"That's not what my gut is telling me, but it's not impossible." Stephanie replied. "I'm inclined to think that she's telling the truth, though. Father might think to make a mole, but she's more than a little injured. I'm fairly sure she's got broken ribs from the way she's been standing and sitting.

My feeling is that he's become so desperate that he's not going to try for anything subtle. I think he's going to try coming for one or both of us, personally, very soon." She shivered a little bit. She couldn't lie to herself. The idea scared her a lot. Her father was a very powerful and dangerous man.

"I don't know if we can afford not to take assistance wherever we can get it."