Surviving Bessie

6. Ravenspond

“Edith Van Heflin, the woman who gave you a ride from the Sun Dial Motel and who tried to sell you and Ash as prostitutes has been arrested and charged.” Detective Pederssen’s voice is quiet in the police station interrogation room.

Bessie and her parents are seated along with the Chief of Detectives, Leonora Cavish, who is busy tucking strands of her flaxen bob behind her ear. Bessie’s mother gasps audibly.

Eric continues, “With accessory to homicide in the disappearance of two cold case teenage runaways. Without your collaboration, Bessie, their families would never be finding peace.”

“Tell that to Jason and Ash’s parents.” She will not be comforted.

“About the red truck,” Eric starts again.

“The truck I caused to go over the cliff because I panicked when I saw that deer and grabbed the wheel.” Bessie’s voice trembles. “I wish I was dead instead of them. I should be dead.”

“No, darling, no!” Heather cannot bear it. She jumps up to run around the table and wrap herself around her daughter’s seated figure. “Please, honey, no.”

Eric shares a look with Leonora, her hair framing her high Scottish cheekbones. He can see hollows under her eyes from lack of sleep. “Forensics have gone over the vehicle with a fine-toothed comb and discovered …” He waits for everyone to calm down.

“Discovered what?” Bessie’s father blurts out. “What, Eric?”

“The steering column was connected to the wheel by a thread. Any slight tapping on the wheel itself could have caused it to spin out of control.”

“You mean,” says Art firmly. “Bessie wasn’t responsible for the accident.”

Eric looks across at the young girl until she lifts her head. “It could have happened anytime, Bessie. Anytime.”

Anytime“You’re just saying that,” she spits out.

“I never just say anything,” Eric replies, staring her down.

“I still grabbed the wheel.” Bessie glares back.

“It was a reflex action. If the truck had been in good working condition, Jason would not have lost control by you grabbing onto it. He was much stronger than you and used to driving trucks. This is not my opinion. This is the opinion of our Ontario Provincial Forensic Department.”

The detective and the young girl continue to stare into each other’s eyes until Leonora speaks up, “Well then, we’ll be in touch.”

The police officers get up from the table. “Stay here as long as you like.”

Bessie puts her head down and begins to weep. “It’s still all my fault.”

Art looks over at Heather and whispers, “What are we going to do?”

Heather wipes a tear from her eye with her constant handkerchief these days. “I don’t know, I just don’t know.” Taking a deep breath, she adds, “But Leila says she has an idea for us.”