"O.K, empty your pockets and remove your belt and shoes." The woman behind the counter spoke with no intonation in her voice. She'd gone through the routine time and time again. He removed his belt and put it in front of her.

Alex Cole sat in the cool darkness beneath the array of colored lights, among shadows and highlights of red and blue, and raised the dark bottle to his lips. The bittersweet ale filled his mouth and he swallowed it with a satisfied "Aahh...." He shook a cigarette from the somewhat crushed pack he found in front of him, brought it to his lips, and let it hang loosely as he searched for a match. He had never been a smoker, but the actions seemed only natural on this particular night.