Page 5 of Texas Scandal

“Male,” came the voice from the back seat, a voice that sent a wave of calm along with tingling sensations through her.

The deputy shot a murderous look toward the back.

“I haven’t checked my m-a-i-l,” the man said with a shrug, trying to cover for the fact he’d just answered a question the lawman didn’t. “But I didn’t mean to say that out loud.”

“I hope you don’t feel the need to blurt out any other details, Mr. Hayes,” the deputy chastised. It didn’t seem to affect the man in the back seat one way or another.

Melody recognized the last name Hayes from Hayes Cattle, one of the most successful ranches in the state. Also, one of the wealthiest families. She should know. The Cantor name used to mix and mingle with only the best. Although, her father had groaned about the Hayes sticking to themselves and not accepting invites. What had he called them? Rich rednecks? The snub had hurt his feelings more than he wanted to admit. But then her dad had always been about social standing over substance.

Given her present circumstance, she wondered if she should heed the handsome stranger’s advice and stop talking without a lawyer present. The thought caused a shiver to rock her body. The note was all that much more chilling now that she knew a murder had occurred. Once again, she wondered if someone was trying to lure her out of town and away from civilization. Have her show up to a place that couldn’t be traced to a text. The note could have easily been destroyed with a match. The flimsy paper would light up in a heartbeat, leaving no trace it had ever existed. It would look like she’d taken a drive and then never came back.

Would the person have done away with Melody’s Camry? Sold it for parts? She’d read the car’s popularity made it an easy target for thieves.

Deputy Calhoun pulled into the parking lot of the sheriff’s office. There was a jail behind a small brick building. Would she end up behind bars before the day was over? Share a cell with her father?

Tamping down what she hoped was an overreaction, she hopped out of the passenger seat almost as soon as the deputy pulled into a spot. He hadn’t cut off the engine before she was opening the back door.

“Tiernan Hayes,” he said with a gravelly campfire voice that awakened parts of her she’d become a little too good at ignoring. As he exited the vehicle, the scent of vapor rub assaulted her. It might be December but the smell caught her off guard. Shouldn’t he be wearing Axe or some chick-magnet cologne instead?

Filing the question underto be continued, she took the extended hand and shook. A jolt of electricity shot up her arm.

“You already know my name, but I’m Melody Cantor.” She wasn’t sure why she felt the need for a proper introduction, except that she did. Was it a restart?

“Good to meet you,” he said before adding, “Wish it was under better circumstances.”

She nodded before wrinkling her nose.

“Are you feeling okay?” she asked. Her grandmother had used swaths of vapor rub whenever Melody had the slightest cough.

“Yes. What makes you ask?” He studied her and her heart practically melted under the scrutiny. Then, he must have caught on because he leaned toward her and whispered, “Helps get rid of the smell of death.”

Melody suppressed a gasp. It clicked. He must have found the body.

Chapter Three

Tiernan resisted the urge to drop his hand to the small of Melody’s back as he walked her inside. She’d become too quiet after his revelation, no doubt the shock of it all catching up to her. He’d witnessed plenty of dead animals in his day growing up on the ranch, but a human was different. Awful. Tiernan Tough had been a chant from the crowd during his rodeo days. Right now, he felt anything but. The vapor rub had covered up a good part of the scent. But he’d probably never forget it.

The sheriff greeted them in the lobby. He was tall and lanky, wearing all desert brown colors except for a black Stetson, which was appropriate for this time of year. White was reserved for summer.

“Sheriff Cleve Tanner here,” he said, extending a handshake to Melody first and then Tiernan, who introduced themselves in turn. “Would you mind waiting in my office while I speak to my deputy?”

Tiernan’s gaze shifted to Melody, waiting for the okay. She gave a slight nod.

“Sounds good, Sheriff,” Tiernan said before being led down a short hallway and then into an office that looked like a time capsule from the ’70s.

“Make yourselves comfortable,” Sheriff Tanner instructed, motioning toward the pair of chairs opposite his massive desk. The room was dark with wood paneling lining the walls. The windows were small. There was an American flag and a Texas flag behind and to either side of the cowhide executive chair behind the oak desk.

The sheriff closed the door as he left.

Melody immediately turned to him and grabbed his forearm. “Please tell me what is going on.”

Physical contact sent a zing racing up his arm. She seemed to feel something in the same neighborhood, considering she released her grip at the exact moment the zing occurred. She stared at her hands before fisting them and dropping them to her sides.

“I don’t know much,” he warned, not wanting to get her hopes up too much. “There was a shallow grave on my property. My dog ran after a squirrel and then must have caught a scent. I found him digging at the site. I’d smelled dead animals before and knew the stench didn’t come from one of those, so I called 911 rather than disturb the area in case it turned out to be a crime scene.”

“How did you know to do all that?” she asked as an eyebrow shot up. “I probably would have trampled all over the place.”

“I grew up on a cattle ranch, and have tracked poachers in the past,” he said by way of explanation. “The sheriff and his deputies trained us not to disturb a possible crime scene. You’d be surprised at how much information they can get from a shoe print sometimes.” His answer resonated, considering she nodded and then took the couple of steps to the pair of chairs. She perched on the nearest one, back ramrod straight. She looked ready to bolt at a moment’s notice and like she needed to be as close to the door as possible.

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