Free For the Defense by M.J. Rodgers Page B

What’s a genius like Mel doing in summer school?”
    “She’s in a special curriculum for gifted youngsters. A former NASA scientist is here this week showing some incredible shots taken by the Hubble telescope, which is why I’ve been driving her to attend his lectures.”
    As Jack had suspected, her daughter was the one subject Diana didn’t hesitate to discuss. That proud parent syndrome at work. He filed the mental note away for possible future use.
    “How does she normally attend class?” he asked.
    “Online. The Internet is far more efficient because taking classes by e-mail allows her to progress at her own pace. She’ll be back to accessing all of her course work online next week, thus ending my chauffeuring duties.”
    “So this is the only week she has a chance to interact with her peers.”
    “The term peer is difficult to define with Mel. The student closest in chronological age to her in this astronomy class is fourteen.”
    “Does she ever mix with other nine-year-olds?”
    “I’ve put her in several classes with children her own age. She warned me if I ever tried to do it again, she’d report me for child abuse.”
    Jack smiled.
    “There are five other gifted children in the area,” Diana said. “Mel seems to feel most comfortable around them, despite their different talents, ages and academic advancement. The leader of the gifted children’s program has themperforming in a play together in a few weeks so they can interact with one another as children for a change.”
    “What kind of play?” Jack asked.
    “A murder mystery Mel wrote.”
    “Is Mel the heroine or villain?”
    “They drew names out of a hat to decide which role they’d play. Mel got the name of the victim.”
    “I doubt that’s going over well.”
    Diana’s smile told Jack his comment was on target. She had a really good smile. His reaction to it must have shown on his face because he saw the resulting withdrawal on hers.
    “I have to drop some books by the jail for Connie to read before driving Mel home,” she said, deftly changing the subject.
    Jack glanced at his watch, doing the math. That would give him time to talk to Richard. “Then I’ll expect you in my office in ninety minutes.”
    Before she could think up an excuse why she couldn’t, he was out the door.
     
    “D IANA ?” Gail’s voice called from behind her.
    Diana halted on her way to the back door and turned to see her friend exiting her office. “How did your case go yesterday?” Diana asked.
    “Acquitted, all counts,” Gail said, smiling.
    “Great going. That’s five wins in a row. Not that I’m surprised. Your defendants had the superior counsel.”
    “The prosecutor’s case was flimsy and poorly presented,” Gail said. “If I know Staker, he’ll can that incompetent soon. The dunce actually looked shocked to lose.”
    Diana wasn’t fooled. Gail was being modest.
    Her friend moved closer as she lowered her voice.“Speaking of surprises, I thought you were going to fill me in on the Pearce case?”
    “I came by yesterday afternoon but you were in court,” Diana said. “What about over lunch in my office tomorrow? No, wait. Scratch that. I’ll be in a meeting with Staker. I might not get back in time.”
    “How about now?” Gail suggested.
    Diana shook her head. “I’ve got to run, and I’m tied up the rest of the day. Thursday I have to interview a witness on the Pearce case. Friday?”
    “Friday?” Gail repeated, frowning. “No, I have something personal to attend to on Friday. How about we grab dinner after work today?”
    “Mel and I will be out apartment hunting.”
    “Oh, right. I forgot.”
    “How’s lunch on Monday?”
    “Guess Monday will have to do, but if you’re deliberately postponing this to increase the suspense, I think you should know it’s working.”
    Diana smiled as she waved goodbye and headed for the door.
    As she darted to her car through a light drizzle, she wished she did have time to talk