I love the night. I love the way the air smells, sweet like a mother's kiss. I love the way dampness gets into your hair and under your skin. I never feel more alive than I do between midnight and two.
Yeah, I know it sounds weird, but it's true. That's why I bought the Green Lantern, a nice little corner saloon on the edge of downtown. I'll admit, most of my customers couldn't get into the Ritz, but most of them don't want to be there anyway.
I open at five in the evening and close at two a.m., and on Sundays, I do inventory and scrub the place. The Green Lantern is just right for a one-man operation.
One or two people usually crash in the back room after I close, but I've made it clear that no one stays for more than three days at a time, and anyone who touches the booze or uses the room to trick or shoot up is out on the street for good. So far, I haven't had to throw out too many of them. Now and then, those who need more help get the guest room in my apartment.
Thursday nights at the Green Lantern are pretty quiet.
Generally.
About eight o'clock, I was mixing Bloody Marys for two of my regulars, Kay-T and Sly.
"My feet's killin' me." Kay-T slipped off one of her pink plastic pumps and rubbed her foot.
"Girl, if you'd take up the hem of them hot pants another inch, it wouldn't be your feet you'd be rubbin'." Sly pushed back her long red hair and pursed her lips.
I placed the drinks on the bar, exchanging them for the ten, and the two hookers smiled at me. The only thing that gave Sly away was the size of the hand she wrapped around the glass. No doubt that hand fit easily around a football.
Kay-T took a long drink and sighed. "This is exactly what I need." She cocked her head at me. "Danny, any man that can fix such a wicked drink shouldn't have no trouble getting a date."
I winked at her and walked toward the young man who slid his empty beer glass in my direction. I didn't recognize him, but I recognized his suit. He was an out-of-town salesman-type, looking for a little of the night life he'd exchanged for the ring that was only a white mark on his left hand at the moment. Apparently, it hadn't even made that much of a mark on his conscience.
"Hey, man, you know those two ladies?" He nodded toward Kay-T and Sly.
"Yep." I slid his refill to him.
He leaned across the bar and lowered his voice. "Are they, you know, prostitutes?"
I nodded. "Yep."
"You think, if I--"
We both jumped at the sudden scream. It had the same effect on the rest of my customers.
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