Free Fear the Night by John Lutz

light from the window catching a glint of tears in her eyes.
    There was a knock on the door. Venus went to it and opened it.
    “Hey, your room’s bigger’n ours!” Pattie exclaimed in mock outrage, as soon as she and George were inside.
    Ralph and Venus glanced at each other. Ralph knew what her look meant: we’ll take up later where we left off.
    “No phone in the bathroom, though,” Ralph said, though he wasn’t sure about that.
    “Ah!” George said. “It’s all fair then.” He was a big man with sandy hair and horsey yellowed teeth that showed too much when he smiled.
    Pattie had gone to the window and was looking out. “Where’s that place where you can line up and get cheap play tickets, Ralph?”
    “Just a few blocks away. TKTS.”
    “Why don’t we walk over there and see what we can get for tonight?”
    Ralph would have preferred going to a theater box office, or calling Telecharge, but he knew Pattie and George were watching their pennies. “Tell you what, why don’t Venus and I walk over while you two unpack? Then we can meet downstairs for a drink.”
    “That wouldn’t be right,” Pattie said. “We can all go.”
    “You two oughta unpack,” Ralph said. He couldn’t think of why they should unpack first; he simply wanted to be alone with Venus, so they could choose the play. Pattie would want to see something serious and sappy that would put them all in a somber mood, and he knew Venus would prefer a big musical. Then, tonight when they returned from the theater ...
    “ You two unpack,” Pattie said. “We’ll go get the tickets.”
    “Ralph’s the only one knows right where the place is,” George reminded her.
    “So let’s flip a coin,” Venus said.
    Pattie was thinking it over, but Ralph already had a quarter out of his pocket.
    “Heads we go,” George said.
    Wishing there were some way he could cheat, Ralph flipped the coin high so it would land on the bed. It bounced twice before settling on the taut spread.
    Ah! Tails.
    “Good,” he said. “We’ll go. That’s how it should be. You’re sort of our guests. You two unpack and we’ll phone up to you from the lobby when we get back with the tickets.”
    The Nevertons agreed, Pattie reluctantly, and went back to their room.
    When the door was shut, Venus kissed Ralph on the lips and stroked his chest. “Our lucky night,” she said.
    He smiled down at her and kissed her forehead. Lucky life.
    They left the suitcases where the bellhop had placed them; then they left to get play tickets.
    For a musical, Ralph hoped. They’d enjoy a good dinner, then a loud, colorful musical with lots of dancing; then they’d have drinks with their best friends and talk about the show. Then it would be back to the hotel and to bed.
    He followed Venus out and made sure the door was locked behind them.
    Lucky life.

11
    Zoe Brady watched the balding guy in the produce department as he fingered some arugula. He was in his late thirties, a little overweight, nice clothes and an expensive-looking ring that wasn’t a wedding band on his left hand. He’d be fairly good looking without his glasses—if he ever was without them.
    Maybe a keeper.
    As he examined a pyramid of apples, he glanced her way. He was aware she’d been staring at him.
    Zoe had picked up men before in her neighborhood grocery store. What better place to troll for men, to snare them unaware while they were thinking about food? Of course, they thought they’d picked up her. It was a game she knew and played very well.
    She went to the zucchinis and touched one, then another, leaning forward so her skirt rose slightly in back. Give the guy a leg show. When she straightened up, she shook her head helplessly and approached him.
    “I’m really sorry I have to ask,” she said, “but do you know what arugula is? I think it’s like a lettuce.”
    He smiled, a little shy, and not quite believing his luck. “Sure. It’s right over there.” He pointed. “The ruffly-looking