Page 4 of Texas Scandal

“What’s actually going on?” The trepidation in her voice made him think she was preparing for the worst, but what did that mean? “Am I under arrest or some kind of suspect? Because I’m confused right now as to what’s going on and am starting to believe that I might need to request a lawyer.”

“Like I mentioned, there’s been a murder, so I’m not at liberty to discuss the details of the case with you,” he stated. “All I can say is that your name came up during the investigation.”

Melody took a step back as though she’d experienced a physical blow. She dropped her gaze to the concrete like she might find answers there. A few seconds later, she glanced into the SUV’s passenger seat and searched his face. Normally, he would smile but this wasn’t the time for pleasantries. Plus, the panicked look on her face made it clear she wasn’t in the mood.

“How?” she asked, folding her arms across her chest as if creating a barricade between her and the shocking news. She glanced around before quickly continuing, “Why? I mean, this doesn’t make any sense. Murder? Who is dead? And where did this happen? How on earth would that be connected to me? I just got out of an interview. You can verify where I’ve been this morning. Unless...” Her gaze shot up and to the left, like the answers she couldn’t find on the concrete might be up there somewhere. Confusion wrinkled her forehead, and his heart went out to her. He was no investigator but she looked like she’d been bowled over by a truck.

“Those are all good questions, ma’am. That’s why I’m here, trying to piece together what happened and why,” Deputy Calhoun said. “There are a lot of open-ended issues in this case. We’re hoping you can provide some information that can close some loops.”

“I’m not sure how I’m supposed to do that if you don’t tell me who was...” She clamped her mouth shut and closed her eyes.

There was a single slip of paper in the deceased person’s pocket. No ID. No wallet. No money. Just a slip of paper with a name and address. Tiernan hadn’t gotten a glimpse of the paper and had had to deduce this was the person they were picking up after asking if the deputy could wait while he changed out of the clothes he’d been wearing. Clothes that smelled like death. He never wanted to see those items again, so he’d tossed them in the trash can outside. The deputy had also given a helpful tip to rub a little vapor rub underneath his nose to help overpower the stench. Otherwise, he’d be smelling dead body for several hours, possibly even days. He’d come upon deceased animals before, but they’d never had the kind of impact finding a human being did.

“I’m not sure how I can be of help, but I’ll do whatever you need,” she finally said.

“Do you mind riding to the sheriff’s office with me? We have a few more questions and you might be more comfortable answering them there,” Calhoun said as Melody tensed up.

“I’ll get the note first,” she said before walking around to the passenger side of her vehicle. She retrieved a small piece of paper a little wider than a parking ticket. The city of Austin made their fair share of revenue from the fact parking was a joke downtown. She held the slip out to Calhoun, who asked her to wait a second. He came back to the SUV long enough to retrieve an evidence bag.

Melody dropped it inside with a shocked look on her face. There was no way she was processing everything that was going on. It was evident on her face and the way she stood there, looking lost. A primal protective instinct surged in him at the sight. One that had no business in the middle of a murder investigation. She was innocent. He didn’t doubt that one bit. She would have to be one hell of an actress to pull off looking this lost and in shock.

“I have a ride-along passenger today,” Calhoun said. “That puts you in back.”

“I guess it’s settled then,” she said, but her tone told him that she wasn’t thrilled with the idea.

Tiernan exited the vehicle and held the door open. “Why don’t you take my seat? I don’t mind riding in back.” There was no rhyme or reason for his actions. From somewhere down deep, he didn’t want the deputy to have the image of her riding in the cage back there. Chalk it up to Tiernan’s chivalry or those pesky protective instincts, but he knew she wasn’t a suspect.

“Thank you,” Melody said with a grateful look in her eyes as she rounded the front of the SUV and then climbed in the seat. He shut the door behind her and took his place in back.

“Don’t let him forget me back here,” he said with a slight smile as Calhoun examined the outside of her vehicle, bending down long enough to get a good look at her tires.

“That’s a promise,” she said. The honesty and determination in those three words shouldn’t cause his chest to squeeze.

Which was probably why he felt compelled to add, “No one would blame you for hiring an attorney.”

He glanced up at the recording device that was pointed toward Calhoun as he performed his inspection. The audio would reveal what Tiernan had just said but he’d kept the advice generic enough. No one should get too wound up over his words and he’d done nothing wrong.

“Can I ask how you’re attached to all of this?” she asked as she craned her neck around. Her heart-shaped face with those golden eyes made her even more beautiful up close. Her kissable pink lips weren’t something he should be focusing on right now, so he managed to force his gaze away.

Since the camera faced the opposite direction, he brought his index finger up to his lips as he fixed his gaze on the recording device. And then he willed her to understand what his actions meant.

MELODYGOTIT. The handsome cowboy in the back seat pointed toward some kind of ceiling-mounted recording device. He didn’t want to talk because of the piece of technology spying on them. This man would be called gorgeous by most standards, but she didn’t care about his looks right now even though he had the whole tall, muscled, almost intimidatingly handsome bit down to a tee. Since he’d been riding in front, she highly doubted he was a suspect. Who was he and how was he connected to any of this?

Deputy Calhoun climbed into the driver’s seat, took a second to acknowledge the musical chairs and then shrugged before closing the door and pulling out of her apartment complex. The passenger in the back seat remained silent. Based on the fact neither seemed to want their conversation replayed in a courtroom someday now that she was on board with the situation, they both stayed quiet on the drive to the sheriff’s office.

Melody hoped her questions about the man with cobalt blue eyes would be answered soon. He appeared to have her best interest at heart and yet she had no idea how or why. Patience wasn’t exactly her strong suit. With no other choice, she sat back in her seat and recounted the day’s events. She’d gotten up early to get ready for her interview and showed up fifteen minutes before her scheduled time. In her mind, not getting the job wasn’t an option. She’d pulled out all her tricks in order to put her best foot forward.

Her mind snapped back to how small her problems seemed in comparison with someone being murdered. If she hadn’t just spoken to Coop on the phone, she would have been beyond scared for him. He was safe. Her thoughts shifted to her mother.

“Is the person murdered one of my family members?” she asked, breaking the code of silence out of a sense of urgency.

“I don’t have a name,” Deputy Calhoun stated.

“Male or female?” she quickly followed up. Melody might not be close with her mother but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t be heartsick if something happened to Tilly Cantor.

The deputy clamped his mouth closed like he was bound by oath not to reveal the sex of the victim.

“I need to know if my mother is alive,” she said quietly.

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