What Now? (30 page)

“You’ve
got no case. This is clearly a case of my client being framed. I’m going to
make a couple of phone calls. I’ll be back in a few minutes, Nick. Don’t
worry.”

Michael
Bryant was well connected. With any luck he’d know someone who could get him
out of there. In less than an hour, Nick was walking out of the station,
flanked by Brad and Michael. He didn’t know who had been called and he didn’t
care; he was just glad to be free.

“I
can’t believe what just happened. I feel as if I’m in the twilight zone and
I’ll wake up at any time and find that this was a bad dream.”

“We’ll
go back to the hotel and you can tell us everything.”

“It’s
Tim. I’m sure he’s behind it. He promised that he would bring me down. I need a
phone. Has Lily called my parents?”

Brad
nodded. 

“I
left her to call them and do damage control.”

“What
about Shari?”

“Well
no, I didn’t tell her to call Shari. I didn’t know that she was on the list to
call in case of emergencies.”

Nick
desperately started to pray that Shari wouldn’t see anything on TV before he
had the chance to call her.

Lord,
how could this happen? You know that I’m innocent. You and that crazy woman,
Angel Bell. Help me to clear my name.

Shari
finished tidying up the last of her notes to send to the narrator of the
documentary. She was very pleased with the work she’d done to capture Nick’s
journey in the documentary. It had only been a few days since she came back
from Barbados and she was yet to think about their last night without cringing
with shame. She knew that she’d been forgiven, but that didn’t mean she had
forgotten how she had tempted Nick, almost to the point of losing control. She
didn’t know what stopped him. More likely, it was who.

“Shari,
you better come and see this.” One of her work colleagues called her to a TV
screen mounted on the wall near their cubicles.

“To
repeat, in breaking news, rock star Nick Badley was arrested at an upscale
hotel in Hollywood today on charges of attempted rape and possession of
cocaine. No further details are available at present, but we will share them as
they come to hand. This is Crystal Denning reporting.”

Shari
felt as if someone had slapped her in the face and punched her in the stomach. The
air rushed out of her and she blindly looked around for a chair to sit in
before her legs gave out.

“I’m
so sorry, Shari.”

“Surely
you don’t believe that garbage, Brit,” snapped Shari.

“Well,
I don’t know him like you do, but these celebrities sometimes believe that they
can have any woman they want and they’re usually into drugs.”

“Nick
is not like that!”

“Shari,
Gerry wants to see you in his office. He doesn’t look too happy,” one of her
other colleagues informed her.

He’d
probably just gotten the news and was freaking out about what it would do to the
documentary that they’d just spent a fortune making. She sighed and rose on her
still shaky legs not sure what she could tell him. She knew that Nick didn’t do
drugs. And he would never try to rape anyone.

Shari
unlocked the door and pushed it open, dropping her bag on the hall table. Her
cell phone began to ring and she quickly dug around in her bag until she
located it. It was Nick. Her hands shook as she connected the call while she
walked to the sofa that she and Nick had sat on only a few weeks ago.

“Nick!
What is happening? Where are you?”

“Hi,
Shari. I see you’ve heard.”

“It’s
hard not to when it’s all over the news.”

“You
know that it’s not true, right?”

“Of
course, Nick.” 

Nick
let out a breath that he didn’t realize he’d been holding. He thanked God that
Shari believed him without question.

“I
can’t go into all the details now, but Brad called my lawyer who got me out on
bail an hour ago so I’m back home. But I’ve been charged with possession of
cocaine and attempted rape.”

“I
heard, but that’s ludicrous!”

“I
think Tim has something to do with it.”

“Tim.
My God.” She had told Nick not to underestimate him, but she still hadn’t
expected anything like that. “Do you want me to fly out? I can probably sell it
to Gerry as an exclusive.”

“I
actually forgot that you’re a journalist for a minute. I would love you to fly
out. You can stay here. My parents and my sisters are coming to offer support,
they said. They would be glad to see you again.”

“OK.
How are you doing?” She asked softly.

