Fury From Hell by Rochelle Campbell

take my winnings.”
    He blinked at her and tilted his head to one side. “Oh!  You’ve never won this much before!  You don’t know.”
    Jennifer fidgeted and looked behind her when she heard a snigger. “I don’t know what, Sammy?”
    “This amount is too big.  You’ll have to mail away for it, go to Beaver Street or Resorts World to collect your winnings,” he said with an apologetic frown.  “I’m sorry,” he said again.  “Do you want anything else today?  I have a line…”  He jutted his chin to indicate the people behind her.

Jennifer looked behind her.  Two of the men finger-waved at her.  The three women just stared.  One with her hand on her thick hip, the other older woman had her arms crossed over her impressive bosom and the third one that could kiss a giraffe without a problem sucked her teeth and said, “Either give me that damned ticket or move out of the way already?  Some of us would like to get outta here!”
    Chagrined, Jennifer said hastily, “Sorry!  I didn’t realize I was holding up the line that much.”  She turned back to Sammy and waved.  “Do you know if any of them are open tomorrow?  It’s almost 6 o’clock now and I know nothing’s open now, right?”
    She stepped out of the way and the guy behind her stepped up to Sammy but all the while the dude was smiling at her.  Jennifer couldn’t get past his bad toupee and the frankfurter breath which wafted past her nose as he gave his daily numbers to the lottery agent for Saturday midday play.  She took another step back while waiting for Sammy’s reply.
    “1557, 1285 and 9981?  Uhm.  9981 is sold out for midday tomorrow.”
    “Damn.  I dreamt that number, too.  Can you give it to me for midday Sunday?”
    “Sammy?” Jennifer interjected.
    “Huh?  Oh, yes.  Resorts World Casino…in Jamaica, Queens?  You know the new one they built a couple of years back?  Their NYS Lottery customer service center is open every day and I think it’s open late, too.  It may even be open now.  Check online.”
    Frankfurter-breath turned fully towards her.  He blew a kiss Jennifer’s way and said, “I’ll be happy to drive you…”
    With a beatific smile, Jennifer sidled away, nodding noncommittally and escaped with a final wave to Sammy who was holding his nose with one hand while tapping away furiously on the lotto machine with the other.
    Walking home with a little less pep in her step, she wondered if she felt up to a run out to Queens just to pick up money.  More importantly, did she want the temptation of having so much money on her while in a live casino?  With a sardonic grin, she walked the last block home, opened the front door and took the stairs two at a time and let herself into her apartment.
    Her phone rang, startling her.  She juggled with her bag as she locked the door behind her while trying to answer the phone.
    “Hello?”
    “Are you avoiding me…already?”
    His sexy rugged voice stilled her.  She hadn’t anticipated speaking to him again so soon.  Abatu came forward nudging Jennifer softly.
    “Hmm…you’re making me wonder if the cool Chad is just a façade and if you’re really a stalker with a great bod.”  She dropped her bag on the sofa and plopped herself onto the ottoman.
    “So, you like my bod?”
    “Look, I know we just spoke a couple hours ago but I failed to mention something that may be important for you to know.”
    “Yeah?  Okay, uhm.  Okay, go for it.”
    Jennifer gulped a couple of times before speaking again. “I’m…I’m an atheist.”
    A rich baritone laugh wafted through the phone. “Oh, is that all you’ve got?  Okay, I’m a sex offender.  I just got out 6 months ago and I like little boys.  But, I’m switching to girls while on parole.”
    Jutting her hip out, she sighed and rolled her eyes. “So not funny.  I’m serious.  I don’t believe in God, or anything like that.”
    “Do you go around killing people?”
    “No!”
    “Do