“First of all, I’d like to thank you for your cooperation,” Morgan said.
Mr. Emerson flashed a cold smile. “We both know you can subpoena my son. While we can be civilized about the situation, let’s not pretend it’s anything other than a legal requirement. My son has already told the police what he knows. You’ve no doubt already read his statement. He’ll answer all your questions as required by law, but nothing more.”
“We appreciate your candor,” Morgan returned. She opened her tote and pulled out a notebook, where she’d jotted down a list of questions. She’d let the interview guide itself, but there were specific points where she wanted to compare today’s answers to Jacob’s original statement.
Mr. Emerson leaned his tanned forearms on the edge of the table. “I’m also well aware that this is a fishing expedition. You’ll grab hold of anything that might cast doubt on your client’s innocence. I won’t let my son be Nick’s Hail Mary pass. So please keep your questions on point.”
Morgan nodded. So much for cooperation. What had she expected? If she proved Nick innocent, someone else had to be guilty. Mr. Emerson was well aware that his son, as Tessa’s ex-boyfriend, would be high up on the list of alternative suspects.
“Jacob,” she began. “You attended the lake party last Thursday night?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jacob folded his hands in his lap.
“What time did you arrive?” she asked.
“I don’t know exactly. I wasn’t checking the time.” His words were careful.
“Can you give me your best estimate?” she asked.
“Shortly before nine o’clock,” Jacob said.
“Were you the first one at the party?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Who was already there?”
“I don’t remember.” He didn’t break eye contact, but there was a slight twist to his mouth and a gleam in his eye that felt . . . mocking.
As if he was lying.
And he was good at it.
She moved on. “When did Nick and Tessa arrive?”
“I wasn’t watching the clock so I can’t give you the time.”
Morgan tried to pin him down. “Before or after you got there?”
“After,” he said.
Morgan made a note. She set down her pen and gave him her full attention. “Can you tell me what happened between you and Nick?”
“Nick and Tessa arrived at the lake. I said hello to her. She said hi back. Nick jumped between us and told me to stay away from her. He shoved me. I shoved back. We exchanged a few punches. It was over quickly. Nick and Tessa left. I stayed for another hour or so, and then went home.” Jacob recited this part without inflection, as if he’d memorized it.
“Were either of you injured in the fight?” she asked.
Jacob gave his head a slight shake. “I wasn’t.”
“What about Nick?”
“It was dark. I couldn’t see,” Jacob said.
Morgan changed her tactic, trying to elicit an emotional response. “Why do you think Nick got angry when you greeted Tessa?”
Mr. Emerson broke in. “There’s no way for my son to know what the other boy was thinking.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I’m just trying to understand what happened.” Morgan nodded. “Jacob, did you consume alcohol at the party?”
Jacob’s gaze dropped to the table. Real shame or fake? “I had a couple of beers.”
“Do you think your judgment was impaired?” Morgan asked.
Mr. Emerson leaned forward. “Please be specific, Ms. Dane. Exactly what do you mean by impaired?”
“Did you fight with Nick because you were drunk?” Morgan asked.
“I fought with Nick because he attacked me.” Jacob’s enunciation sharpened with irritation. Finally, a reaction.
“And all you said to Tessa was hello?” Morgan pressed.
But Mr. Emerson butted in. “Already stated.”
Jacob’s expression shuttered, his father’s interruption giving him time to smooth the annoyance from his face.
Morgan returned to her list. “What did Tessa and Nick do next?”
“They left.” Jacob’s voice had returned to its monotone.
“Did they drive or walk?” she asked.
He answered without moving. “They drove.”
“His car or hers?”
“His.” For a guy who said he wasn’t interested in Tessa, Jacob had been watching her every move.
“Tell me how the rest of the night played out.” Morgan set down her pen and watched him.
“I stayed at the party for a while, then I went home.” Jacob was going to make her drag every answer from him.
“Did you see Nick and Tessa again that night?”
“Yes. They came back to the party later,” Jacob answered. “They argued.”
“Did Nick leave before Tessa?”
“I don’t know. I wasn’t paying attention.” Jacob returned to his fallback position.
Morgan pretended to check her notes. “Tell me about your relationship with Tessa.”
Jacob shrugged. “We didn’t have a relationship. We dated a couple of times last spring, but we weren’t into each other. I’ve known her for years. My relationship with Tessa was more brother-sister.”
Mr. Emerson’s smile was sad. “My wife and Tessa’s grandmother thought they would make a handsome couple.”
“So you hadn’t spent much time with Tessa in the past few months?” Morgan clarified.
Jacob shrugged. “Not really.”
Morgan closed her notebook. “That’s all the questions I have for you right now, Jacob, unless there’s anything else you want to tell me?”
He shook his head.
“Then thank you both for making time to see us this afternoon.” Morgan rose and offered them both her hand. Lance, Mr. Emerson, and Jacob stood when she did.
The maid showed them out. Morgan waited until they were in the car. “Well?”
Lance started the Jeep and pulled away from the curb. “I don’t trust that kid. I didn’t feel sincerity coming from him. How did his answers match up to his police interview?”
“This is from Jacob’s police statement.” She cleared her throat and read. “Nick and Tessa arrived at the lake. I said hello to her. She said hi back. Nick jumped between us and told me to stay away from her. He shoved me. I shoved back. We exchanged a few punches. It was over quickly. Nick and Tessa left. I stayed for another hour or so, and then went home.”
“That sounds like what he said today.”
“It is exactly the same statement. Word for word.”
“So? His dad is a lawyer. Of course he coached him.”
“You’re right. I should have expected it.” Morgan stuffed the notebook into her bag. “Do you still have the video of the fight on your phone?”
“Yes.” He handed it to her and gave her his passcode.
“When I interviewed Nick, he said that he punched Jacob because Jacob knocked Tessa down when she tried to break up the fight.” Morgan pulled up the video and played it. She watched the scene play out exactly the way Nick described. “Jacob conveniently left that out of his version.”
“He has a very selective memory.”
“You picked up on that too?”