Free SWF Seeks Same by John Lutz Page A

precisely so she could avoid the kind of sick and random call she’d just received. But because of her business she needed to be accessible. An unlisted number might cost her accounts and income. She couldn’t afford it.
    Returning to stand before her mirror, she told herself whoever had phoned almost certainly wouldn’t call again. Probably a sicko hunched over a public phone and running his finger down the directory pages, calling whichever female names appealed to his perverted sexuality. Maybe right now he was making the same kinky suggestions to some woman whose name began with
K
, a woman he’d never met. No need to worry about a sorry individual like that, whose sex life depended on Ma Bell. Allie made herself smile out at the world from the mirror. A philosophical, confident smile.
    But as she attempted again to work the earring post through her earlobe, her hand trembled so that it was almost impossible to do.
     
Chapter 13
     
    OTHER than a massive Hispanic youth in shorts and a black muscle shirt, Allie was the only customer in Goya’s. Apparently the restaurant didn’t do much morning business. On the other hand it was past nine o’clock; she’d slept late, then decided to eat a quick breakfast out before her appointment at Fortune Fashions with Mayfair’s secretary. She’d pushed the obscene phone call as far from her thoughts as possible.
    Goya’s was cool. The air conditioner and ceiling fans were toiling away despite the briskness of the morning. The young guy in the shorts and sleeveless shirt ought to be shivering instead of sitting there calmly sipping what looked like a Pepsi and gazing out the window. His leather jacket was slung over the back of the chair next to him.
    Graham Knox, the skinny waiter with the jug-ears and bushy black hair, took Allie’s order, then returned a few minutes later with her bagel with cream cheese and coffee. He seemed to be fighting back a grin as he placed the order before her on the table. Good cheer was like pressure beneath the skin of his face.
    He began to walk away, hesitated, then turned back. A neat pivot. He said, “I know simply being your neighbor gives me no claim on your time, but … well, I’ve gotten some good news and I guess I just have to share it with somebody. Business is slow and you’re here and we
are
neighbors, so you’re it, Allie. You mind?”
    Allie set the bagel back on its plain white plate. What was this about? Had Graham hit the lottery? “I don’t mind at all. I like hearing good news, even somebody else’s.” She smiled, which Graham took as a signal to put on his lopsided grin. He looked like an amiable puppy when he did that. Allie liked this sincere and friendly man with the protruding ears and intent dark eyes.
    He did an embarrassed little dance. “It happens I’m a playwright, and I’ve been working on a script for over a year.
Way
over a year, actually. And finally it sold. It’s going to be produced.” He waited a beat or two, then he shrugged, as if, on second thought, having a play produced was no big deal and he shouldn’t have mentioned it. “Anyway, that’s my good news.”
    “It’s great news!” Allie said. “Congratulations! I mean it.”
    “The title’s
Dance Through Life
. It’ll be onstage at Creative Playhouse down in the Village. Know the place?”
    “‘Fraid not. I love live theater, though. Especially off-Broadway.”
    He widened his grin. “This is far enough off Broadway you’ll need binoculars and a guide to find it.”
    “Don’t be silly. That is a hell of an accomplishment. God, to come to New York and actually have a play produced. You realize how many people try that and fail?”
    “Oh, believe me, I do.”
    “I’ll go see it when it opens.”
    “Really? I’ll make sure you get free tickets—good seats. For you and your—” He suddenly clamped his mouth shut. “I mean—”
    Allie knew who he meant. Hedra. But how had he found out about her?
    He glanced around