Unsuspecting Culprit

Chapter Three

When the time comes for her night on the town with Charlene, Ray is still stuck in a puddle of anxiety about the man whose name she doesn’t intend to learn. She throws a flowing purple scarf around her neck and looks herself over in the mirror. Cozy, thin wool jacket, scarf, knee high boots and her favorite pair of jeans, the perfect outfit for a night out with her friend from college.

            She grabs her keys off of the key holder by the door and locks it on her way out. Let’s hope we’re drunk off our ass by the time the night comes to an end, she thinks to herself.

~

            Rayleigh parks her car on the curb and darts across the street when she sees that no cars are heading her way. Charlene is already there waiting, a Newport cigarette in hand and her striped bag slung over her shoulder. She looks startled when she sees Ray walking up to her from behind. Charlene puts out her cigarette, stomping on it to put out the burning end and turns to Ray with arms wide open.

“Oh, what a coincidence, my dear!” she says with just a tinge of sarcasm tacked on.

“Oh, darling! It’s been ages!” Ray says to her in a joking tone.

            They both laugh as they hug each other tightly, turning their heads away from the gushes of the oncoming blows of wind. After what feels like a lifetime, both woman loosen their grip on each other and walk down to their favorite Bar & Grill. The irony of naming a restaurant, “Bar & Grill” that contains a bar and grill, is horrendous. Still comical though.

            Walking through the double doors, a little bell above them goes off. A kind woman in a white apron and what seems to be a uniform, greets them with a smile as warming as a fire in the dead of winter.

“Hi, ladies. Sit anywhere you’d like. There’s half off drinks at the bar tonight if you’d like to buy a few. Girl’s night out, I’m guessing?” the waitress says with a knowing grin as she takes a few more steps towards us as we walk farther into the warming atmosphere.

“You have no idea. This one here works herself into the ground.” Charlene tells the woman with a thumb jabbed towards Ray. Ray shrugs her shoulders and walks to the bar.

“Well, you two have fun. I’m right over there by the dais if you need anything. I’d be glad to help.” With that, she smiles at them one last time and swiftly walks away, stopping at nearby tables checking up on her customers.

            Ray takes a look around her. The restaurant has changed dramatically since she last came. Does she really keep herself that busy? Vibrant, neon signs hang on every wall. Each a different color in comparison. Above the shelves behind the bar, a sign in bright red reads “COCKTAILS” and a bit farther down is an old, rusting sign saying Rago Avenue. The edges are rusting with age and the white lettering is slowly fading away but it’s still readable.

            Both woman take a seat on a red topped stool along the edge of the marble counter and order two Cosmos and two Lost Cherries. Two drinks in which they drank on nights spent breaking rules on college grounds. The bartender slaps his hand on the counter and tells them their drinks will be done in just a few minutes. Charlene glances at Ray, giving her a look suggesting that one of them should flirt up a conversation with him.