly, most not reaching the enemy boats. One struck the hull that Ellerie had damaged, but the flame went out before it hit. Another skittered across the deck of a ship. A pirate grabbed it and tossed it overboard before it could set anything alight.The catapults had better luck. A load of iron balls pounded a hole into the hull of the third ship, and one of the ceramic containers shattered across the deck of the second, spreading burning pitch.The men. I'm here 'cause I want to help those less well off than me. Also, my school has a community service requirement to graduate..." He didn't pay as much attention to her actual words, listening more to the sound of her voice quivering with the nervousness that comes from addressing a group of two dozen strangers, but it charmed him with its cuteness. She was such a sweet little thing.He himself had told his particulars to the group a few minutes before; his name was Mark, he was thirty-nine years. Side by side, Brooke and Katie led the way into the living room wherenearly a dozen of their relatives sipped drinks and snacked on hors-d'?uvres brought by various guests.Brooke totally ignored the silence and the stares that greeted them asthey entered the living room. Instead she walked right up to two of herage contemporaries, Erica Metz and Allison Cirillo, and greeted them withhugs.As Katie stepped up to complete the ritual, Brooke proclaimed, "La Dolcewas great! You guys should have.