"You cannot hide from your past, my cowardly son" the old man had said. "It will come afteryou." But the voters had never questioned Roger's roots, no... had his father's business associates?but now his past was coming after him, in the form of this friendly, grinning Aryan waving the thick wooden Thudder. Hans came close to Roger,smiling even more. "Now you will bend over the sofa." Hans gestured to the armrest of Roger's couch. Roger's stomach somersaulted. "Look here, Hans. What would it be. I put them in a corner of our hotel room office. I went back to the limo for my briefcase and laptop, said a final "Thanks, and goodbye," to the driver. I gave him an envelope with a note and parting check. My work was done here.Suitcoat and tie went in the drycleaning hamper, replaced by cardigan and loafers. I went to the formal dining room, fixed a Dewar's on ice, then reviewed the materials spread on the table. I had two presentations prepared: a chartered train trip linking Canada's scenic. “I beg you, dear colonel Duckett, allow me one week, Castle D’Airing has for too long been a man’s house, and though my father and my brothers no longer reside here, their shadow is long over the house, and it is still no fit place for a child of gentle nature. “Allow me a week to put the house to rights and gladly Amber can come and live here.” It was almost what Duckett wanted to hear, though the delay bothered him, he’d have to find suitable accommodation for the girl till then. Once more. Let me get some food. We still got that left overRavioli?" he asked. He made his way to the kitchen, before receiving ananswer.An hour later, Greg knocked on the door of his friends house. Leo openedup the door. "Hey, dude! What it is, bro?" they exchanged a quick seriesof hand shakes before proceeding inside. Leo was from California,initially. He was the same age as Greg, about 17, and he always talkedabout how he loved to surf. How he ended up here, up in Northern Arkansaswas a mystery to.