Panic filled Rachael at the harsh words spoken by a familiar voice she’d heard in dozens of movies and TV shows. She was about to get reamed by an actress best known for playing a psychotic woman often compared to Hannibal Lecter—only more diabolical. Her eyes went saucer-round as she looked at Jake. Who was no help at all—the big jerk was trying his best not to laugh.
“No,” the movie star continued. “Don’t youdarecall me Ms. Collins. It’s Bette, dear.”
Rachael’s mouth dropped open at the woman’s sudden warm, welcoming tone. Where was the screaming, the threats to disembowel Rachael for putting her son in danger?
“She told you to call her Bette, didn’t she?” Jake asked. His smirk spoke for itself and the words were,I told you so.
“Is that my son in the background?” Bette asked. “Tell him to pipe down. Women are talking.”
Now there’s some of the harshness I was expecting, Rachael thought.
“Um. Sure.” Rachael moved the phone away from her ear. “She wants you to pipe down. Women are—”
“Talking. Got it.” Jake pretended to zip his lips shut.
“Is he cutting you off? Rachael dear, is there another room you can go into? We won’t get a moment’s peace from my darling son otherwise.”
“There is. Hang on.”Oh my God, I just told Bette Collins to hang on. Rachael went into the bedroom. Right before she closed the door, she looked at Jake, who gave her the most encouraging smile as he made himself comfortable on the couch and grabbed the TV remote. As if this were normal, everyday life—Just my girlfriend talking to my mom. Better get comfortable because this’ll be a while.
Nothing was normal. Nothing would ever be normal again.
But…maybe it wouldn’tallbe bad.
“Okay. I barricaded myself in the bedroom.”God, what is wrong with me? She sat on the bed and pulled one of the pillows into her lap. The one that smelled like Jake.
Bette laughed, a warm sound which Jake echoed every time he laughed. “Excellent! That’s the only way to keep him from butting in. He’s so nosy. It’s no wonder he became FBI after the SEALs.”
“Wait. He never told me he was a Navy SEAL.”
“He didn’t?” Bette made a scoffing sound. “Nosyandsecretive. The FBI suits him better than I thought.” She continued, “But let’s not talk about him. I want to talk about you.”
Rachael felt nauseous as she clutched the pillow for support. This was it, the reaming she expected. Deserved. “I’m so sorry.”
“Let me stop you right there, Rachael. Two things you aren’t going to do. You aren’t going to call me Ms. Collins, and under no circumstances are you going to apologize to me or to anybody else for things that are not your fault. You did not cause the people around you to be vicious, to attack you, to abuse you. To use you the way they saw fit, no matter the pain it’s caused. I’m in show business, dear. It’s a ruthless profession. I’m not in a wheelchair now because of me, of what I did. I’m in a wheelchair because of a few bad men. I never asked to be attacked when I refused to spread my legs on a producer’s couch.”
Oh my God, she brought that up. Bette Collins had been attacked almost fifteen years ago. Rachael remembered the headlines from when it happened, how the big producer first claimed it was a burglary gone wrong, then an accident, then that Bette had a drug problem, that she was just as psychotic in real life as her career-defining role. Finally, that she was asking for it. Anything to refute her allegations that he’d sent a thug to her house to kill her after she threatened to go public with his serial attacks on her and other actresses. The industry took his side, until woman after woman came forward with similar stories about his skeevy behavior and outright assaults.
“I always believed in you, in your story,” Rachael said, holding back tears.
“Thank you.” Bette’s words sounded heartfelt. “Because of people like you who did believe the truth, that filthy pig is behind bars today. All his power and influence couldn’t protect him in the face of the truth, not when so many brave women joined together and refused to back down. Rachael,” her voice went soft and warm, a mother’s voice, “I want you to know that I believe in you, in your goodness. My son has amazing instincts when it comes to people. I trust him when he says that you are a victim in this mess. And also that you are strong and brave and you’ll do the right thing to see that justice is served. My son will protect you to the ends of the earth, you can count on it. And even though I’m far away, I’m adding my support and love for you, to his.” She paused to let that sink in. “Hehastold you he loves you, right?”
Rachael laughed as she wiped her tears away. “Yes, he has.”
“Good. I was afraid he was being secretive about that, too, and I’d have to have a little talk with him.” Bette’s laugh joined Rachael’s. “You love him, too, don’t you?”
“So much.” Rachael’s heart fell. “But, I can’t. It’s wrong. He’s losing his job over this. Probably already has.”
“It might not be the worst thing for him, dear. He loved being a SEAL. I think his decision to go into the FBI was…not the best one. Or in the end, even his idea.”
“What do you mean?” Rachael hugged the pillow to her chest.
Bette paused. “I think I’ll let you bring that up with him. But the important thing now is for you to stay safe until you can walk free. My son will see to that. I’m looking forward to the day Jake brings you home and Dan and I and the rest of the family can meet you. I understand you have a lovely singing voice.”
Rachael tried to speak but nothing came out. Bette Collins wanted to meether? The thought of going to California with Jake was amazing enough, but this….
“I look forward to meeting you, too,” she choked out.
“Wonderful. You’ll stay with us, of course. Oh, and, I do know a few people in the music industry, people who can be trusted. If you ever thought of turning your singing into a career, please let me help you.”
