Prelude To Murder

"Later. For now, we take care of you." This detour and the man's uncooperative attitude indicated something quite apart from helpfulness. Daisy felt unease worse than when she was walking on the road. This was not a good situation. The man had no intention of helping her. "Please. I need to get help for my friend. He's in bad shape back there." "So you said. He'll be okay." "How do you know? Did you see anything when you came by? Did you see the Jeep? Had someone come along and helped?" Daisy's excitement at the prospect of rescue for Karl soon faded. "Naw. He ain't gonna get no help. He'll be dead by morning." "No. You mustn't let that happen. I need to get out. I've got to get a rescue team for him. Let me out. Stop this truck." She opened the door, ready to jump since they were bumping along slowly. But his hand shot out and grabbed her arm in a strong grip. "Don't jump. You'll hurt yourself," he said. Daisy looked at him with the most pleading expression she could muster. "You're being unreasonable. And cruel." He said nothing, shifted into a lower gear, and drove higher up the hillside. All at once the woods opened up, and the ruts turned into a driveway. Beyond was a log cabin. In the distance, a vista of mountains and lakes provided an artist's dream scene. Under different circumstances, Daisy would have remarked on the beautiful view. "My place," he said. "Lucky I came along. I go inta town once a week. Any other day you'd be walking for hours." Can't get much luckier than this, she thought. Damn the timing.