Green Table

FOUR

The convenient store was small only having four isles, a two door freezer, and a large beer fridge. Not only was the selection little, but it was also hardly stocked.
Luckily she found the basics such as shampoo, conditioner, razor, hand soap, chips, and the most essential ice-cream. After a lofty price of thirty five dollars for mediocre products, she made her way outside to her truck.

"Detective Day, you scared me!" Renae exclaimed. Cooper Day was leaning on the hood of the truck.
"It seems now we are even." He chuckled.
"I suppose we are" she chuckled back. "What can I do for you?"
"I understand it's kind of late" he said nervously rubbing the back of his neck. "But would you want to go to dinner with me?" She didn't reply instantly, "I want to ask you some questions about the EIA." Still no reply from her, making him break down into a nervous wreck more than he already was. "We can go wherever you'd like."
She giggled, "Day, there is only one restaurant."
"It's a damn good one too!"
"I believe you! I'd be happy to go and answer your questions, but first we need to drop this off." She said as she held up her ice-cream.

La Casita de Cortez was busy and full of life, all of the towns people that hid in the day seemed to crawl out to eat at night. A sign that read five dollar margaritas hung above the host stand. The building was made of rusted metal, and all around the inside were bar signs and colorful lizards. The pair was sat in a small booth in the back of the restaurant, making it much easier to hear one another in the loud crowded restaurant.

"Dottie got to you too huh?" Cooper asked, yet his expression made it look more like a defeated statement; rather than a question.
"What is that supposed to mean detective?" Her eyes narrowed and brows furrowed. "Nothing against you Ms. Foster. It's just Dottie and I don't have great relations." He rubbed his neck nervously again. This looked to be a tick of his. "I don't really care what your relations are." She said with a raised eyebrow. "It's not like that at all, what I meant was Dottie and the police have had a few run in's." He looked down putting his head in his hands like he wasn't supposed to mention anything. "I'm sorry." She felt bad, "to answer your question I didn't have any other choice." She then looked down at the colorful menu avoiding eye contact.
"Why's that?"
"Simple, most companies don't want a female threatening the discoveries of their male employees." She looked up from her menu, "that and most investors won't buy into something created by girl."
"That's the stupidest thing I've heard." He seemed genuinely upset by her statement. "Trust me, I know it's dumb." She flashed a smile back, feeling bad that she was troubling him with her struggles. "Ms. Edinburg offered me a chance to do what I was told to give up on. I was a waitress, in need of money, and work. She provided that." "But at what cost?" He questioned, "I'm not sure yet, to be frank with you I was only given information on my project. Even then I signed an NDA and am not legally permitted to give details about my job." She felt bad for not being helpful. If anything she wanted to be more than helpful in exchange for what he knew about EIA. "I wish I could give you more information, but I can't they haven't done anything illegal yet." Cooper hummed in agreeance. "And you'll let me know if anything does happen?" He pressed. "Of course I will, you haven't given me a reason not to trust you yet." Day only nodded staying silent. "Listen, It's not all bad, I get to meet some pretty alright people" she smirked lightening the mood.

"So tell me a bit about yourself detective." The words rolling off her tongue like velvet. "What do you want to know?" Renae paused to think, what did she want to know? How he got to this position? Or more about his personal life. "What do you like to do in your spare time?" "I don't have much free time, especially lately." He started to rub his neck, "I guess I like to practice my marksmanship." He seemed like he was nervous sharing his hobbies, "You must have a very good shot then. I've never even held a gun." Renae was trying to make him feel better, he seemed to have a wall up that didn't want to come down. "I could teach you." "I would like that." She wasn't normally this open, but Cooper made her feel natural and calm. Quite frankly he was the only good thing that came out of this job thus far. It seemed all the employees of the EIA were stand off ish. And even after just one day she felt lonely, after all she just wanted a friend. After ordering one of their famous margaritas, and Day a whiskey and a couple of burritos. They picked at chips and drank drink after drink; conversation flowing. "Alright I have to know" he laughed, "it's real important"
"Anything you want to know" she teased back, "what's your favorite color." At this they both cracked up at the ridiculous question, just as the food was sat in front of them.