Facing the Truth

Janet is sobbing against the truck door, too exhausted to fight anymore. She begged Ben to turn around, but he remained unaffected by what she said or did.

Janet even considered jumping out of the vehicle and then pictured the consequences: severely injured or dead. Where would I go if I did survive the fall? Besides, I'll have to run from Ben and the law, and I'm too tired to run anymore.

Leaning against the window, Janet recalls the chain of horrific events. What made me think I could outsmart them? Me with my below-average IQ.

The teachers told her parents she had a learning disability in grade school and placed her in special ed to help her succeed. The classes and the extra tutoring weren't enough, no matter how hard she tried. Janet continued to fall further behind, eventually forcing her to give up her dreams.

Ben is right. The best thing for me to do is face the inevitable. It's not like my life is worth fighting for anyway. She sobs.

She recalls her horrible childhood and all the drunken beatings she and her mama endured. Most were about her and her disabilities, annihilating her already low self-esteem.

She then remembers how the kids ridiculed her and anyone she hung out with, causing her friends to be few and far between. If her classmates weren't teasing her about her disabilities, they were tormenting her about her dysfunctional family or how she dressed.

"What dumpster did you find those clothes in, the goodwill reject bin?" The children laugh. "I've seen homeless people wear better clothes than that," Joel says. The group cackles again.

"Leave me alone," she cries, trying to move past them. Joel shoves her back. Janet falls to the ground. Their taunting only heightens from there.

"Please, just let me by," Janet tearfully begs, trying to stand. Not finished with his game, Joel pushes her to the ground.

"Your daddy should spend money on you instead of his booze and whores. Speaking of whores, how's your mom these days? Is she turning enough tricks to supply her habit? He pushes in the right side of his nose and sniffs. The kids laugh again.

Janet then recalls the day her parents died. She hoped things would get better, but they only became worse. Her foster dad made frequent nightly trips to her room.

She glances over at Ben. I wish things could've been different between us. I really do. She thinks, recalling how wonderful it was in his arms. I felt so warm, so secure. Something I never experienced before, and he showed me a side of love I never knew existed. Wiping the tears from her face, she turns his way.

"It's ...it's been nice knowing you, Ben, even if it was just for a little while." Sniffling, she continues. "I want you to know that short time we spent together were the best moments of my life, and I'll never forget them, Ben, never. You're the only man who's ever treated me with respect, the only man who's ever shown me a hint of compassion. You made me feel special, like I truly matter, that I'm not a waste of space like everybody claims. You made me forget all the hateful things everyone said or did to me for a brief moment. And for the first time in my life, I got to feel what love truly is. I'll never forget that Ben, never, for as long as I live."

He pulls to the side of the road. Dust flies all around them as he slams on his brakes. When the dirt settles, he gulps and says, "Stop your damn blabbering already, will yah."

Janet nervously scoots closer to the door.

"I ...I'm sorry, Ben. I didn't mean to upset you." She says, fumbling for the handle.

"Well, you did." He turns towards her. "Look at what you did to me?" he says. Janet sees His dreamy eyes are red and puffy. She then notices the stream of tears running down his face. "I've been too choked up to say anything."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really, and if you were paying attention, you would've seen we passed the town miles back." He wipes moisture from his face.

Janet glances around at her eerie surroundings. Nervously fidgeting in her seat, she asks, "So ...So where are you taking me?"

"We're going to visit a lawyer friend of mine."

"I don't have any money."

"He owes me one."

"Thank you, Ben, thank you so much." She leans over and kisses his cheek.

"Yeah, don't mention it." Thinking, Says the man with sucker written all over his face."

***

Rachel notices their canine unit setting up when she pulls into the alley. I'm just in time. She climbs out of her car. She soon realizes the day has become unseasonably warm. I wish this weather would make up its mind. It was nippy this morning but warmed up fast. Shedding her jacket, she throws it in the back. Wiping the sweat from her forehead, Rachel pushes her sleeves up. That'll have to do for now. She thinks, crossing the lot.

"Detective?"

Rachel turns to see an officer walking towards her.

"My partner and I were the ones who gave chase." He points to a man heading their way.

"When did you see her last?"

"I lost visual when she darted down this alley. At least, she went this way. I asked a guy about her, and he said he didn't see anyone running his way. His face turns red, recalling what the man said. Clearing his throat, he continues. My partner didn't find her in the near vicinity either."

"Can you give me a description?" She pulls a notebook out of her pocket.

"She's a short, thin Latino woman around 5'3". She has black hair, brown eyes, and no visible scars or tattoos. She's wearing a plain hot pink tee, jeans, and pink sneakers.

Rachel glances up from her paper. "You're sure she's Hispanic?"

"I've been around Latino women all my life, so I think I'd know. " He points to his skin.

"I guess you would know better than most." Rachel laughs.

"He has her scent, Detective," another officer says, pulling on the canine's leash. The dog barks as he tugs on his leash again.

"Let's find out where he'll take us."

The officer gives a command; his dog darts down the alley. Reaching the dumpster, he turns and runs back the way he came.

"What's he doing?" Rachel asks.

A puzzled look crosses his face. "I'm not sure."

Reaching the end of the dirt path, the dog runs to the dumpster again. Stopping, the animal sniffs and then sprints back the way he came.

"She must have had her car parked here, or she got a ride," he says.

"I don't remember a car being there." The first officer pipes in.

"She might've left before you got here."

"That'd explain why the guy didn't see her."

Rachel glances around. "Maybe those cameras will help." She points to an old brick building.

"I'll find out, Detective," Kirk volunteers.

"Have your crew search from the dumpster to the top of the alley."

"Yes, Detective."

Rachel pulls out her phone. "Joe, this is Rachel. The dog keeps running back and forth. I hope the security camera will tell us more. I have forensics processing the alley. The description the officer gave excludes both Penny and Janet." She puts her phone on speaker as she climbs into her car.

"Sharon just told me she found another set of prints on The bat. She's running them through AFIS now."

"Did she find anything else?" Rachel questions.

"She gave me a whole list of things."

Smiling, she says, "I'm on my way."