Chapter 32 #2
Zoey’s voice cracked as a tear sprang free.
“Veronica was my Big! I was afraid she’d get kicked out of the house, or worse, out of school!
I panicked. I thought if there wasn’t any money to find, everything would be okay.
I didn’t stop to think she might be accused of stealing it!
Not until everyone started blaming her when it was gone.
I was going to tell everyone, I swear. I just got scared.
The money’s been here in my room the whole time.
It’s all there. Every penny.” Zoey handed the backpack to Celeste.
“Veronica’s innocent,” Mia said. “She didn’t steal the money. And, technically, the money never left the house. It was in the possession of the sorority all along—”
“And an acting board member,” Ava added.
“—so it wasn’t really even stolen, per se. More like it was misplaced,” Vero chimed in on Zoey’s behalf.
“We’ll pay everyone back and do whatever we have to do,” Ava said.
“I’ll step down from the board. I’ll talk to anyone I have to talk to,” Zoey promised.
Mia turned to Officer Oates. “See? It was all a misunderstanding. Just like we said. You can take the handcuffs off of Veronica and let her go.”
Officer Oates shook her head. “I wish it was that simple, ladies. But these two have more serious charges to worry about now.”
“Like what?” Vero asked.
Officer Oates counted off on her hand. “Tampering with a monitoring device, violating curfew, evading arrest, stealing a police vehicle—”
Bennett cleared his voice and leaned his head in the door.
“Excuse me. I don’t mean to interrupt.” Celeste stepped aside to make room as he squeezed himself inside with the rest of us.
His tie had been straightened and cinched, and his shirtsleeves had been rolled back down and buttoned at his wrists.
He smoothed a hand through his hair, making himself presentable as he passed Officer Oates a business card.
“I couldn’t help but overhear. I’m an account manager for Dinwiddie and Strauss.
You’ve probably heard of our public relations firm or seen us on TV.
We’ve handled several high-profile cases throughout the metropolitan area recently—political scandals, disgraced celebrities, malpractice stains, corporate blunders…
” He held down his tie as he leaned close and lowered his voice.
“We’ve been known to smooth over faux pas for law enforcement agencies from time to time.
As I understand it, there was quite a scare at the home where Ms. Ramirez was taken into custody earlier tonight. Some kind of hostage crisis, was it?”
I glanced past Bennett into the hallway. Cam flashed me a discreet thumbs-up. How much had he told Ben in the two minutes they’d been waiting in the hall?
“A bomb threat,” Officer Oates clarified.
“Right. That’s terrifying stuff,” Ben said gravely. “I’m sure the story is already making its rounds on the news. It’s a good thing Ms. Donovan was there. Who knows what might have happened to Ms. Ramirez if this Good Samaritan hadn’t saved her life?”
Officer Oates frowned at him like he had lost his mind. “This woman stole a police car and interfered with an arrest. She didn’t save anyone’s life.”
Ben shrugged. “You could see it that way. But I’m willing to bet the court of public opinion will see Ms. Donovan as a hero.
After all, the vehicle was left unattended,” he explained to Officer Oates, infusing his observation with gravitas.
“The engine was left running and the driver’s door was left ajar.
Imagine if that car had been in the blast zone of a bomb while a falsely accused, innocent woman was handcuffed inside it, helpless, and unable to get out.
” Ben put his hand on my shoulder. “Ms. Donovan jumped into action to save that woman’s life, selflessly risking her own to relocate the vehicle a safe distance away from the threat.
Her actions will surely be seen as heroic when it airs on the news.
Especially when the press gets wind of the fact that Ms. Ramirez had been indicted for a crime she never committed.
Viewers love an underdog story, and this one has the legs to go viral. ”
“Are you threatening me?” Officer Oates’s voice sharpened.
Ben held up his hands. “Not at all, Officer. I’m just pointing out that charging these women might cast you in an unflattering light.
At the very least, it would bring a lot of unwanted attention to your department.
Ms. Donovan is, after all, a highly respected literary celebrity, and her name alone is likely to draw a lot of press.
She has thousands of fans who would surely be interested in hearing her story.
And who better to write a true-crime documentary about her terrible ordeal than the author who lived through it? ”
Officer Oates’s shocked eyes snapped to me.
I risked a glance at Cam, who was smirking in the hall.
“The car you’ve accused Ms. Donovan of taking was found,” Ben continued in a coaxing voice.
“It was left at the scene in perfect condition. And Ms. Ramirez has been proven innocent of the charges against her—a fact that would never have come to light if she had remained trapped in the back of that car,” he pointed out.
“I understand if you feel Ms. Ramirez hasn’t suffered enough, but the public might feel otherwise.
” He withdrew a freshly printed coupon from his wallet and handed it to Officer Oates.
She looked at it dubiously. When she didn’t reach for it, he extended the offer to me.
“If you or your agent need a great PR firm to help you navigate all this, Ms. Donovan, I’m confident we can position you in the best possible light.
I have a lot of contacts with the local news channels, and our firm has quite a bit of experience dealing with delicate situations involving celebrities of your status.
” Ben tucked the coupon into my jacket pocket for me, a reminder that his offer came with conditions in fine print—his help in exchange for my silence.
He gave me a sly wink before walking out the door.