“That’s me. Come on in. You can put them on the hall table on the other side of the foyer.” She whispered into the phone, “Conner, thank you, they’re beautiful. I’m going to put the phone down for a minute while I get him a tip. Be right back.” She placed the phone on a side table in the large entrance hall.

The burly man placed the flowers on the hall table near the living room and turned around to face her. “You’re my last delivery for the night,” he said.

“Wait here, I want to get something for you,” said Zoe as she ran into the kitchen to get her wallet. Her bag wasn’t there. “Just a minute,” she said as she dashed past him down the hallway to her bedroom.

Her large leather bag was on the floor near the walk-in closet. She grabbed it. As she headed back down the hall towards the front door she hoisted the strap of the bag over her head cross-body style, leaving her hands free to dig for money inside the deep satchel. When she got back to the foyer, the front door was closed and the man was gone. He left before I gave him his tip. She opened the front door again and looked out. “Hello, are you out there?” No one was in the hallway. She closed the door and picked up the phone she had left on the hall table.

“The deliveryman left before I could give him a tip,” she said to her husband still on the phone. “People are so impatient these days.”

From behind her a male voice called out. “I’m still here,” called the deliveryman from the living room. Confused, Zoe spun around. “Oh wait, good, he’s still here. Conner, hold on. I’m going to put the phone down again to finish up with the delivery guy,” she said to her husband before she placed the phone back on the hall table.

Standing in the living room, the flower man’s back was to her as he looked out of the big picture window. “Nice place,” he said, looking around. “Must cost a bundle.”

“I have a tip for you but let me walk you to the front door,” she said as her hands groped for money inside of the large bag. Using both hands to hunt for her wallet or some loose bills, she kept one eye on the deliveryman as he walked past her towards the front door.

Halfway down the foyer, the man abruptly turned, took her by the shoulders and knocked her to the floor. Stunned, Zoe tried to get up but he leapt on top of her and grabbed her by the throat. She tried to scream but only managed a loud frightened moan.