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Nail her first, he decided. Get her down so she can't run. Then you can take your time stripping and doing her. |
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His breath came in rough gasps as he halted in front of the garbage can. The can was just off the alley blacktop, set in a strip of weeds alongside someone's fence. |
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She might think she was hidden just fine, but Lou could see the faint dark curve of the top of her head. |
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'Come on out, honey,' he said. |
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She didn't move. She didn't make a sound. Lou heard only his own heartbeat and ragged breathing, the rain pattering against his skin, hissing on the alley pavement, thumping the hard rubber lid of the garbage container. |
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He kicked the barrel aside. It skidded, tumbled over. |
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Maureen, beautiful Maureen in her clinging wet T-shirt and baggy shorts wasn't cowering in front of him. |
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Squatting in the strip of weeds was a bony, naked man who leered up at him, said, 'Hi-ya, honey,' and sprang. Lou leaped backward as the man lunged at him, driving the jagged end of a broken bottle at his stomach. |
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He lashed out with his barbecue fork and sucked in his belly, expecting the glass fangs to bite deep. The man jerked his head back. The tines missed him, but |
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