NIGHT MOVES

FAUXPIRES

An hour later I sat swiveled away from the bar, ready to pounce on the new suspects. Childing Carver and Audrey, who were sitting at one of the high top tables. Lounging soberado, I watchd Gavin and River gass Audrey.

"Can I get you anything, miz Bloom?" The deep voice of Calvin tapped my shoulder.

"Rayven, call me Rayven. No, I've gotta be sobuh while on the clock." I swiveled my chair to face him.

"I see, what about a mock tail? They're just as delicious unless you have a taste for the paint thinner sort." His smile never faltered.

"I'm not really thirsty..."

"Honestly, no one comes to a bar to hydrate. You come for a thirst to be transported to your happiest of fantasies." He gave me a flirtatious wink.

I skeptically weighed his speech and allowed the silence to remain.

"If you're unconvinced, it would aid you and your "colleagues" cover. As I'm positive your objective isn't to call attention to yourselves." I leaned futher towards me and grinned.

"What exactly do you believe ouh objective is?" I leaned forward to match his stance.

"I'm sure you wouldn't appreciate me announcing your objective." He grinned.

"What a cop out. Not that it's youh bizio, but my trio and I seem to be blendin' honky-dory. We look like we're employees of Eira Culpepper, which we are." I self-righteously fibbed.

"Though you're dressed like her goons, you stick out like a band of tourists. You're doing a job for our illustrious leader, no doubt. However, you, you're part of a self made enterprise, hired by Culpepper." He pressed away from the bar.

"What exactly sets us apart from Culpeppuh's otheuh goons?" I crossed my arms in a defensive pose.

"Well for starters, Culpepper only employs ladies for her security teams. You could say she's a  believer in women are as capable as men. Secondly you're fresh faces among a three month citizenship of folks. Culpepper has a once a month shipment for goods and guards. Our shipment was four days ago. So you're not her new goons, neither are you under her employ. Though I wish you were a permanent fixture as I'd to take you on a date." He grinned as he mixed a few liquids.

"Fine, we're not part of Culpeppuh's security team. My brothuh and I are unduh cover private investigators. The girl is ouh assistant, and this is our first case, togethuh. My brothuh and I have solved many cases, and are proficient at blendin' into the scenery. Is that an exceptable confession fouh you?" I gritted my teeth, an attempt at controlling my annoyance.

"Nope, not until I have your real name."

"My true name is Rayven, that's Audrey Willowbrook, and my brothuh, Cuhvuh." I pointed to both as they stared back at me.

"I meant your last name, it sounds cut off." He grinned knowingly as I placed a glass in front of me.

"You don't believe my last name is Bloom? I was honest with ouh Christian names, why would I fib about my last one?" My eyes flickered to the glass and took a sip.

"I don't know, it just seems like you're name is missing an i-n-g and a t-o-n. However as a truce, I'll let your phoney last name slide. Alright?" He placed his hand out to me.

I studied his expression a moments before taking his hand.

"Now that's out of the way, will you be staying long?" Calvin continued to interrogate me.

"As lon' as ouh buisness keeps us. I'd say three weeks at the least." I tapped my index finger on my arm.

"Bloom. Bloom as in the Bloomington family? Bloomington & Family Private Eye Services?"