When It Rains

ii

"What do you mean the investigation has been called off?"

"It means exactly what you've heard."

The emotionless gaze Officer Blackwood was looking at Bessie with just added to her uneasiness about being at a police station. The claustrophobic office wasn't helping either.

"But, sir, why would you do that?" Bessie asked, feeling as if her heart dropped to one hundred and fifty meters below sea level.

"Listen, ma'am, the police have done enough investigations around Mettre en Lumière to come to a conclusion that this was merely a mischief done by somebody who got away before the police could've taken action," Officer Blackwood said, unperturbed by the panic that started to flare in Bessie's eyes.

"Sir," Bessie said slowly, trying to mask the impatience in her voice, "it wasn't merely a mischief, it was a murder of an innocent civilian and it is injustice to not take into consideration the enormity of this crime."

Bessie highlighted the last part by banging her fist on the desk, causing numerous things on it to shift. Officer Blackwood gave her a stern look before standing up and raising his hand to put an end to their conversation.

"Ma'am we've made our decision and the case has been dismissed. You may not be aware but we have more pressing cases to take care of. You may leave."

Bessie stared in disbelief. Now, slowing down their investigation, she would've considered but completely calling it off? It was terrible to just assume there was no reason for her husband to get shot on a perfectly normal day, in the middle of a perfectly normal restaurant.

Bessie opened her mouth to voice her thoughts out loud but closed it again when the officer went back to working on his laptop as if she wasn't even there.

Resisting the urge to stomp her foot, Bessie walked out of the office, exited the police station and stood beside her parked car for a few minutes. She had driven all the way here to suggest a small interview with a few of Bryan's colleagues at the clinic. Instead she had been slapped in the face (metaphorically, of course) with what was one of the most unexpected news her life had to offer and didn't get a chance to talk about why she was here in the first place. 

Bessie furiously pulled open the car door, got inside and drove back home. Picking up a package at her doorstep, she went inside and called Ethan to inform him that she was home now and he could bring James back.

"Ma!" James squealed from Ethan's arms when he got home and Bessie took him into her own. She chuckled. "Come on, let's go to bed, Jamie," she said, booping him on the nose and he squealed again and put his hands on his mother's face, "Ma!"

"So where did you go, Bess the Mess?" Ethan asked and Bessie frowned.

"First of all, don't bring up 'Bess the Mess' again," she sad, "The baking disaster is from ten years ago."

"Okay, Bess the Mess," Ethan said and grinned. Bessie sighed in annoyance and after making baby James go to sleep upstairs she described her encounter with the the police officer. Ethan slowly shook his head after she finished.

"They did not."

"They very much did."

"But why would they..." he trailed off.

"Well, I can't do anything about it now, can I?"

"Maybe you can."

Before she could say anything, the sound of glass shattering and furniture being thrown about cut through the house.

"What was that?!" Ethan exclaimed and they both dashed to the office on the other side.

"What the..."