The Liar

“I’ll say it,” Shelby said before Forrest could. “Let me go, Griffin. I won’t do anything. I apologize to you, Mrs. Piedmont. Not to her, but to you, I apologize. This is your home, and I should never have come here this way. I was too mad to think straight.”

“Grandmama, make her go away. She belongs in jail.”

“Be quiet now, Melody. It’ll only hurt to talk. Why did you come here like this?”

“Because she went a lot further than saying ugly things, or slashing tires or making up lies. This time, she paid Arlo Kattery a thousand dollars, and promised a thousand more, if he put a scare into me, if he taught me a lesson.”

“I never did any such thing. Why, I wouldn’t lower myself to speak to Arlo Kattery or any of his kin. He’s a liar and so are you.”

“I said be quiet, Melody Louisa! Why would you say Melody did this?”

“Because Arlo ran Griffin off the road last night, wrecked his truck. Look at him, Mrs. Piedmont. He’s hurt because he made sure I got home safe, and because he did, Arlo couldn’t get to me and do what she’d paid him to do. He got to Griff instead. She went down to the holler, down to Arlo’s trailer, and paid him to do it.”

“She’s crazy. A liar.”

“Oh my God.” Jolene stood just outside the French doors, a blue ice pack in her hand. “Oh my God, Melody, I didn’t think you meant it. I never thought you meant it.”

“You shut up, you hear! Don’t you dare say another word, Jolene, not one more word.”

“I won’t shut up. I won’t. My God, Melody, this isn’t just playing, just gossip or poking some fun. I didn’t think she meant it, I swear to God, I never thought she meant it.”

“You hold your tongue, Melody. Meant what, Jolene?” Florence demanded. “Stop blubbering now and say it straight-out.”

“She said, after Miz Vi banned us, she said she knew how to get back at Shelby. She knew how to teach her a lesson she wouldn’t forget, and how Arlo would likely do it for free, but she’d sweeten that pot.”

“Liar!” Scrambling up, Melody launched herself at Jolene, fingers curled to scratch.

She might’ve done considerable damage if Jolene, in shocked defense, hadn’t thrown the ice bag at her.

The lucky shot knocked Melody back a step, and gave Forrest time to pull her back.

“You’d best listen to your grandmama, and hold your tongue. Jolene, let’s hear the rest.”

“What is wrong with you? What is the matter with you, Melody? I just don’t know.”

“You’d better shut your mouth, Jolene, or you’ll be sorry.”

“Jolene!” Florence’s voice cut through Jolene’s fresh weeping. “You tell Deputy Pomeroy the rest of what you know, and right now. If you don’t be quiet, Melody, I swear to God Almighty, I’ll slap you myself.”

“Oh, Miz Florence. I told what she said, and I promise, I swear, I didn’t believe she meant to do anything. I was so upset, and crying, and I just said to stop it, stop it, Melody, and went on about who was going to do my hair for the wedding because Crystal, she knows just how I want it done, and it’s my wedding day, Miz Florence. I just was so upset, and Melody didn’t say any more. But she’d said what I told you. I didn’t think she could—”

“You traitorous bitch. She was part of it.” Melody threw out a hand, pointed. “She was part of it.”

“I wasn’t, but maybe you can’t believe that, Shelby, since I’ve been part of things. But never to really hurt somebody. I’m tired of it. I’m so tired of all of it.”

She sat, began to weep into her hands.

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Piedmont, but I’m going to have to take these ladies into the station house and sort this out.”

Her back straight as a poker, Florence nodded. “Yes, I can see that. Jolene, you stop that crying now and go on with Deputy Pomeroy. Melody, go with the deputy.”

“I don’t want to go with him. It’s all just some story that lowlife made up, and Jolene’s lying. She’s just lying.”

“I’m not lying!”

And that started the two of them shouting at each other until Forrest broke in. “I’d advise the two of you to be quiet. Melody, you can come along on your own, or I’m going to haul you.”

“You take your hands off me this minute!” The threat had her struggling against his hold. “I don’t go anywhere I don’t want to go.”

And her grandmother surged to her feet.

“Melody Louisa Bunker, if you don’t go along with Deputy Pomeroy and stop resisting, you have my oath I’ll do nothing to help you. I’ll make certain your mama doesn’t do a thing to help you.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“By God, I do. You go with Forrest, and you go now, or I wash my hands of it, and you.”

“I’ll go. But now I know you’re just as hateful as the rest.”

“I’ll take Melody,” Forrest said to Griff. “Best if you take Shelby and Jolene. You’re still deputized.”

“Hell. All right. Jolene?”

“I’m coming. I won’t give you any trouble. Shelby, I’m so sorry about all this. I’m just—”

“It’s probably best, too, if everybody stays quiet on the ride in,” Griff suggested, and got an easy smile from Forrest.

“Like I said, you ever want a career change. Melody, you walk to my cruiser under your own power, or I’ll cuff you.”