Free Nets and Lies by Katie Ashley Page B

leather chair, never taking my eyes off of the two men in suits.
    They must’ve noticed my apprehension because they smiled. The tallest one stepped forward and extended his hand. “Melanie, my name is Jay Pendley. And my partner is Lewis McKay.” He paused for me to shake both of their hands. “We’re investigators with the SVU of the Sheriff’s Department.”
    My heart pounded in my ears. “SVU? Like the television show?”
    Detective Pendley laughed. “Yes, I suppose so. We’re here to investigate a claim of sexual misconduct.”
    “S-Sexual misconduct?” I repeated, lamely. Don’t let your voice crack, Mel. Then the familiar Miranda rights echoed in my head.. . Anything you say or do can be used against you in a court of law.
    “Yes, by one of the coaches here at the school,” Detective McKay replied.
    I glanced across the desk at Dr. Micheltree. She briefly met my gaze before averting her eyes to her desk calendar. Keep yourself together. Don’t blush, don’t stutter, don’t give them anything.
    I played dumb as best I could. “Um, who are you supposed to be investigating?”
    Detective McKay exchanged a glance with Detective Pendley. There was so much eye-shifting and strange looks it made my skin crawl. Finally, he spoke. “Mark Thompson.”
    I jolted back in my seat like I had been stunned with a taser. Oh God, they know. How do they do possibly know?
    At my reaction, Detective Pendley nodded. “I know it probably sounds unbelievable at the moment, but we do have some evidence to back it up.”
    Evidence? What kind of evidence could they possibly have? Pictures, video, an eyewitness? “But what does this have to do with me?” Give them something good, Mel. Push the heat off you anyway you can. I gasped and brought my hand to my chest almost theatrically. “Did one of the other players accuse him of something?”
    “No, it wasn’t one of the other players.” Detective Pendley hesitated. He looked over at Detective McKay who nodded. “It was Jordan Solano.”
    I was stunned. It took a moment for me to even put a name with a face. Suddenly, a scene flashed before my eyes. It was of Jordan and Coach T at the ball game a few weeks ago. Plainly, I could see her flirting with him, but I also saw the look of amusement on his face. He certainly wasn’t reciprocating her advances. I couldn’t imagine why she would lie about such a thing.
    I shook my head at the officers. In a voice that didn’t sound like my own, I blurted, “Coach T would never do something like that.”
    “Melanie, we—”
    For Will and for my fractured sanity, I continued coming to Coach T’s defense. “She’s lying. I know she is.”
    “That’s a pretty hefty claim,” Officer McKay countered.
    “But I know her. Jordan’s always in trouble. And when she’s not in trouble, she’s lying to get herself out of trouble. Don’t you know she’s a slut!”
    “Melanie!” Dr. Micheltree admonished.
    I couldn’t blame her shock. I acted like someone even I didn’t recognize. The Old Melanie would have never thought of calling someone a slut in front of the principal. I would have blushed and died a thousand deaths. But the Old Melanie was dead—staked through the heart on an old futon in Coach T’s office.
    So, the New Melanie shrugged my shoulders in total apathy. “Well, she is.”
    Detective Pendley shook his head. “Ms. Solano’s character outside of this investigation is not our concern.”
    “But how can it not be?” I protested. “I watch enough TV to know that an accuser’s character is always taken into consideration.” When they didn’t respond, I continued on, “I know she had crush on Coach T, and she flirted with him all the time. But I know he would never have acted on it.” Right, Mel. He’s one hell of a stand up guy. He doesn’t hit it with the flirty slut. Oh, no, he just rapes his star player on the futon in his office.
    Detective Pendley held up his hand. “Melanie, there’s