mayday

Peter is right. There is no need to change the narrative perspective or narrator or whatever you call it. I really like your story, the depth of feeling, the slowly growing closeness of Jim and Jon. Thank you for sharing!

I would like to see Pasha's story told, too. And Micah's and Arturo's view of what is happening to them, also...

I have hopes for Hank, but not for John R...

Combining all the threads into a happy ending is never easy, but this chapter shows us how it can be done. There are a lot of threads still to follow, but perhaps in a different story with a different perspective. We'll see. I am looking forward to the epilogue, though this chapter seemed to be one from the start....

Another great chapter. Again full of action. I love the gruesome contrast of the Daniel at work and the ghastly scene of the Kings' conversation. I wonder how Roger will find the carers he needs for that many boys. Whom can he trust?

I am sure Terry will cooperate. but I am guessing there is more than one mole in the FBI or in the other federal agency, Marshals, Whitsec or whatever. Arturo may flag the other one, and then he might not. It did me good to read that it was Arturo's pain which spurred Ben into action. The recording device is now on the table in sight of the Kings during their future meeting. but they won't recognize it. What a joke that they will be confronted not only blatantly with the King's brutality and cruelty but also with something they are sure to disregard as they all share the one fault with the Jack of Spades: they believe themselves untouchable and better than anybody else. That is my guess. What empath has in mind, we'll see next weekend, I hope. Now we know how important for a great number of boys it will be that Roger has accepted Dominic's grandsons as his sons. It will ensure the Mafia's cooperation in Vegas and ultimately facilitate the freeing of the Queen's 'merchandise'. I am not looking forward to the showdown between Orlando & Rocky versus Queenie and the Jack, but I do hope that re-enforcements for the good guys are on their way. So much has been going on as shown in this chapter, but a lot more has been going on behind the scenes. And that is making me wait for the next chapter not easy, empath, dear writer! As for Daniel and Juan - my heart aches for them. What a hard path which lies before them... And as for the boy under the desk - I hope his "owner" will rot in hell as soon as possible. Slowly, preferably. And the boy will learn to be a kid again in Liberty Academy with his peers. i can only hope.

I have to read your chapters several times to get all the tiny details in. Great that Roger can listen to the tape but it was painful to read how his first night on the streets of Manhattan was spent - beaten up, homeless, dressed in a ripped dress, raped by that monster. How right Roger was to throw that tape and recorder away. Unbelievable, but even Eddie has one redeeming quality: He recognizes that he has destroyed Roger and tries to undo the damage. Otherwise he would have sold him... like so many others he had "hunted". Lust driven monster. Roger now knows what love is. Thomas has been good to him. Just as Melissa saw in the beginning. I love the positivity in this chapter. The successes. The promises for the future. How right it is that Qian is aiming at adopting Micah and Arturo. I wonder if Dom de Luca will be needed to get signatures... And love all around...

I can't remember how many times I have read each of these chapters. None of them left me cold. I still remember my feelings on reading the first and the second. Little did I imagine where they would lead us to... I hesitate to say eventually, because there is no knowing that... I am not sure what struck me most, "Arturo’s eyes grew heavy, the sounds of other boy’s night terrors comforting to him." or Arturo not daring to take a drink from a bottle meant for him in the El Paso FBI headquarter or the moment Micah comforted his new-found brother somewhere in a windy airport... I am glad both Arturo and Micah now both have a chance of recovering their own lives and identities simply by being together. The ending of this chapter tells me what Arturo is hoping to learn. We all feel with him.

Sorry, I mixed up Sand Diego with El Paso.

Arturo now has a chance of surviving his horrific abuse. And he will be helpful in unmasking the Clubs. Funny. At first I thought of clubs as where people meet. Only on reading the chapter a second time I realized that it also is the name of a suit of cards. What a coincidence that Ben Fisher runs across Micah's elder brother! Daniel's idea is bearing fruit already. And Roger will soon have to prepare for another boy. Three suits have been located, the Spades in Chicago, the Diamonds in LA and the Clubs in San Diego. I bet the the Hearts are in NYC. If that should be true, it will be Santino who finds that link. Oliver's parents are learning a lot about themselves and are a power couple, too, in their own way. Their changed attitude seems to be perfect for the roles they want to play in the boys' lives, teaching them the best they can.

Intentionally, I have skipped the former comments. I know I am hours too late, almost a day... Gory beginning. Too realistic to comment upon. The following scenes are soothing. Even the Mafia and FBI ones. The latter at least have us hope that rings in LA and in NY will be doomed and boys and girls (!) be freed. I do admire you, empath, for planning your story line out perfectly before publishing. I am so impressed. But I cannot help feeling with those actually concerned: Sandra, the boys (of course), Thomas and his boyfriend and Roger, Melissa and her boys.,,.. Peter realizing what he has lost is one item. Just one.

Victor is aptly named at the moment, what a controlling, jealous guy! But that is going to change, he won't get out of this victorious, I guess. I get the feeling Jonah is going to learn a lot about his uncle's family and the estrangement between his father and his uncle. Could be simply for religious reasons and Jonah's parents' attitude towards people who are different, at least when I remember the first chapter. Whereas his uncle's family seems very open-minded and liberal.

