The Orphan's Tale

Chapter 6

Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies;

make your way straight before me. Psalm 5:8

The officer came inside and stood to guard the door in case I should try to escape. I tried to calm myself, but my heart was pounding inside my chest. With trembling hands, I reached for the paper and lead. Was this the right thing to do? Would it save James? But if Jacko wasn't caught, this paper I was writing would be signing my own death warrant. Likely weather they caught him or not, signing this would also mean the termination of my employment here.

But I needed to trust God. The Bible said He protected His own, I forced myself to take a deep breath and to let it out. Deuteronomy 31:6 came unbidden to my mind. "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Silently, I blessed my older brother for encouraging me to memorize that verse. I needed to be strong and brave and to trust God. He would not abandon me.

I wrote out the list of the members of the gang, thinking of what I knew of it and its activities. But in my quest to protect myself, my knowledge was limited. How ironic. Before I felt that I knew too much about the gang, that my knowledge put me in danger, but now I found that knowledge was quite small. Still, I knew all the members of the gang. That at least was something.

When I finished, I glanced behind me at the bobby. But at his cold gaze, I found myself feeling more alone than ever, and averted my eyes. He didn't trust me. What was I doing here? From the lowly orphanage to a house servant and companion, then disgraced and forced into the circus, and now to being questioned by the law. How disappointed my older brother would be in me when I finally confessed everything. But how could I confess to him my disgrace and my shame?

I gazed unseeing at the table in front of me until at last, I heard the door open.

"Bea!" came a welcome voice.

I turned my head to see the sharp-faced Marie. She reached my side as the Inspector closed the door behind himself.

"Your companion seemed to think that you had been pinned for this crime," he informed, walking to the other side of the table. "Despite not matching the description of the man fleeing from the scene of the crime."

I missed the dry humor in the Inspector's last statement, as I glanced gratefully at Marie. Knowing how little trust she had in the law and authority figures, it seemed she had risked her employment to ensure I was safe. I was deeply touched. It seemed that I had misjudged her, and I was sorry for it.

"No one is pinning the crime on me, Marie. I'm just.... telling him what I know of Jacko and his crew." I confessed.

Marie groaned and sank down next to me. "Are you brave or just stupid? I told you a kid like you would never last in a circus! If you get the coppers on him, do you know what he'll do to you?! He'll burn you alive as he does with his rats!"

It was hard to repress the shiver that ran down my spine at such a thought.

"Miss-no-name, as you seem to insist on being called." I glanced up to see the Inspector addressing Marie. "Am I to understand that you can corroborate the story of your friend here?"

"I don't know what you mean, but if you mean help prove it then sure, if the stupid kid is willing to swing." Here she shot a glance at me. "She's been telling you about that bully Jacko? Well, whatever it was is true, Bea may be proud but she's no liar! Jacko is a thief, and it wouldn't surprise me to learn that he was a murderer too!" Her fist struck the table rattling the piece of lead on it.