LIVING ON THE EDGE

CHAPTER: 21

A chilly wind slapped Sharon in the face as she stepped out of the car. She grabbed her briefcase and moved swiftly onto the wide country porch, past the hanging swing bench, and to the front door. A sign that said, "Come in! We are Open!" dangled above the door. A small bell rang as she entered.

Melanie Jackson owned a Yoga and meditation center that she ran out of the lower floor of her house. Soft lighting surrounded an empty reception desk and the quiet, calm murmurs of chanting of 'OM'  and ongoing yoga session crept into the hallway. Sharon proceeded down a dim, narrow staircase into the hall, and took a seat in a wide hallway that served as a lobby, and watched the end of the class through the squeaky-clean glass doors. Melanie and her students were in a downward-facing dog position before getting into a seated position for cool-down. After that everyone together said 'Namaste' in a chorus form, as the class ended. Sharon observed Melanie's pleasant face as she spoke in a soft tone that bounced gently off the glass doors. After a few relaxation breaths, Melanie dismissed the class, and then a crowd of women of various backgrounds and ages gathered around their teacher.

Melanie smiled and conversed briefly with the students, flashing a warm, but well-practiced smile. Huntsville is full of male yoga instructors. Sharon wondered if Melanie Jackson conducted classes for men as well? Within minutes, the room was clear and Melanie was standing in front of her with a frozen smile on her face.

"Hello. Mrs. Stone, I assume?" Melanie asked.

Melanie was barely five feet tall, and she held out a small, amazingly soft, and manicured hand. She was a tiny woman with flawless brown skin that conveyed no indication of her age. Her eyes were big, and were almond-shaped, and were a deep brown shade. Her strong and sharp nails caught the edge of Sharon's palm on the release of the handshake. She wore a thin smile and avoided all attempts at eye contact, and her small frame gave off a hint of vulnerability as well as a strange air of caution and comfort.

"Thank you for meeting with me, Ms. Jackson."

"Of course. We can talk in my office," Melanie said.

Sharon followed her through the light pink studio into a moderately sized, neat, and clean space. A large desk, free of office knickknacks, was in the right-hand corner of the room. She did not have any personal items in the office, and it was clean and professional. There were two chairs adjacent to the desk, and the upholstery was a shade of red. Without turning her head, Melanie caught Sharon's curious glance and creased eyebrows.

Sharon could see Melanie's eyes flicking around. It was probably a trace of her hidden criminal behavior lying just beneath the calmness, or had Sharon been doing this job for too long?

"My office is different, I know. I want my students to feel like we are all on the same level, so we sit side by side when they come to talk with me," Melanie justified.

"Interesting. I like that approach," Sharon said.

"Thank you. I hope it creates a sense of welcome," Melanie said. She then smiled and sat down, folding her hands on her red leotard-clad lap.

"Thanks again for meeting with me. I am interested in what you can tell me about Adriana Reed," Sharon said.

"Yes. I know that," Melanie answered with peace, tranquility, and composure.

Sharon attempted to make eye contact, but Melanie continued to avoid her gaze.

"What do you think happened to Adriana?" Sharon asked.

"It is hard to say. She was my student and associate, but I do not think I have any information about Adriana's murder. I can tell you a little about our connection, though."

"Okay. Anything that you can tell me would be helpful," Sharon said.

"We met years ago when we were both living a different kind of life," Melanie said. 

"Was she also your best friend?" Sharon questioned her.

Melanie looked taken aback by the question. "We were acquainted, and she was my student. I first met her in high school when we were, as I said, living a different type of life."

Student and acquaintance? That was a little different than being best friends, Sharon thought. "What other types of life were you two living?" Sharon asked Melanie. 

"Drinking, partying... we were reckless, uninhibited. Our boyfriends were friends. There was a time when we squabbled over a loser, but you know how teenage love is? We only came into contact with one another a few times. After that, we fell out of contact, and then came across one another years later. We exchanged information and then well... you know how it is. Old acquaintances die hard, and in fact, promise to reconnect and keep in touch. Most of the time that does not happen though. But this time it did. We emailed, met for dinner a few times, and became friends once again. When I opened the studio, I invited her to take classes for free, as I did all my friends. Adriana was one of the few friends that took me up on my offer," Melanie said.

"Chase told me that you would come over for dinner often, and watched the kids now and then. You and Adriana must have been close?" Sharon asked her.

"I guess we were friends. I still do those things with Chase and the kids, even though Adriana is gone." And then absent-mindedly Melanie's hand reached up and smoothed her perfectly combed hair, which was tied into a neat bun. 

"It sounds like you and Adriana were very good, or best friends. She trusted you," Sharon said.

"Yes, and I trusted her," Melanie replied.

"I am trying to get a feel for Adriana as a person. Anything you know could be helpful," Sharon stated.

Melanie nodded her head but remained silent. She was not going to give anything that Sharon did not pull out of her.

Sharon said, "Chase says that an affair is out of the question?" 

"He is right. There was no affair. Adriana loved her family more than anyone I know," Melanie replied.

She had an edgy voice, with an anxious face. She had turned in her chair to face Sharon.

"You sound sure," Sharon said.

"Absolutely," she replied.

"Really? You have no doubts that there might have been something she did not tell you?" Sharon asked her.

"No; not about that. She was not having an affair." 

There was too much certainty in Melanie's voice, and her hands were gripping the sides of the chair. Her small fingers applied enough pressure to lose color. How could she be so sure that Adriana was not having an affair? Sharon wondered, and thus decided to change the subject.   

A/N: To be continued......