An Ache in the Pit of Her Stomach...

Another excerpt from The Girl With the Flat Tire:

Anna's brain was working fast, trying to figure a way to stop him. "John, we just want to help that man by the creek. That's all we want to do. I won't tell anyone who shot him. I’ll say it was an accident."

"We've been over this, Anna. You know why I can't let that happen. Anyway, he's dead by now."

"Why are you doing this? I thought you and I--didn't we have something? Don't you care about me, even just a little?"

"I thought we had something, too. But you tried to warn that game warden. I knew what you were doing. Then you snuck out of the motel room back there. Very disappointing, Anna. Very damn disappointing.”

To emphasize his irritation, he pressed the muzzle of the revolver against the back of her neck and shoved until it hurt. “You can't get away from me, Anna. You need to remember that.”

Shudders ran through her shoulders and she fought the darkness which was spreading over her mind. An ache in the pit of her stomach made her want to vomit. She glanced at Kate whose face was dimly lit by the red and yellow lights from the dash. She looked so brave and strong.