Perfect Night (Mason Creek)

“Not really. What we’ve got is a few women who trade sexual favors in return for helping them out with their rent or groceries.”

“Is that prostitution?”

“Not when she doesn’t specifically ask for a certain amount of money and just phrases it like she needs a little help without being specific, or so I hear. Most guys head a few towns over to the Lap Bar for a titty show and who knows what else. But it ain’t my town, ain’t my problem.”

“Names of the women who skate the line in town?”

He grinned. “I’ll let you find that out. Trust me, single guys like you will find out. Besides, if I told you, they’d see it in your eyes. This way, if they aren’t skating the line, you can arrest them.”

Great. That wasn’t my idea of a good first assignment.

“Is that all?” I asked.

“One more thing. Rumors are going around town you hit the bar last night.”

It was my turn to sigh. “I had a Coke. I bought a bottle so it was clear what I was drinking.”

“Some are saying Rum and Coke. In fact, at first when you weren’t here, I thought you might be nursing a hangover.”

I groaned. “It was just a Coke.”

“Why not get it from Java Jitters?”

“For the same reason, someone spreading rumors. I plan on buying a lot of coffee there. Since I was in the mood for Coke, I didn’t want anyone thinking I was making excuses to see Jessie.”

“The same can be said about you ending up at the bar. Someone else said they saw Emma in your truck last night.”

I didn’t think I would get used to the busy body nature of our town. I gritted my teeth, hating I had to explain myself. “Emma needed a friend. I invited her for Sunday dinner, nothing more.”

“People are going to talk. Be careful. Not a lot of single women in town. These boys around here get territorial. You should remember that.”

I was too disgusted to say anything about that. “Anything else?”

He handed me the other paper in his hand. “We got two BOLOs this morning. This is the second one. A missing girl down in Billings.”

“Do you think they are related?”

“Could be. The state boys just want us to keep our eyes open.”

I nodded and left. I sat behind my desk and hoped Emma wouldn’t get backlash for being seen with me while being engaged. My detective hat was fully engaged. I had to put Emma’s father’s investigation on hold. The sheriff was too shrewd. In fact, it was looking as if I might have to go around him to get answers to my questions. In the meantime, I searched the database to get more information about the BOLOs until it was time to see the mayor.

An hour later, we drove over to the town hall. We arrived at his office in time, but his admin kept us waiting another ten minutes before we were ushered inside. He was setting his phone down when we walked in. He stood. “Aiden Faulkner. I never thought you’d be a cop. I thought you’d be playing in the MLB.”

“I turned it down. It wasn’t for me.” I’d been drafted into the minors with a strong chance I’d end up in the pros.

“Really, I heard you didn’t get into the pros.”

“I didn’t. But even if I had, I wouldn’t have gone.”

“Then, why enter yourself in the draft?”

“No regrets. I didn’t want to look back and wonder. When I got there, I realized that wasn’t what I wanted in life.”

He laughed. “If I had your arm, I would have taken it and all the pussy it would have gotten me.”

“That makes us different.”

Malcolm narrowed his eyes and then straightened. “Why don’t we get to the point. Though it’s Sheriff Moon’s choice on whom to hire and fire, I thought it important we understand each other. This isn’t LA. Folks around here aren’t all bad.”

“I never thought so.”

“Good.”

The sheriff remained quiet. Different was the man I saw now and the one I’d looked up to when I was growing up. He’d been part of the reason I’d wanted to become a cop.

“The sheriff also tells me you’ve been spending time with Emma Hawkins. How is she?”

I gave the sheriff the side eye before plastering a brittle smile on my face. “Good as can be expected seeing as she buried her father only two days ago.”

“True. Can you tell me what her intentions are with the bar?” Malcolm asked.

Why was everyone asking? Then again, small town. But something was niggling at me. I couldn’t put my finger on it.

“Jack Riddle has a real interest in buying the place. It would be good if you convinced Emma to do the right thing,” Malcolm said.

“Right thing?” I asked, unable to hide the bite of my words.