“At
first I was in shock and then I was really angry, now I can’t believe that this
is happening. I’d love to call Tim, but my lawyer has cautioned me not to make
any contact.”

“How
strong is the case?”

“I
don’t know yet. The police found cocaine in my bathroom at the hotel, but it
was planted and it’s my word against hers that I tried to rape her. I can’t
believe I fell for that sob story. I’ll tell you all about it when you get
here.”

“OK,
I’ll see what flights are available and I’ll send you a message when I know.
I’ll be praying for you. Remember that ‘all things work together for good...’ ”

“Yeah,
but I don’t know if that applies to me anymore.”

“It
can again, Nick. Don’t lose hope.”

“Thanks
for believing in me, Shari. I love you.”

“I
love you too.” She disconnected the call and flew into action. Nick needed her,
but more than her he needed God.

Nick
sat on his deck staring blindly at the bubbling water of the pool. He felt that
he should be doing something, but he didn’t know what. He’d already written
down exactly what had happened for his lawyer who felt that he could get the
case dismissed. He hoped so because the alternative didn’t bear thinking about.
Just being shut up in the cell for that short time today made him crazy. He
couldn’t live that way for months far less years and for something he hadn’t
done.

Shari
had messaged him to say that there was a Delta flight leaving just after seven,
but it wouldn’t get into LAX until after 11 because it would stop in
Minneapolis first. She would take a cab from the airport so that he didn’t have
to leave home. It probably wouldn’t do him any good to be seen heading to the
airport, anyway.

At
least he would have company tonight and his sisters and his parents would be
coming tomorrow. Considering that he sometimes got frustrated that he had no
privacy and that there were always people around him, tonight he needed company
because he felt very alone and, he had to admit, scared. Suppose his lawyer was
wrong and he lost the case. What then?

Father,
I’ve gone my own way and, like the prodigal son, I’m not even worthy to be
called your son. But I’m throwing myself on your mercy and I pray that, like
the father in the story, you will welcome me back. I’ve tried everything and
nothing has satisfied me. I need you. You’re the answer to my question.

I
will never leave you nor forsake you.
The almost forgotten words popped
into his mind, giving him comfort.

No
weapon forged against you shall prosper and you will refute every tongue that
accuses you.

Wow!
Those words of promise that came to him, almost as naturally as breathing, stunned
him.

“Oh,
God.”

The
words tore from him, revealing the depth of the agony in his soul. He’d gone
his own way and done despicable things and yet God was promising not to leave
him or forsake him. He had promised that the plan that had been concocted
against him would fail and that he would disprove every false accusation.

A sense
of peace and certainty that everything would be all right flooded him and he
shamelessly dropped to his knees in a prayer of thanks.

By
the time Shari arrived close to midnight, she was surprised to find him in high
spirits and certain that everything would be fine.

“ ‘All
things work together for good for those who love God and are called according
to his purpose,’ ” he quoted to her.

Shari
shook her head at the change in Nick. “Wasn’t it only a few hours ago that you
were saying that didn’t apply to you?”

“Things
have changed since I spoke to you. Let’s get a cup of coffee and a sandwich and
I’ll tell you everything.”

Shari
woke up and stretched, looking around the unfamiliar room blankly for a moment.
Then she remembered; she was at Nick’s house. Her face broke into a wide smile
as their conversation last night came flooding back. She threw back the sheet,
eager to be with Nick again. He had come to his senses like the prodigal son
and had been welcomed back home by his Father. Amazing!

She
hurried to the en suite bathroom, had a quick shower and got ready to go downstairs.
She had packed so fast that she had forgotten her journal and now she would
love to write down everything that had happened. That would have to wait. Nick
had said that his lawyer was coming over first thing in the morning.

The
housekeeper directed her to the patio where Nick and his lawyer were meeting.

“Good
morning, my love,” greeted Nick, getting up to give her a quick kiss. “Shari,
this is Michael Bryant, my lawyer. Michael, this is Shari Goodwin, my…”

“Fiancée?”
filled in Shari with a question in her voice.

“Fiancée!”
confirmed Nick, pulling her in for a long, emotional hug.

