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Ready?”
    “Let’s go.” Tammy walked out the back door and over to Henry’s car. If only she knew what to say to make it better.
     

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    Pierce sat at the table in the jail's common room and watched the morning news. His jaw tightened as Jasmine tearfully accepted the tissue from a local reporter. She dabbed her eyes and took a shuddering breath before saying how horrible she felt for the family of Dr. Oldham. She had no idea her boyfriend could be so cruel.
    Pierce leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms across his chest. What could he say? Nothing. He was locked in jail as this woman, for lack of a better word, told the reporter that they were no longer dating. She could never date a murderer. The reporter gave Jasmine’s shoulder a supportive squeeze and then sent the camera to another reporter sitting in Dr. Oldham’s living room.
    Pierce leaned forward in the hard plastic chair as the camera zoomed in on the tired face of Mrs. Oldham. She had bags under her eyes and tears slowly trickled down her slightly wrinkled cheeks. Her salt-and-pepper hair was styled in a short pixie cut that didn’t allow any emotion to be hidden as she told the reporter how wonderful her husband was and that she “hoped Pierce Davies gets what he deserves.”
    Sitting next to Mrs. Oldham was Dr. Oldham’s teaching assistant, Aiden Fink. Aiden was the T.A. during the last year of Pierce’s master’s program. He was a good enough guy who was working toward his Ph.D. Pierce knew that Aiden and the Oldhams spent a lot of time together since Aiden’s family was all in Utah.  He was a big-time skier. The round glasses and bow tie hid that fact, though.
    Aiden nodded. His thinning hair fell to cover his eyes as he grimaced at the reporter’s question about Pierce and Dr. Oldham’s relationship. Aiden told of Pierce’s good grades and that Dr. Oldham and Pierce often worked together late into the night.
    A sinking feeling settled in the bottom of his stomach. His mentor’s wife, someone he had had countless dinners with, thought he could murder his own friend. Aiden was noncommittal on his answer but was definitely not supporting him either. It was bad enough Jasmine thought it, but it was clear she was just in for the attention. The sinking feeling plummeted ever more. He was going to spend the rest of his life in jail.
    “Davies! Your attorney is here.” The guard escorted Pierce into the meeting room and locked the door behind him.
    “Henry! Tammy! I'm so glad to see you two. How are my parents?” Pierce worried as he took a seat at the metal table.
    “They’re fine. Your parents love you very much. And Morgan is going to handle the media for them,” Tammy told him as she took a seat next to Henry.
    Pierce tried to pay attention as Henry explained how the arraignment and bail hearing worked. His eyes kept drifting toward Tammy as she took notes and tried to look reassuring. All Pierce could see were Mrs. Oldham’s tears. Had he caused that?
    “Pierce.” Henry interrupted Pierce’s downward thoughts. “You don't say a word to anyone tomorrow unless the judge asks you a direct question. Most likely, Judge Cooper won't speak directly to you. He’ll address each question to me. We’ll plead not guilty and move for bail to be set immediately due to your roots in the community and the fact you have no priors. Then we’ll see if we can raise the money necessary to get you out of jail. Hopefully, by tomorrow afternoon you’ll be home.”
    “Really?” Pierce sat up in his chair, suddenly feeling a little better.
    “Yes, really. Just keep your head down, keep quiet, and we’ll pull through this,” Henry said as he stood up. He looked at Pierce and then at Tammy still sitting in the chair. “Tammy, why don’t you stay here while I get the car pulled around and answer any questions Pierce has about his family.”
    Tammy nodded and then looked over to Pierce. He sat, watching her until Henry left the