Oh yes, she would qualify. And her mindset is the right one for it: dividing people up into her peers and those beneath her, of lower races - like poor people, immigrants, colored people... maybe even little children Just rereading this chapter. I have overlooked quite a few details, e.g. that the Jack will be trying to find Lips and Deuce in order to kill them. Poetic.

So many details - the clerical collar of the guy holding the boys captive in Vegas, another brother looking out for his younger one, greedy, lusty eyes only bent on satisfying their needs regardless of the children they inflict it on, Juan and Daniel literally running into each other... Yes, I guess that the White's family life will dramatically change as their community at home has lost all meaning to them and their home has been devoid of real pleasure and happiness since Oliver had been kidnapped. Travis and Jennifer will find new roles and a new way of giving and receiving happiness. I loved the way Major Tony expressed his admiration of Oliver to his parents, the fact that Roland tried to free his brother at all cost, and that the two Mafiosi took their job seriously and freed the boys. The Jack is misjudging in his fury and lust, just like Deuce is when he misses being followed. Interesting that all these men, from Charles Miller, Lips to the Jack, have one thing in common, namely that they think that they cannot be wrong. Seems like he will start a gang war. What else will there be in store for us? What a story! I was not sure before that Rebecca's mind could not get any uglier and more selfish to me - I was wrong. The Mafia co-operating with the FBI in Vegas! Unheard of. Yet - Daniel's reaction made me laugh. I love the way the chapter ended. What a relief after some of these scenes...

Frightening start of a boy's story.

Thank you for skipping all the legal battles and the step-brothers' stupidity in favour of giving us the stuff that really counts. Although I would have liked to see Mickey in action with Mr. Patterson's former second wife at least once, I am glad to see that he has not changed but is still his old selfless self. And I see that particularly clearly in his last "condition" and what he said to his former teacher. I was so impressed with Mickey there. No teacher or educator could wish for a greater compliment and sign of appreciation of their work. And lovely to see his children so loving even if he needed to be absent so often. I can only agree with that!

Yes, that is what I expect, too. After all, they haven't shown any sign of good judgement and I am sure are totally unprepared for facing consequences of their actions. Their mother will be on the warpath until her financial interests weigh in. I hope Mr. Patterson had a clear pre-nuptial agreement with her. But he totally misjudged her feelings for him at that time. So I am not sure what to think.

Interesting, that Mickey's scars were the starting point of Bik and Maryam going nuclear at once, without Mickey realising. Suspense - hopefully a normal birth this time and no catastrophe there. And of course how will the fraudsters react and their mummy to whom they certainly run for help. Poor Mr. Patterson - he will reap the rewards of a bad mistake, his second marriage. Especially in contrast to Drew's and Mickey's family life.

In one of the previous chapters someone commented that Jasper will be Oliver's way "back". It seems that comment was spot on. The helpful activities and openness of so many different people in the old school building is in sharp contrast to the dread and powerlessness of Oliver's parents, for whom my heart bled. It was a joy to read about Tony's admiration of General Ramos and to hear the fun in the old gym when the children could simply be children and enjoy running around, to read about Melissa's growing feelings for Sam and their boys, about her father's changed attitude and so on. What a contrast to the very last paragraphs... What sort of father - be he in dire straits or not - sells his little son into sexual slavery? I had thought there were no more horrors to encounter - again I was wrong. Nice idea to have the Whites come to Chicago and work for the foundation. Might certainly be very convenient. But we still have to see what kind of person Mrs. White is. Sandra, Rosa and Melissa are difficult to match. She might learn a lot from them. I suppose she will follow her husband's lead like a dutiful conservative Christian wife. but will she be up to it? I was really struck about Travis' reaction to Qian's words and attitude. This family is so fortunate to be guided by him and Robert. And Travis seems to have learnt that. Promising.

Thanks for your information. I imagined lots of snow and icy cold weather, apart from regions on the southern shores.

Spot on. Drew is the anchor Mickey needs and can fully rely on. I am so relieved that Mickey has chosen a team worthy of his trust. He will need that.

Strange turn of events. Meeting the co-conspirator's wife. I smell a rat. Do not know why or what makes me suspicious. Ludo has been fooled once. I just wish that the trial was over, the two men married and start their life together without all those worries and problems...

I beg to differ here, leaving it out now seems better to me, because in this chapter we have enough to get the reconciliation started, his wife is not important. And I guess she does not know yet. She probably has no idea about her husband's attitude having changed. All the info about her suggests that she does not see reality as it is but the way she wants reality to be like. But I also think that this way there is more to tell later and lots of chapters still to come?

Well, amazing, that Canadian winters have totally changed, probably due to the climate crisis. I had no idea

Wow, I should have expected deep wounds in Drew's father's soul, but his revelation was totally unexpected. It blew me away. Baring his scars to Mickey was a powerful sign of trust in the man his son has chosen as his soul-mate. Another was baring his soul and admitting to feeling jealous. Totally unexpected. I do get his being jealous considering the state of his second marriage. Well, he seems to have entered into it with his eyes wide shut. I am tempted to say that he only has himself to blame, but loneliness can be a bad advisor. His second wife will make sure that the divorce will be as painful and costly to him as possible. Let's hope that there is enough to recover and to re- consolidate in the Patterson business that the fireworks will be worth it. Let's hope that Drew's father still has the strength to push through. He needs support and people close to him whom he can trust and lean on. I guessed that such a development was likely yet reading how you render is something totally different. Great chapter.