Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116760 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 467(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
“We won’t be appearing on camera,” Hayes said. “And I won’t sign any release papers. Besides, I thought you were away for a month and that your daughter wasn’t a part of any of your shows.”
“We are and she isn’t,” Benner said. “There won’t be any cameras.”
“We will sign the NDA though,” Corbin added, needing to give her something to take out the sting of Hayes’ words. “Nice to meet you, Barb.”
Barb’s phone started ringing and she let out a frustrated noise. “I need to get that. But before you go, I need you both to promise you will tell me if Bluebelle starts acting strangely or irrationally.”
Corbin shot Hayes a look. This was weird and not a standard request.
“What do you mean strange or irrational?” Corbin asked.
“We don’t know her. How would we know if her behavior is strange?” Hayes asked.
“Well, just strange in general. If she does something reckless. If she tries to take a bunch of pills or snort cocaine or dance naked in the rain.”
“Is that something that’s likely to happen?” Corbin asked, worried. Was Bluebelle suicidal? A drug user?
The dancing naked in the rain didn’t sound so bad.
“You’ll have to forgive Barb; she really is just worried about our daughter’s safety,” Benner said calmly. “There’s been no actual evidence of drugs or anything else. It’s just that she’s been acting . . .”
“Irrationally. Recklessly.” Barb looked bitter. “She quit the show because of Ericc and went off traveling for a year. Then she came back to go to college, and I thought she was finally going to make something of herself. But she quit college without completing her degree and came back to live in the slums.”
“It’s hardly the slums, dear,” Benner said as her phone started ringing again. “You best get that.”
Barb nodded. “Please leave all your contact details and I’ll have my assistant forward the NDAs to you.”
Corbin nodded as they left and followed Benner into a masculine-looking office. There were shelves with awards and a vast record collection. A wide, wooden desk down one end, but it was clear to see that he spent most of his time in this room sitting on the brown leather sofa by the record player.
That’s where he headed while Corbin and Hayes took seats in the tub chairs across from him.
Large glass doors across one wall stopped the room from being too dark.
“I feel like I should apologize for Barb. She comes across as driven and unfeeling, but she does love Bluebelle. She’s concerned that she’s headed down a bad path. She’s not wrong when she says that Bebe is acting strangely. I understood her refusal to do the show anymore. And her need to get away. Unfortunately, I had no idea about Ericc or that Barb would let Bebe find out in such a brutal, public way. I nearly didn’t forgive her for that. Bebe hasn’t.”
Corbin understood that.
“So we’re not here to guard her from other people but to guard her from herself?” Hayes asked. “Is that what you’re saying? Because that’s not exactly our job.”
Benton sat back with a sigh. “No. There have been death threats. But there are always threats, and most of them are just people talking out their asses. I hope these are the same, and if Bebe was willing to move in here or take the threats seriously, I wouldn’t be so worried. Eight months ago, she quit college and moved back here to stay for a while. And she was quiet, not at all like her normal self. I was really concerned about her. Then, one day, she just bought a house. Didn’t tell us she was planning to do that or anything. She moved out a few weeks later. She won’t tell her mother or me what’s going on with her. I just don’t want to leave her alone while I don’t know her state of mind.”
Corbin glanced at Hayes. This definitely sounded less and less like a typical job.
“I know you might feel that I’ve misled you. But the threats are real. And I wanted Kent on this job because I trust him. That’s something that’s hard to come by in this industry. So I hope you’re willing to stay.”
Again, Corbin looked to Hayes. They could pull the plug if they wanted. And he fully expected Hayes to do that.
“We’ll meet her,” Hayes said. “And we’ll keep a watch on her. But we’re not babysitters.”
Benton nodded, clear relief on his face. “Understood. And I am worried about these threats. So far, we’ve been unable to trace where they’ve come from.”
“I can also have a go at that,” Corbin offered.
“Thanks. That would be great. The more help, the better. I’ve arranged a vehicle for you while you’re here. And Barb has probably sent through the NDAs. You can sign them now if you like, then I’ll give you Bebe’s address.”