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Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html<br />
Scales was no outlaw biker He was an amateur motorcycle racer.<br />
The monologue winded Bedford. His voice broke a few times. I didn't know if he was fighting emotion<br />
or exhaustion. I didn't know if he was reliving the loss of his daughter or the weight of his hardscrabble<br />
years.<br />
I didn't bring up my murder story. I tried to get some empathy going with Betty Jean's daughter and got<br />
nowhere. That interview went nowhere. I didn't want a repeat here.<br />
Bud Bedford hated Bill Scales. It felt like a property beef. He ceded his daughter to the man who he<br />
thought killed her or let her die. Ownership infractions. Bud set Betty up in her own pad and cut off the<br />
rent when he caught her in bed with some guy. Bill Scales assumed ownership then.<br />
Bill got out his mouth swabs and explained the procedure. Bud Bedford put his cigar down and rinsed<br />
his mouth with water. He took a swab and ran it-all over his gums.<br />
I thanked the Bedfords and walked to the door. The dog growled at me.<br />
Betty's mother was named Lavada Emogene Nella. She lived in a board-and-care home in middle-class<br />
Fresno.<br />
Bill called ahead. Mrs. Nella and her companion met us. We sat down in the dayroom. Old people on<br />
walkers pushed by.<br />
Mrs. Nella was attractive and perfectly groomed. She was young and fit by rest-home standards.<br />
Her eyes darted and latched onto fixed targets and went blank while she retained eye contact.<br />
I said, "Tell me about Betty Jean."<br />
Mrs. Nella called her daughter a "chatterbox" and a "homebody" and a "sweet-natured girl" who "only<br />
wanted to be a good wife and mother." Things tended to confuse Betty Jean. She was outgoing and shy<br />
at the same time. She relied on other folks to make her decisions.<br />
Bill mentioned Betty's marriage. Mrs. Nella said it was difficult. Bill Scales was cold and dictatorial.<br />
Bill mentioned physical abuse. Betty Jean's daughter described her dad as hard and domineering. That<br />
accusation dominated her interview.<br />
Mrs. Nella said no. Bill Scales didn't need to hit. He had Betty under his thumb without resorting to<br />
violent behavior. He controlled Betty with his knowledge of how much she loved him.<br />
I said, "He didn't kill her."<br />
Mrs. Nella said, "Oh, I knew that. The police cleared him back when it happened."<br />
Bill said we had a hot suspect now. We might be able to close the case officially.<br />
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