E-- treats her place like a museum, but I kind of expected that. I was asked to remove my shoes at the door and told not to sit on the couch by the window.

     We went straight to the kitchen. There was no tour of the house. “Men see a bedroom,” she said, “and they get the wrong idea.”

     She had her hair up in a ponytail and I liked that. Most women my age keep their hair short.

     E-- complimented my shirt and said she was impressed with my wine selection. She served the curry and before I knew it, the small talk was over. E-- got right down to business.

     “Do you own a gun?”

     I hadn’t even lifted my fork yet.

     &ldquo...

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