Adrian
I am just drifting off into sleep when my phone rings. “Hmm, go away,” I murmur into my pillow. I’m frigging exhausted.
“Hello,” I answer groggily.
“Get over here!” Cameron yells.
I sit up instantly. “What’s happened?” I stammer. “What’s he done?”
“Joshua got arrested for Natasha’s murder,” he yells.
With my heartbeat racing through my chest I feel relief at that news-it could be worse. I’m half scared he’s got something else in mind. Then the knowledge sinks in. “What?” I frown. “Joshua,” I repeat.
“Who is our fucking lawyer?” Cameron screams.
Oh shit, I jump out of bed while rubbing my eyes. What now? “Um.” I shake my head as I try to remember his name. “I’m on my way.”
I hang up and get dressed as quickly as I can and call the lawyer. Luckily he has seen the news and is on his way to the police station now. How much more shit can we take? Half an hour later I arrive at Joshua’s house and walk into the lounge room to find Bridget distraught and the mothers crying as they watch the news on the television.
Now on breaking news, Joshua Stanton billionaire software developer has been arrested and charged with the murder of his wife Natasha Stanton. Natasha went missing from their luxury yacht 26 days ago in what can only be described as bizarre circumstances. Many are likening this to the Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood case thirty years ago. In explosive allegations a love triangle had emerged between Natasha, her husband and Natasha’s bodyguard only hours before her death. Police are yet to disclose the evidence they have found.
“Turn that shit off,” Cameron snaps. I look around the room full of people, but there’s no sign of Ben.
“Where’s Ben?” I ask Bridget.
She shrugs. “I don’t know.”
I walk through the house in search of him. He’s taking this hard and blaming himself for Natasha’s death. It’s not his fault; it’s nobody’s fault. I walk up the hall and the only light on in the corridor is coming from Joshua’s garage. With a heavy heart I open the door and between the two cars I see Ben, his back to me and his head down.
“Ben,” I call as I walk toward him.
He drops his head and doesn’t answer me.
I walk around to face him and he has tears streaming down his face.
Empathy fills me. “Ben,” I whisper.
He shakes his head, unable to speak.
I grab him in an embrace. “Ben, it’s ok. This is not your fault.”
“It is,” he grinds out.
I pull back to look at his face. “Ben, pull your shit together. More than anytime in Joshua’s life he needs you now to be strong and lead his security team.”
He screws his face up as he tries to hold in the tears. “I don’t know what to do,” he whispers.
I run my hand down my face as I think-we are all so out of our depth.
He shakes his head. “I can’t figure this out. I don’t know how to figure this out, Adrian.”
“Nicholas is a psychologist and may have an opinion on the suspects. He will be here tomorrow. We can work this out, Ben, but I need you with me.”
His head stays down.
“Joshua and I, even Cameron, have full faith in you and the longer you sit around blaming yourself the longer the killer is walking free.”
His haunted eyes meet mine.
“Get your fucking shit together and help us,” I urge.
He nods.
“I mean it.”
He nods again.
“And talk to Bridget, she needs you more than ever and you’re just being a prick.”
He wipes his eyes. “I can’t handle Bridget at the moment.” He shakes his head. “She’s just screaming at me all the time and crying.”
“Her sister was just murdered, Ben. What do you expect? You can’t be that naïve as to think that she would take this well,” I snap. God, this guy is clueless when it comes to women.
He swallows as he listens and pulls his hands through his hair.
“Man up, get out there and do what Joshua is paying you to do,” I snap.
He nods with renewed purpose.
“We can do it Ben, I know we can. We can find this person.”
He gives me a sad nod and walks toward the houseguests.
I blow out a deep breath. Now I just have to figure out what the hell I’m supposed to do next.
Joshua
I walk through the police station with my hands behind me in handcuffs. The officers all stop what they are doing and stare and I drop my head in shame. How could they think I did this to Natasha? I adored her. I wish it was me dead instead of her. I am ushered into a cell and a pair of orange overalls lie folded on the bed.
“Get changed, Mr Stanton,” the female officer says as she undoes the handcuffs behind my back. I hold my wrists in my hands as I stare at her. I don’t think I have ever been so close to the edge. I’m about to lose it.
Stay calm, stay calm.
“I said get dressed,” she snaps.
I frown. “What? Here?” I snap as I gesture to the twenty something people who can see into the cell through the glass wall.
She fakes a smile. “Get used to it. We save the privacy for non-murderers down the hall,” she sneers sarcastically. The male guard snickers under his breath.
“We need to do a full body search,” he replies.
“You are not touching me,” I snap.
She rolls her eyes. “Just take all of your clothes off and put them onto the bed, pretty boy. Remove your underwear and socks and when we are satisfied you may put those two items back on.”