{"product_id":"step-over-rio-9780983964117","title":"Step Over Rio","description":"\u003cp\u003eAt night  death squads roam the slums of Guatemala City  where no homeless child is safe. Alex Sifuentes lives there in a shelter for orphaned street kids  his dream of a better life dashed  when a murderous squad kills his little brother and targets Alex. Forced to leave  he flees with a coyote who smuggles him and other kids into Houston  Texas  a human trafficking hub. Alex is indentured to a cantina owner who will use him any way she pleases  but during a police raid he escapes  finding his way to an exotic shaman who shelters immigrants. Thus  begins another treacherous journey. Aided Elizabeth Grant  a hard-nosed reporter  and befriended by her lonely daughter  Alex faces new perils in a place he once considered the promise land. He forms a unique bond with Luke Santa Maria  a State Department agent committed to halting prostitution of trafficked teenagers. Assisting Lukes investigation  Alex goes undercover and joins a gang to discover who is running a large-scale sex slavery ring. Ultimately  he  Elizabeth and Luke fall into the grasp of rich and treacherous men. A saga of fierce friendships and uncommon courage transforms Elizabeth and Luke  staunch witnesses to the agony of Alexs past life as he begins anew in America  just a step over rio. This mystery novel  written by Martha Braniff  is based on actual crimes researched through federal agencies and on her work with abused and neglected children and child immigrants over the past thirty years.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67932242903093,"sku":"ByrdShop_0983964114","price":100.79,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780983964117.jpg?v=1794221957","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/step-over-rio-9780983964117","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}