Chapter 3

He saw her turn back to her drink, and take a sip. Not much of an attempt, he thought, then decided that perhaps he was just a bit edgy and needed to chill.

“You said, Hutchins? Are you any relation to Martha Hutchins over at The Mortar and Pestle, over there on Main and Greenlawn?” He hoped that this diversion would take them to safer grounds.

“Yes. She is my mother,” she replied, thinking about her mom’s natural herb and essential oils shop, a hobby that had bloomed into a thriving business. “I guess knowing all the business owners is kind of a job requirement.”

“I do try. But she made me a eucalyptus and mint rub for my knee that works like a miracle. Even on bad days, it takes away most of the pain. Reminds me that I have to swing by and get another jar.” He took a swig from his glass. “I didn’t know she had a daughter.”

“I have been away.”

He looked at her once again and saw what looked like a wince.

“I lived in California for about eight years.” She seemed a little reluctant.

“Wow, that sounds exciting. I bet you have a lot of stories from the big city.”

He started to take another swig but heard her mumble something and so he looked toward her again and saw that she had lowered her head. Crap, he thought, his brow furrowing, I’m always stepping in it.

“I wasn’t meaning to say something to upset you.” His concern was present in his voice and upon his face.

“It’s alright,” she said, trying to calm him, “I’m fine, I just...” He saw that she once again was at a loss for words. What is it with her? Mass murderer, he mused silently.

“I don’t mean to pry, but would you like to grab a table and talk? I’ve been told that I’m a pretty good listener.” Last chance. I don’t wanna sound like I’m hitting on her.

“Are you trying to interrogate me, sheriff?” He saw the first sign of mirth in her voice, and smile, but he was still a bit concerned.

“Ma’am, I am off duty. Nothing you say can or will be held against you. So how about it, do you need a friend to talk to?”

“No, really, I’m...” and she stopped once more. He waited, and just when the silence bordered on getting awkward, a sure sign for him to leave her alone, she spoke up again.

“Yeah. Okay. I’d like that a lot.” He looked at her and made the split-second decision that she was telling the truth, so he got John to refresh their drinks. Looking around, he saw a table in the corner and figured that it would offer the most privacy, at least in this place.

When they got settled and John brought the drinks over, she began talking again, oblivious to John’s wink at Rob, and Rob’s eye roll back at John. He turned his attention back to her.

“I moved to California to become an actress. In the end, I guess that’s what I was. When Levi said my name was Bobbie Soxx, that was my stage name.”

“Really?” He found this interesting, an actress, that was different. “Would I have seen you in anything?” His attention was now laser-focused on her.

She laughed, but he could tell that it wasn’t at his expense, almost more of a self-deprecating laugh. He waited, watching her take a deep breath.

“That would depend on the kind of thing you like to watch. You see, I ended up as an adult film actress.”

He sat nonplussed, but combat taught him how to not react one iota. His friends told him he’d be a terror at poker.

“I was a porn star.” She seemed to think that he must not have understood, or maybe she was waiting for some kind of reaction. He simply nodded, giving her tacit approval to continue.

And continue she did. A little reluctant at the beginning, but as she got more into the story the words came faster. She went in-depth, talking for minutes at a stretch seemingly without a breath. Occasionally she’d pause as if testing to see if he was still with her. Never once did he fall into the thousand-yard stare.

He was mesmerized a bit by how easily she talked about being naked on stage, and then the switch to porn. Several times during the near monologue he became somewhat aroused, partly because he wondered what she looked like under the baggy outfit, but also partly because of the way that she talked about her involvement in the sex industry.

She wasn’t vulgar, not at all, but there were some parts that he’d classify as racy. Not that he was a prude, far from it.