Shani Struthers

Finding herself on the way to the village center again, she pulled over, intending to negotiate a three-point turn. The cottage was slightly out of the village, so she needed to get back onto the opposite side of the road and go back up the hill. Glancing over Hannah__ instructions again, she swung the car to the right__traight into the path of a motorcyclist.What happened next seemed to happen in slow motion. The rider tried to stop but couldn__ do so in time, although he did manage to avoid hitting her car. As he turned his handlebars hard to the right, his tires lost grip on the wet road and he flew off, sliding some way before coming to a halt.Layla sat motionless in her car, paralyzed temporarily by the shock. At last she managed to galvanize herself into action and fumbled for the door handle, her shaking hands making it hard to get a grip. When the door finally opened, another dilemma hit. What if she couldn__ stand? Her legs felt like jelly, surely they wouldn__ support her. Forcing herself upward, she was relieved to discover they held firm. Once she was sure they would continue to do so, she bolted over to where the biker lay, placed one hand on his soaking leather-clad shoulder and said, __re you okay?___o, I__ not bloody okay!_ he replied, a pair of bright blue eyes meeting hers as he lifted his visor. ____ a bit bruised and battered as it goes.__espite his belligerent words, relief flooded through her: he wasn__ dead!__h, I__ so glad,_ she said, letting out a huge sigh.__lad?_ he said, sitting up now and brushing the mud and leaves off his left arm. __harming.___h, no, no,_ she stuttered, realizing what she__ just said. ____ not glad that I knocked you over. I__ glad you__e alive.___nly just, I think,_ he replied, needing a helping hand to stand up.__an I give you a lift somewhere, take you to the nearest hospital?___he nearest hospital? That would be in Bodmin, I think, about fifteen miles from here. I don__ fancy driving fifteen miles with you behind the wheel.__eeling a little indignant now, Layla replied, ____ actually a very good driver, thank you. You__e the first accident I__e ever had.___ucky me,_ he replied sarcastically.

When they reached the table, Hannah started to introduce them. __ayla, this is Joe. Joe, this is____e__e already met,_ said Joseph, extending his hand and smiling.__ave we?_ asked Layla, baffled.__ave you?_ said Hannah. This was news to her.__eah, we have,_ continued Joseph. __ couple of hours ago. On the road into the village. You tried to kill me, remember?___ill you?_ gasped Layla. __ou__e the biker? The one I knocked over?___ou knocked him over?_ repeated Hannah in horror.__ didn__ mean to,_ explained Layla quickly. __t was an accident. I was going to tell you about it. I just haven__ had the chance yet.__urning to Joseph, Hannah asked, __re you okay? Are you hurt at all?___ell,_ he replied somberly, __part from my right arm, which I__ not sure is going to be of much use to me ever again, I__ fine.__s Layla__ jaw dropped open, he added quickly, ____ joking. Really, it__ just a joke. I__ fine.___ight, well, in that case,_ Hannah continued, __s I was saying, Layla, this is Joseph Scott. Joe, this is Layla Lewis, your would-be killer, next door neighbor, and my best friend. She__ house-sitting whilst Lenny__ in Scotland.___ext door neighbor, huh?_ replied Joseph, taking a swig from his pint glass. __hat could prove interesting.