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Fanged Justice
by Patricia White
Category: Mystery/Crime
Description: A funny thing happens to Albert Weston, mystery writer, on his way to his wedding in Reno. Driving across the high desert, he comes upon a wrecked auto and two terrified women. Good Samaritan that he is, Albert gives the comfort, a bit of first aid, and a lift. Then, a wild tale of murderers on the prowl, a flash flood, and a dead man later, Albert is stranded in an isolated land brimming with snakes. His bride waits in Reno, he hopes, but Albert is in dire jeopardy and just might not live long enough to tie the knot.
eBook Publisher: Writers Exchange E-Publishing, 2002 Writers Exchange E-Publishing
eBookwise Release Date: June 2002
 
8 Reader Ratings:
Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [259 KB]
Words: 58610
Reading time: 167-234 min.
PrologueHe dropped the two audiocassettes into the red plastic bag. Listening as they thudded against the new cassette player inside, he weighed the small package in his scratched, dirty hand for a moment, and then sighed before he gave it, and a twenty-dollar bill, to the waiting bellboy. "Thank you, sir. Any message?" "No. I'm afraid it's too late for that. Just take it up and…." Little puffs of dust rose lazily from everywhere on the man's somewhat tattered, very soiled person, when he shrugged away whatever he had been going to say and substituted, "Son, if this doesn't speak for me, nothing will." "Yes, sir," the young man said, hesitating just a second before he added, pointing to the man's left, "The public restrooms are down that way, if you'd like to clean up or something." "That bad, huh?" The bellboy didn't answer directly, but his nose wrinkled, just a trifle, before he grinned and hurried toward the elevator. Albert Weston, full-time mystery writer, self-appointed detective, and late, very late, romantic hero, stood there for a long moment. It was long enough to almost see the tape unwinding in the player, to almost hear his own voice explaining how one small act of mercy from an innocent bystander, himself, had led to such bloody and unbelievable consequences. Albert's lips wanted to move, to mime the tape, making his excuses as only a fiction writer could, but they didn't. All he said was "I'm sorry," knowing it wasn't enough, could never be enough.
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