Page 11 of Texas Scandal

“We both know the lasagna was mouthwateringly good,” she said. “I just didn’t think you were the kind of person who needed the ego boost with a whole bunch of flattery.”

“When it comes to cooking, my ego can use all the help it can get,” he said as he ran the dishes underneath the water in the sink.

“Well, it was amazing,” she reassured. “And I’m the one who should be doing the dishes since you cooked.”

“Reheated,” he countered. “There’s a difference.” He didn’t miss a beat. “And thank you for the compliment.”

“You cooked my meal at some point,” she said with a fist on her hip. Negotiating with this man didn’t seem like it was going to do her a whole lot of good.

The sound of tires pulling up the drive stopped all light conversation. It was like a heavy cloud descended over the room, the air suddenly thick. She needed to know the details of what was going on despite nothing inside her wanting to hear specifics on how a man was murdered. Then there was the lawyer who was now her defense attorney. She would be pressed to go into the whole story behind her father’s incarceration.

Dredging up the past was the worst. She avoided talking about her family at all costs. Now, she had no choice. Moving to the kitchen window, she watched a polished-looking man exit his Suburban. The serious look on his face fired off warning shots as she tried to prepare for what was ahead.

Chapter Five

John Prescott was several inches shorter than Tiernan’s six-foot-three-inch height. He was slim with a runner’s build and someone who probably played tennis on the weekends with his wife at the country club. He’d graduated UT Law first in his class and had a national reputation for winning in court. Tiernan hoped bringing in Prescott for Melody’s case was overkill, but he wouldn’t take any chances considering she was being treated as a suspect instead of a witness.

Tiernan moved to the front door and then opened it before Prescott reached the small porch. “Thank you for coming and taking this case personally.” The man, the legend of Texas law, wouldn’t normally handle a case that wasn’t highly visible but he’d come from Cider Creek, just like Tiernan, and folks from there had a way of sticking together. Their families knew each other and went way back. Prescott was a few years older than Tiernan, so the two had never been in the same grade in school.

“No question,” Prescott said without hesitation. He hopped the couple of steps onto the porch, and then extended a hand. A small laptop was tucked underneath his left arm. His grayish-blue slacks were tailored, as was his steel-colored shirt. His handshake was firm and relayed a message of confidence. His gaze shifted over Tiernan’s right shoulder to Melody, who was standing behind him. Tiernan could feel her presence without looking back.

“Mr. Prescott,” she said. Her voice had a forced calm that said she was anything but. He could only imagine what must be going through her mind right now.

“Please, call me John,” Prescott said as Tiernan stepped aside so the two could shake hands.

“Melody,” she said in response.

“Come in,” Tiernan urged as Loki plodded over. The full stomach helped calm his two-year-old-after-eating-a-bowl-of-candy demeanor. Night was always the best time with him after he’d played out most of his energy. He had two speeds, breakneck pace and dead stop. In the evenings, Loki would curl up on the couch next to Tiernan while he watched a game.

Tiernan led them into the kitchen as Loki loped along, straggling and bringing up the rear.

“Does anyone want coffee?” he asked.

Prescott looked to Melody. She nodded. “Make it three,” he said.

“Won’t take but a second,” Tiernan said, moving into the kitchen and quickly putting on a pot. He’d always been one of those people who could drink a cup and still fall asleep an hour later.

“Who is this, by the way?” Prescott set his laptop down on the granite island and then took a knee beside Loki, whose tail was cranking up to a feverish wag. It was a good indicator of his energy level. The attention pushed him into hyper mode.

“That would be Loki,” Tiernan said. The dog rolled over onto his back, exposing his belly in a display of complete trust. Prescott had a way with animals that impressed Tiernan.

“He’s a good boy,” Prescott said. Anyone who was this good with dogs couldn’t be a bad person. It had become a litmus test of sorts and held true to this day. Tiernan kept an eye on anyone a good dog didn’t take to.

After a few minutes of tummy scratching, mugs were filled with coffee. Tiernan brought them over and set them down as Prescott stood up then took an empty stool. He sat farthest to the left, Melody took the middle seat and Tiernan sat to her right. She pushed her chair away from the granite island far enough for everyone to be able to see each other’s faces before picking up her coffee mug and rolling it around in her palms. A nervous tick?

The ease from earlier was gone. Tension so thick Tiernan could cut it with a knife filled the room as Prescott opened his laptop and booted up.

“The reason it took me a while to get here is because I drove past your house on the way,” Prescott stated with a frown. He grabbed the cup by the rim and managed a sip before setting it down again. “I crossed paths with the sheriff and a deputy who were on your street.”

“What? Why would they be at my home?” she asked as concern lines wrinkled her forehead. Tiernan wondered the same thing. Why?

“It’s not unexpected in a murder case,” Prescott said, stopping long enough to turn and make eye contact with Melody. “But it says they are looking at you as a suspect, so we need to keep our guards up at this point.”

“Are they planning to arrest me?” she asked.

“Not today, they’re not,” he said. “I intend to keep it that way.”

“How?” she asked, a slight tremor in her voice.

---