I thought we were dead." James, lover, she's exaggerating," said Gabby."No she isn't," cut in Connie, who had now emerged from the back seat to join u.... Normally irrepressible, she too was shaking visibly and in the gathering dusk the whites of her fear-widened eyes stood out starkly against the background of her black face. She would have been as pale as Fran, I suspected, had her skin pigmentation permitted it. "It was terrifying. And when she overtook that bus on that winding country lane. But I would not know my mistake until the last ten of my sentence of thirty.He took his time, lining up the cane against my trembling cheeks, telling of what was due me. He even called to have the strap at my back tightened, lifting my bottom even higher."I've got a special treat in mind for you," he said. "I hope you're ready. Are you ready?"I stared straight head, scared as hell but trying my hardest to hide it."Well, answer me!" he said, tapping the cane against my bottom."Yes, Sir, I'm. "I never wanted to come right out and ask you because I know you get angry when I talk about him." Yes, I mean it. I have to admit I will never understand how BJ just ... look don't worry about me and my hormones," he joked "BJ is gonna shit bricks of pure pride when he finds out what his little girl has gone and done." Oh, Marz! Thank you, thank you, thank you," she sniffed. "I don't know what to say. You really, really are one of the good ones, you know." Yeah, well that's not what the news. Richard Ellsworth Pennyfeatherwhat the hell do you think you are doing?" You weren't supposed to be home yet. I was only taking a small break.It's not as bad as it looks. I knew you wouldn't understand." I understand only too well. You've been keeping secrets from me. Howlong has this been going on?" Only since I got laid off from my job. I was never home alone before andit was just so tempting. It brightens up my day. You know I've beendepressed since I lost my job." You're supposed to be.