Riverstar (3) by Tess Thompson Page B

impossible. Richard’s a family guy. He and his wife have like a million kids, all adopted. He’s not the type to sleep with one of his actresses. Especially not one like Tiffany.”
    “She said it was someone powerful who had a lot of influence over her career and that she didn’t even like him but that she felt like she had to keep sleeping with him. Then she started crying and carrying on and I was scrambling to find some tissue in my glove box and it was pouring down rain and all I could think of was getting to you.” His voice broke on this last part. “Bella, this is a nightmare.” He put his hands on his knees, gazing at the floor. “If they arrest me for this I could lose my job. I’ll never recover even if it’s proven I didn’t do it.”
    She kneeled beside him, the stone floor cold through her jeans. “It’s not going to get to that.” An image came to her of Tiffany that day on the swing. They’d talked about Graham. Someone powerful who had a lot of influence over her career? It had to be Graham. Had he raped her? Was he capable of this?
    Ben raised his head, peering into her eyes. “You won’t run away, will you?”
    “I promised you last night I wouldn’t and I won’t. This will be over before you know it.” She perched between his legs and kissed him on the mouth, gently, before wrapping her arms around his neck. They were in this embrace when they heard footsteps coming down the hall. It was Genevieve and Stefan.
    Stefan had his arm around Gennie, their gazes on the floor, talking quietly. Bella stood, calling out to them.
    “Oh, guys, we’re so glad to see you,” said Gennie. “We’ve been worried sick. They called us in around noon and before that I was frantically texting you, Bella.”
    “I’m sorry. I left my cell phone in the guesthouse. They brought us here in the cop car and I forgot to grab it,” said Bella. “We’ve been here ever since.”
    Ben was on his feet now as well. Stefan reached out to shake his hand. “Quite a thing,” said Stefan.
    Bella watched him closely for signs of suspicion. Stefan and Gennie barely knew Ben. Would they think he did this? But she read nothing but sympathy on Stefan’s face.
    Genevieve put her arm around Bella’s waist. “We want you guys to know we told them the absolute truth about everything that happened at the bar last night. In detail. Like actors do.”
    “Thanks,” said Ben, “I appreciate it.” But his eyes were dull.
    Stefan patted Ben’s shoulder. “Hey, this is going to be fine. They’ll figure out who did this soon enough and you can put this behind you.”
    “No good deed goes unpunished,” said Ben in a way that Bella knew was supposed to be funny but came out hollow.
    Just then, Drake and Annie came down the hall, walking fast, looking like two worried parents after a playground accident. “Oh, thank God, you’re out of there,” said Annie, reaching for Bella and pulling her into a hug. “What did they do to you guys?” She turned to Drake. “This is absolutely ridiculous. How could they keep them in there all day?”
    Drake embraced Ben. Next to her brother, he looked smaller than he had the day before, despite the fact that he and Drake were around the same height and build. “Don’t worry, I’ll hire the best attorney we can find if this goes any further.”
    “I’m freaked, man. Really freaked,” said Ben. “These cops seem dirty.”
    “I know. They’re eager to arrest someone and look like heroes, regardless of evidence.” Drake’s eyes were steely and determined. Bella felt less afraid in his company. Her big brother would make sure nothing happened to Ben. “I called Peter Ball this afternoon. He’s going to take a week off and come down.”
    Ben’s shoulders relaxed. “No way? Peter’s doing that for me?”
    “Yeah,” answered Drake. “He wants to help. Anyone who knows you knows there’s no way you did this.”
    “And Bella, the craziest thing? He already knew about the