Free The Creeping Dead: A Zombie Novel by Edward P. Cardillo Page A

sizing up his prospects. Billy was the type of player that you couldn’t miss with. If you missed twice, then he had you. He rarely missed. He wasn’t fancy, but he was consistent.
    Billy took a straight shot on the four and sunk it in the corner.
    “Nice shot, Kid. Just keep an eye on your cue ball control.”
    “Yes, Daddy.”
    Billy rolled his eyes and hollered over to Jenny. “Three shots of whiskey.”
    “I told you, Vinnie’s too young,” she hollered back.
    “Who the fuck heard me say anything about Vinnie?”
    She shook her head and poured the shots.
    Vinnie lined up a shot with the two ball. He’d have to cut it. He sunk it in the opposite corner.
    “Nice cut.”
    “Thanks.”
    Jenny brought the three shots over and placed them on the table next to Vinnie’s cola. Billy slipped her a twenty and pulled her close.
    “Billy!” She hit him on his shoulders, but he leaned in and whispered something in her ear. She struggled, but there was that smile again.
    Vinnie shook his head and took his next shot, missing.
    Jenny broke free. “You old perv.” She bustled back to the bar while Billy leered at her as she went.
    “Your shot, Billy.”
    Billy was still watching her, as if he could pinch her ass from across the room by sheer will. “Yes. Yes, I suppose it is.”
    He approached the table, leaned over, and sank a ball. And another. He ran all the way to the eight ball. “Corner pocket.” He sunk it. “And that’s all she wrote.”
    Just then, the front door swung open, and Chief Holbrook came strolling in. He nodded to Jenny.
    “Hi, Chief.”
    Vinnie was downing his cola. Johnny threw back one shot. Billy downed one, wiped his mouth with the back of his forearm, and then he threw back the second.
    “Vinnie, what are you doing out so late?” asked Holbrook.
    “He just got back from a date. I talked him into one harmless game.”
    Holbrook eyed Billy with palpable disdain. “Well, it looks like that game is over. I don’t think your father wants you shooting pool at one forty-five in the morning with the likes of Billy Blake.”
    Johnny, feeling awkward, looked down at his shoes.
    Billy returned the glare. “Oh, Chief, if I didn’t know you so well, my feelings would be hurt.”
    The two men never broke eye contact.
    Vinnie downed the last of his cola quickly. The carbonation burned his throat. “I gotta run anyway. Thanks for the game.”
    “Any time,” said Billy, still eying Holbrook.
    “Later, Johnny.”
    Johnny only nodded.
    Vinnie hurried out of the bar, waving goodbye to Jenny. He took to the street, grateful to be released, and he was home in moments.
    He let himself through the gate and then the front door. The house was dark. Thank goodness his father was asleep—one less awkward exchange.
    Once in his room, he took off his shoes, pants, and shirt and threw himself on his bed. He was exhausted, the kind of exhausted from a good day and a sense of accomplishment. He was even too tired to brush his teeth.
    He closed his eyes and thought about Dharma, but within minutes his thoughts turned into dreams. Vinnie was content.
     
    ***
     
    Mike Brunello lay in bed, tossing and turning. He rolled over and stretched his arm across the bed. He felt his Ramona lying next to him. She was warm.
    He snuggled close to her, feeling her body against his. It was a welcome feeling. He didn’t know why, but in that moment he felt so lonely.
    He opened his eyes, and the feeling of Ramona next to him evaporated into the shadows of his bedroom. He rubbed his eyes as he realized his bed was empty, except for him. He looked at the clock. Two twelve in the morning.
    Damned water pill. He got up to urinate for what seemed like the fiftieth time that night.
     
    ***
     
    Tara sat up in bed in the dark of her new bedroom. The room felt strange to her, but it was more than the room. She felt strange to her. Nothing was as it should’ve felt like.
    She looked at the lump in the sheets beside her and felt a