Riverstar (3) by Tess Thompson Page A

to her as if she were a dull-witted child.
    She stifled her first response, which was to say, yeah, dirty, hot sex the likes of which you will never have , but instead she said only, “Yes.”
    Carrot Cop got up from the table and headed toward the door. “Hold on. I’ll get you that soda.”
    Halleluiah. Caffeine. Bella went to the window, looking down at the street below. Echo Grove was another sleepy town, thirty minutes north of River Valley but part of the same county. It was nestled in a valley as well, big in comparison to River Valley’s population of 1,420, with a population of just over 15,000. Neither of the two towns was prepared for the momentous size of this story, she thought. The number of people from the press that would invade these quiet communities would be unfathomable. She could only imagine what ridiculous theories the tabloids would invent. Bella thought of the film. Would Graham and Richard continue production?
    It was unlikely Richard or Graham would want to stop filming. Tiffany had only filmed one scene in the time they’d spent on the movie thus far. With only two days’ worth of work, she could easily be replaced. This was Hollywood. Famous one minute, dead the next. No one would care but the fans. As Hitchcock used to say, the actors and actresses were just talent, interchangeable on any given day in Hollywood.
    Carrot Cop walked back in and set a can of Diet Coke on the table. “I think we’re done here but we still have some questions for your boyfriend. You can wait in the lobby.”
     
     

CHAPTER SEVEN
 
    BELLA SAT ON A BENCH in the hallway of the station while they kept Ben for several more hours. Around three o’clock in the afternoon he was released from questioning. His usually clean-shaven face was scruffy and his eyes blood-shot. “They wouldn’t give me anything to eat. I feel weak,” he said, falling into her arms.
    “I got something for you.” She guided him onto the bench and then rummaged inside her bag for the cheese and turkey sandwich she’d bought for him from the vending machine. “Was it awful?”
    “Yeah, pretty much.” He bit into the sandwich, chewing quickly before taking another bite. “They kept going over the same stuff again and again, like they were trying to trip me up.”
    He finished the sandwich in five bites. “Thanks for this. How are we getting home?”
    “Drake and Annie are on their way.”
    He turned to her, taking her hand. “How long did they question you?”
    “A couple of hours. Several intense hours.”
    “Bella, I’m scared. They think I did this.”
    “It’s all right.” She lowered her voice. “Listen, did they tell you she was raped?”
    “What? No.” He looked startled and then a look of comprehension crossed his face. “They were trying to get me to admit to that. They asked me a dozen times if I’d slept with her. I told them there was no way that girl was capable of having sex the way she was when I left her. She was totally out of it. Not to mention it’s not exactly sexy to get puked on.” His eyes darted to her face. “You know I didn’t do this, right?”
    “Of course I do.” She put her hand on his knee. “But this is good news. Because they’ll be able to do a DNA test and prove it isn’t your sperm.”
    Something like relief crossed his face. “You’re right. And that’ll clear me.” He paused. “I guess. There are still ways they could pin it on me though. These small town cops scare me and I have the distinct feeling they’re crooked.”
    “I agree. I didn’t want to say it out loud but I’m afraid you’re right.” She rose from the bench and started pacing. “You said Tiffany was talking crazy in the car. Do you remember what she said?”
    He looked at her. “Yeah. I told the cops this too. She was talking about some married guy she was sleeping with. I got the impression she was talking about the director.”
    Bella felt shock, right in the middle of her chest. “That’s