The Orphan's Tale

Chapter 7

For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction;

their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue.

Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels;

because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,

for they have rebelled against you.

Psalm 5: 9-10

Though I had trusted Marie, she let me down. It seemed I couldn't count on her when I needed her the most after all. I understood that this was what she thought she needed to do in order to survive, but that didn't ease the pain of betrayal. She had acted in a way, almost as if to justify her own beliefs that no one could be trusted besides one's self. Leaving me utterly alone.

The breeze tugged lightly at my short hair under my kerchief.

I had trusted Lady Cadwell only to lose her trust somehow. Once, I had expected to remain in her service forever and likely would have been content to do so. Then she allowed me to be sacked without even a reference, despite the fact I had done nothing. Now I had trusted Marie to act as another witness yet she abandoned me at the first sign of danger.

Why was the cycle of hurt and disappointment repeating itself in my life? I put my face in my hands, trying to hold some dignity instead of bursting out weeping in front of the Inspector.

"Would you call Jacko a rash man?" came his voice.

I was starting to feel as if I would recognize that sharp voice anywhere. Surprised by the question, I lifted my face to glance upward at him, shaking my head. "I don't believe so. He acts slowly until he is certain, then he pounces like a dog with a rat in its teeth."

"I thought as much. And what of Lester Bridges?"

"He can be rash at times," I admitted. "Why?"

"Because this crime was not well planned but done impulsively." Inspector Hoffmann mused. "Almost as if it was done on a whim."

"What does that mean?" I asked. "Are you saying Jacko might not be the murderer? But that Lester could be?"

"That is a likely probability. However, according to Jacko Bowyer, his companion never met Cyrus Banks, and he has never owned a pistol, too expensive and he prefers to use his hands. He has no motive or means to do the murder."

"But then who shot Cyrus Banks?" I protested, baffled.

"Who else has a pistol and a motive to want the man dead? Who would strike suddenly without planning?" asked the man instead.

"Well, I don't know."

"Neither do I and there lies the crux of the problem." Inspector Hoffmann replied.

At that moment I saw Captain Lancing walking up to us.

"What progress have you made, Inspector? Did you found your man?" he asked.

"I have possibly found my man, but I have not yet found your man. But it would seem the young scamp with the pistol is innocent. Two witnesses will swear they were playing cards with him that evening in town. There wasn't enough time for him to leave the pub and murder Cyrus Banks in a different section of the city."

The bobby Captain frowned. "I need to return to my other duties, how much more time do you need on this?" he asked.

Of course, I realized, as the Captain of the bobbies, Captain Lancing had many other duties than overseeing what should have been a simple arrest. Inspector Hoffmann was attempting to save him some trouble.

But just now the Inspector was pacing back and forth and back and forth. "Cyrus Banks was killed by a rash man, but Jacko admits to being there. His description matches, yet he maintains his innocence. The bullet." He paused. "Captain, is there a surgeon on your team?"

"A surgeon?"

"A doctor!"

"I've had some education, I know what a surgeon is, I'm only asking what do you want one for?" inquired the Captain sharply.

"I want to examine the bullet from Cyrus Banks's skull. That will prove beyond a shadow of a doubt whether Jacko Bowyer is guilty."

"And if it proves his innocence, what will you do then?" inquired the Captain.

"Then I will have a piece of the puzzle to test against the murderer's weapon." replied the other.

The Captain sighed. "This case was solved if you asked that reporter this morning. The surgeon's name is Beckett, I'll ring him and tell him to meet you at Banks' place."

"Thank you, Captain," said Inspector Hoffmann.

At that moment, Officer Baker returned to report that they had captured Lester Bridges. Inspector Hoffmann thanked him, and the three men left without a glance at me. I felt as if no one knew I existed. Perhaps I was only the ghost of a memory, invisible. I watched the retreating figure of the Inspector grow smaller. Left alone, aside from the watchful eyes of the bobbies, it felt as if I were all alone in a world full of enemies.