title: The Highway Kind: Tales of Fast Cars, Desperate Drivers, and Dark Roads: Original Stories by Michael Connelly, George Pelecanos, C. J. Box, Diana Gabaldon, Ace Atkins & Others
author: Patrick Millikin
description: "<i>The Highway Kind</i> is the perfect gift for fans of Corvettes and other fast cars. . . . The stories in <i>The Highway Kind</i> seem to have been chosen with extreme care. All the material is new and the writing is crisp. The stories are perfect for that lazy half-hour between the holiday meal and the holiday nap. Even non-crime readers who own Mustangs will love this one."<b>Margaret Cannon</b>, <b><i>Globe and Mail [Canada]</i></b><br /><br />Entertaining<b><i>Mystery Scene</i></b><br /><br />"A high-octane anthology"<b><i>Publishers Weekly</i></b><br /><br />"So good.... a fine collection of short crime thrillers."<b><i><i>Booklist</i></i></b>
zlib_text: # _Bully_  
  
  
    
  
  
  Penelope Douglas
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Chapter 1
  
  
  
  
  
  ### _One Year Ago_
  
  
  
  
  
  “No! Turn here,” K.C. shrieked in my right ear.
  
  
  
  
  
  The tires of my dad’s Bronco screeched with the sudden, short turn onto a car-
  packed street.
  
  
  
  
  
  “You know, maybe you should’ve just driven like I suggested,” I blurted out,
  even though I never liked anyone else to drive when I was in the car.
  
  
  
  
  
  As if reading my mind, K.C. responded, "And have you bury your face in your
  hands every time I don't launch myself through every yellow light? Not."
  
  
  
  
  
  I smiled to myself. My best friend knew me too well. I liked to drive fast. I
  liked to move fast. I walked as quickly as my legs could take me, and I drove
  as speedily as was reasonable. I rushed to every stop sign and red light.
  Hurry up and wait, that was me.
  
  
  
  
  
  But hearing the pounding rhythm of the music in the distance, I had no desire
  to rush any further. The lane was lined with car after car, displaying the
  magnitude of the party we were crashi