“What?” she gasped.
He was wondering if she hit her head. “Where did you think I was?”
“I thought you were out. Ben, I’m so sorry. I’ll call Rachel and find out what’s going on.”
“Has he called you?” he asked.
She didn’t immediately answer. “Ben, I’m going to get you out of there. Are they treating you okay?”
“He’s called you, hasn’t he?”
“I’m fine. It’s you I’m worried about. How’s your hand? Your eye? Did they let you see a doctor?” she asked the questions rapid fire.
“Katherine, I’m okay, really. It’s jail. I’ll survive,” he whispered into the phone, not appreciating the audience behind him.
He heard her sob and knew she was crying. “Ben, I can’t believe this is happening.”
He took a deep breath. “Katherine, I need you to stay safe. Stay out of harm’s way. I’ll be fine.”
“Ben, I’ll figure out what’s going on. I’ll make sure you’re out soon.”
He smiled, happy to know she hadn’t run. He could deal with his cellmates as long as she was outside waiting for him. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll get it all worked out. I’m fine.”
The guard tapped him on the shoulder, indicating his phone call was over. He’d accomplished nothing, but hearing her voice made him feel better. He’d been unable to relax all night, terrified Tim had found her and punished her for what he had done. Every time he closed his eyes he had a vision of her being slammed into the ground, Tim’s large body smothering her as he used his fists on her.
“Katherine, call Rachel and tell her to call my lawyer, please. I have to go,” he said, rushing out the words as the guard demanded he hang up.
“Ben,” he heard her say his name, but the phone was slammed down.
He stood up, dreading his return to the cell, but glad he got to hear her voice. It would have to be enough. Hopefully she heard what he’d said. Rachel would have to be wondering where he was. She’d probably already filed a missing person’s report. Katherine said she would call Rachel. He had to assume they’d already been in touch. If that was the case, why was he still sitting in jail? His lawyer should have had him out within hours.
“Back to your cell,” the guard ordered, shoving him in the back.
Ben was already writing complaint letters in his head. The whole roughing him up thing was bullshit. Innocent until proven guilty was a real thing. These guys needed to learn that.
“Shouldn’t I be arraigned soon or something like that?” Ben asked. “You waited sixteen hours before you let me have a phone call. Is this standard operating procedure?”
The guard smirked. “Something like that. Your money doesn’t buy you shit in here. You might be rich outside this place, but in here, it’s guys like me that run the show.”
Ben turned to look at him. “Have I done something to you that I don’t know about?”
The guy shrugged a shoulder. “I don’t like guys like you. You think you can buy your way out of anything.”
Ben wasn’t going to argue. Not in here. He would pick his battles.
The cell door slid open and Ben found himself facing the most unwelcoming faces he’d ever seen.
“Looks like our pretty boy is back. Who gets first dibs?” the drunk man asked.
“Settle down boys, there’s enough of me to go around,” Ben said in a joking manner.
“Not by the time we’re finished with you,” tattooed guy replied.
For the first time since the guy had been brought into the cell, the older gentleman who’d not said a word finally spoke. “Guys like him can buy and sell you dumbasses all day long.”
The other two men stopped talking and looked at him before turning back to study Ben more carefully
“Look at those shoes. I bet they cost more than any of you will make in your lifetime.”