BACKWOODS RIPPER: a gripping action suspense thriller by Anna Willett Page A

looked unfazed by the car’s failure to start. She knew it wouldn’t start, she’s not at all surprised. Paige didn’t know where that thought came from, but she had no doubt it was true. For whatever reason, Lizzy wanted her two new guests to stay put.
    “Do you have another car?” Paige asked without any real hope.
    Lizzy pulled the driver’s door open. “Does it look like I have a fleet of cars?” She asked, and wheeled her arm around.
    “No, I didn’t mean…” Paige tried to explain.
    “I know it’s difficult for you and Mr November, the calendar boy up there to understand,” Lizzy pointed at the house. “But I’m not made of money. I’ve done everything possible for you and all you do is look down your nose at me.” Spittle flew out of her mouth, narrowly missing Paige’s face.
    Lizzy turned and stomped back to the house leaving Paige sitting behind the wheel of the useless vehicle with her mouth open. She tried to work her mind around what just happened but kept returning to whether Lizzy had done something to the ute to make sure it wouldn’t start or not. It seemed like insanity. Then she recalled the angry outburst. Paige replayed Lizzy’s words over in her mind. She called Hal, Mr November. Where does that level of anger and resentment come from?
    That led her to another frightening thought. Did Lizzy know the phone wouldn’t work? Had she brought Paige and Hal here knowing they wouldn’t be able to call for help? Maybe. Almost certainly. Paige rubbed her hand over her mouth. What she couldn’t get her mind around was why? Why would the woman want to keep them against their will? Maybe she’s going to kill us , a little voice in her head whispered. Paige pushed away that thought. If she wanted to kill them, she wouldn’t be trying to nurse Hal back to health. But is she? Yes. Paige thought so, but she wasn’t a doctor. She had no idea if what Lizzy was doing was really helping Hal.
    Her pulse rate increased. Her heart wasn’t pounding, but it beat faster. She needed to get Hal the hell out of this cuckoo hatch and into a hospital. She rubbed her hands together and then steepled them under her chin. The question was, what lengths would Lizzy go to in order to keep them here? Paige didn’t want to believe the woman might be dangerous, but could she be sure?
    She drummed her fingers on the wheel and looked around the cab. It occurred to her that the Holden might not drive, but their Ford would. If I can change the tyre . Paige slid gracelessly out of the ute and slammed the door. After Lizzy’s angry outburst, Paige wondered what to expect. One thing she was sure of, Lizzy wouldn’t be happy when Paige told her she intended to leave. She stopped walking. From her current vantage point she could see the back door; over to the left of the house, a ramshackle chook pen with at least four birds pottering around; beyond the outbuildings stood patches of trees and long grass. Paige decided it would be too easy to get lost in a place like this and tried to let the idea go.
    * * *
    When she entered the kitchen, Lizzy stood at the sink. She tipped a yellow and black kettle under the running water. She didn’t look up or acknowledge Paige in any way. The tightness of the woman’s shoulders and thrust of her long chin told Paige the storm was far from over.
    “I’m sorry if I sound ungrateful. I know how much you’ve helped me and especially Hal.” Paige watched Lizzy put the kettle on the stove top and light a match to the burner. The heavy aroma of gas filled the room.
    “I just got … well, a bit panicky.” Paige continued. “I … Thank you for helping us. I really mean it.” She bit her lower lip and prayed she sounded grateful, with maybe just a touch of fear. The last shouldn’t be difficult as she could feel its dark tendrils creeping up on her.
    “Alright then,” Lizzy said without turning around.
    Paige wasn’t sure if she’d won the woman over. In fact, she didn’t think