A Dirty Bar, A Dirty Life.

1. A Little Mousehole.

Jaeger. Whiskey. Ale. Fine Wine.

Cadence scribbled down in her notebook her inventory for the night. She stood, sighing and setting the notebook and pen on the counter. Cadence grabbed a bottle of Jaeger and moved over to her regular customer, Jack. He had been coming here for a while now, and Cadence had just learned that his wife was leaving him. Knowing that woman, she'd be taking every penny from him. Jack was nursing a now watered-down glass of the same Jaeger that Cadence held. Cadence grabbed the glass and refilled it. Jack looked up, confused, and tried to stop her by shaking his head. He never did talk much.

"Don't worry. It's on the house. Besides, I know you, and you could use a glass after what you've been going through this week." Cadence set the bottle on the counter and stepped away from him.

She moved back towards the shelves, leaning against them as she looked around. This bar was older than she was, and it was certainly showing after all these years. The counters were cherry oak and stained with water marks and scratches. The deep emerald of the walls was chipping in places above the cool black wainscotting. Looking up, the ceiling fans spun lazily. The original owner, James, would be proud. He had always wanted this place to feel cozy; like a home, and it certainly did.. Hell, it was; Her apartment was connected to this old place.

She heard a small jingling coming from the door. Cadence turned to look, surprised with the sight of a tall man she had never seen before. No one really came in around this time unless they were a regular. His skin was tan, his nose and cheeks reddened by the cold. He was much more fancy than her usual patrons with his deep gray suit and tie peeking out from under his peacoat jacket and deep red scarf. He walked over to the bar, sitting down at a stool as he removed his outerwear. He certainly was handsome. His tan skin was complemented by green eyes and dark brown hair. He had laugh lines near the corners of his thin lips, but they gave him character instead of making him look old like they usually did for other people. Cadence kept her gaze from his, knowing she would blush if he noticed her staring.

She sauntered over to the fancy man, leaning on the bar slightly. "What can i get you, suit?"

The man chuckled, shaking his head.. "Scotch, neat please."Cadence nodded and turned around,preparing the man's scotch. She turned back to him, setting the glass in front of him.

"So, what's your name?" She pulled up a chair and rested her chin on her hands. The man sipped his scotch.

"Rafael Barba." His smile was lopsided. Shit. Cadence mentally hit herself for finding it attractive. "And yours?"

"Cadence Hampton." Cadence thought for a moment. Rafael Barba. The name was simple, but exotic. Slightly familiar as well. "Hey," She squinted suspiciously. "Have I heard your name before?"

"Perhaps. I'm an ADA, and I've worked a few well-known cases." Rafael sighed, noticing Cadence tilted her head in confusion. "I did the Adam Cain case a few years back, and did the Rutnik trial more recently." Cadence's eyebrows raised in recognition.

"The Adam Cain case! I was there sitting in the gallery. I didn't recognize you without the belt around your neck." She stood, grabbing a bottle of wine. "You did a really good job with that, though. Scared the jurors half to death with the whole 'strangling' thing."

Rafael chuckled. "Imagine how it felt to have that belt around your neck." Cadence poured herself a glass of wine, taking a long sip. "Drinking on the job?" Rafael Joked. "Hardly professional."

Cadence snorted. "My wine, my bar, my job. Don't. Care." Rafael shrugged.

"Fair enough." He finished off his glass of scotch. "Tell me about yourself. What's a girl like you doing running a place like this?" Cadence shoved his arm playfully.

"Well..." She started. "I didn't always used to live here, in New York. I was born in Oregon. I came out here for... Well, It's rather cliche, but I wanted to be a broadway star." Cadence heard Rafael snort, and swatted his arm. "Hey, you asked. Anyway, I came out here when I was 19. Worked here to try to get a start, and a place to live. This old guy, who used to be the owner, took pity on me when I couldn't find a place to live. 'Cadie,' He said. 'You're doin' your best out there, but you can't keep livin' in motels all your life.' So, he took me in."

Rafael turned his head slightly and opened his mouth to say something before Cadence raised a hand to silence him. "If you're about to ask about his family, he had none. His wife divorced him, took their kid, and wouldn't let the kid see them till they were 18. I never met them, so they must not have cared enough. Anyway, the owner and I got so close, that when he died, he left me this old place."

Rafael smiled, pushing the empty glass towards Cadence for a refill. "Sounds Like a good man."

She smiled and refilled his glass. "He was."

Cadence and Rafael talked until well after closing time. She didn't know whether it was the wine glasses, or the way he charmed her like she was a member of the jury on a tough case, but Cadence felt like they really clicked. She was also pleasantly surprised to find that her new male friend was a lightweight when it came to alcohol. Rafael had become rather lush and tipsy, which made him a little more loose and... Flirty? Cadence couldn't help but laugh as the composed man who came in earlier had become a dorky, flirty mess right before her eyes.

"Now," said Rafael. He had taken off his suit jacket, his sleeves rolled up and tie loosened. "What do I have to do..." Hiccup. "To get a pretty girl like you into bed with me?"

Cadence shook her head, helping him get his jacket back on. "You can come back here when you're sober, and ask me to dinner." She couldn't tell you how many men had hit on her when they were drunk. Thankfully, Rafael wasn't handsy like the others. Rafael paid for his drinks and went outside and Cadence followed him to make sure he got into his cab alright.

"Fine." Rafael smirked as he raised his hand to hail a taxi. "I'll be back tomorrow, around lunch. Wear something cute, would you?" A cab pulled up, and Rafael kissed her hand before stepping in. Cadence shook her head as she watched his cab drive away. She walked back inside the bar and sighed to herself as she locked the door and leaned against it. She cleaned the place up, sweeping the floor and rinsing the glasses. Cadence grabbed the bottle of wine and looked at it before heading back behind the counter. She unlocked the door to her small apartment and thanked God that it was connected to the bar so that she wouldn't have to walk home this late at night.

Cadence made her way to her bedroom and set the bottle of wine on her nightstand. She slipped into an old tee shirt and pyjama pants, taking a swig of the wine. She got under the covers and stared at the ceiling. Hundreds of playbills were tacked up, with fairy lights hanging down as well. At least I can watch my dream, Cadence thought. Turning over to her side, Cadence's thoughts also couldn't help but drift towards Rafael. She laughed to herself and knew she would be surprised if he actually showed up tomorrow. Or if he even would remember her.