“Congratulations.
When did this happen?”

“Just
now,” they said together and laughed.

Nick
pulled Shari down on his lap as he and Michael continued to discuss the case.
It probably wasn’t very businesslike, but he didn’t want to let Shari go, not even
for a minute.

His
phone rang, interrupting them. It was Steve calling to tell him that he didn’t
know if it meant anything, but Tim had called him when he was still in Barbados
and had questioned him about the retreat and whether they were using the same
hotel. He had totally forgotten about the conversation until that morning.

“That’s
it!” Nick said and silently added his thanks to God before relaying the call to
them.

“Great!
We have motive, evidence of his knowledge of your whereabouts and the evidence
in the room,” his lawyer said in satisfaction. “It’s a good thing they sealed
the room because, according to you, you hadn’t even gone into the bedroom yet
so leaving cocaine in the bathroom would be a bit unlikely. I also think the
girl’s credibility can be called into question in light of what you say
happened a few years ago. With a little pressure she’ll probably cave. I’m
confident that you won’t even see the inside of a court room. Leave it to me.”

“Thanks,
Michael.” Nick lifted Shari from his lap and stood up to shake his lawyer’s
hand.

“I’ll
call you as soon as I talk to the prosecutor and get him to drop the charges,”
Michael said as he made his way to the door.

Shari’s
tummy made a loud protesting noise to remind her that she hadn’t eaten yet.

“Let’s
get you fed and watered,” teased Nick. It was clear that he had total faith
that he would be vindicated.

By
the time his parents arrived, followed closely by his sisters, Michael had
called to say that the charges had been dropped due to lack of sufficient
evidence and also the accuser had confessed that she had been put up to it by
Tim Benton.

“Sorry
that you all came for nothing, but I really appreciate you dropping everything
to support me. And while we’re here we can have a small celebratory party.”

“To
celebrate the charges being dropped?” Nick’s mother asked.

“That
too, but, more importantly, to celebrate the fact that Shari has agreed to
marry me.”

There
were shrieks from his sisters and hugs from his parents for both of them. In
the midst of the celebration, Lily called to tell Nick to turn on the TV.

“…station
has had news that the case against Nick Badley has been dropped. Sources close
to Badley says that an investigation is currently being carried out to confirm
that Nick was framed and the cocaine was planted in his room by his accuser who
apparently visited the bathroom shortly before tearing her own dress and
running out of the suite. They have a suspect in custody.”

“All
things work together for good…” his mother said.

Nick
and Shari looked at each other and smiled. While Nick’s arrest had seemed like
the worst thing that could happen, it had brought him to his senses and
restored his relationship with God and now Shari could marry him.

“Where
should we get married?” he asked Shari. “And when?”

“How
about in a couple months in Barbados?”

“That’s my girl,” praised
Nick. “Sounds like a plan to me.”

The
villa and pool house were covered with flowers. Shari didn’t know how Nick had
managed to get it again so soon, but a couple of months after they had left
they were back again, this time with her mother and his family and some of
their close friends. They had kept the wedding plans very quiet, preferring to
announce it after it was a fait accompli rather than having to battle paparazzi
with telephoto lenses trying to capture photos to sell to the highest bidder.

The
beautiful ceremony was performed by her mother’s pastor who had baptized Shari
as a child and was delighted that she had “returned to the flock” as he put it.
He had been flown in along with their families and friends by private jet.

They
ate a sumptuous buffet prepared by the staff who was pleased to see them again,
especially since they were getting married this time. They had even created a
two-tiered wedding cake for them.

The
sky was beginning to turn pink as the sun sunk beneath the horizon when
everyone started to make noises about leaving. Nick had rented an eight-bedroom
villa nearby for their guests so that he and Shari could have this one to
themselves.

“Don’t
you think it’s time to leave?” he whispered to his sisters, encouraging them to
encourage the folks to move in the direction of the waiting cars. He and Shari
stood at the front door and waved to their departing guests before going in and
closing the door behind them. The staff finished cleaning up quickly and then
left in the van provided to take them home.