The Boy with the Purple Eyes

March 12, 1973 continued...

I followed the route, imagining Matthew walking to school with his brother, bear in hand. Speaking of the bear, why would he take a stuffed bear to school? I mean he is ten but still, normal kids don't take stuffed animals to school. Alfred said that the bear was white and since neither Matthew as well as his stuff made it home, that means that the bear could be somewhere on the streets. I just had to look for something white that resembled a bear.

As I walked the path, I searched the streets and sidewalks. I had no clues until I made it to the intersection at 5th and Cherry. There, laying in the dirt of the sidewalk, was a dirty, white bear. At least that was what it looked like from where I was standing across the street. I jammed my thumb into the button for the crosswalk light at least ten times wanting it to change faster. As soon as the light changed I ran across the intersection to where the bear lay.

When I got there, I examined the scene around the bear. Nothing would indicate that there was a possible kidnapping right where it was. Absolutely nothing. If some average person were to walk by they would think that the bear was just a toy that someone had lost. I picked it up and looked at it top to bottom, brushing off the loose dirt. There was indication of wear all over it and you could tell that the plush was well loved. Almost all of the stuffing was squeezed out of the middle, so much that it was flat. The hair was also not as white as it could have been but it did belong to a ten year old boy, so you can't really expect it to be spotless. Once again, I looked around the crime scene. This time, I noticed the security cameras placed on the lights in the intersection. Some of them looked right at the corner that I was standing on and I began to wonder if I would be able to get the footage of the previous day.

After I had made the discovery of the bear and the cameras, I walked back to the police station. From the intersection, it wasn't that far, which surprised me. Anyway, I went straight to my brother's office and told him what I found. One phone call and twenty minutes later, I had the video footage that I wanted. I excitedly ran to my office, stealing the only video player in the whole police office while I went.

Once inside I closed the door and attached the player to my little TV. I popped one of the tapes in and made myself comfortable in my plushy chair. When the video first started, I noticed that it was the camera from across the street and it didn't look at the scene. I took out that one and put in another. This time, the point of view was from another camera that looked right at the point I needed. Excited, I began to watch the film. I then realized that the time printed on the top left corner of the screen said 9 am, so I pushed the fast forward button. The events of yesterday flew by, the people moving in fast motion until I saw him enter from the right hand of the screen. I quickly pressed the play button and watched as the little figure moved across the screen until he stopped and waited at the cross walk for the light to change. It was then when I saw the little figure lower his head to look at his bear. When the light did change he didn't notice. It was then, when a small black car entered the scene from the bottom of the screen and made its way across the intersection. Suddenly, it stopped by the sidewalk right next to Matthew. A tall man came out of the driver's seat, ran over to Matthew, and grabbed him from behind. The little boy thrashed about, but only succeeded in losing his grip on the bear. I saw it fall as the boy was dragged off into the small black car. Then as quickly as it appeared, the little black car sped off in the direction it was facing with Matthew inside.

My first reaction, to tell you the truth, was appallment. How could someone not notice that he was in trouble?! It was freaking two thirty in the afternoon! The school had just gotten out! How could no one notice?! Was he that invisible? Did no one even care that the boy was being kidnapped?! I slammed my hand onto the desk in anger. I've dealt with those who kill but this! This was something totally foreign. Why would someone want to kidnap a little, innocent boy?! Why!? I don't understand…And I don't think that I'll be able to…

After I took a few minutes to reel in my emotions and calm down, I turned off my TV and VCR and exited the room. I felt that I needed to take a break, I needed to break away from this case. My brother, noticing my distress came over and grabbed my shoulder. He asked what was wrong and I told him everything, well excluding the parts where I lost my emotions. He gave me the look, where I could tell that he didn't believe me, so I took him back into my office and showed him everything. By the end, my brother was happy. Happy that I had found new evidence and a new lead in the case. I felt that the only thing that he cared about was the fact that we could finish quickly. He showed no pain, or any feeling as a matter of fact, that would indicate that he felt that confusion and anger that I had after watching the video.

I dismissed myself from the room, feeling sick to my stomach, grabbed the white bear that was sitting on the desk, and went home. When I got home I saw that it was 7 pm. I didn't feel like eating even though I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast. I went and took a nice warm shower, hoping that it would ease my ill feelings. As I let the warm water cascade around me, I kept seeing Matthew's picture in my mind. The sad and hollow eyes, the look of depression on his face, it haunts me. I got out of the shower, dried off and put on my night pants. I brushed my teeth and went back to the kitchen to pick up the white bear. I took the bear back with me to the room and sat on the bed with it. It's still here next to me but I keep getting eraser shavings on it when I erase things on this entry. I'll brush it off after I finish. Anyway, I think that I'll take it back to Matthew's family tomorrow.

After today's events, I can't help but feel ill with everything. Finding the video evidence, the bear, meeting the family… I feel so pressured to find him, alive, wherever he is. It's a scary new feeling. I've never felt this kind of pressure. Every minute that goes by, I feel like it gets harder and harder to solve this case, and the pressure! It just keeps building and building. I feel like I'm going to explode. I don't think that I'll be able to do it, solve the case that is, but I have to. For Arthur and Francis, for Alfred, and especially for Matthew…I have to bring him back no matter what. I have to.

~The still Awesome Me

Oh my Goodness! I can't believe how popular this story is! I came and looked at the hits chart and I was so shocked at how many people have read it! I'm so happy! Thank you everyone for the reviews! I'm so sorry that I haven't been able to reply to any of them, I've been so busy lately with school and everything (that's why the updates have been at like 1 am -.-). I've been thinking, maybe I should finish this story first since it's so popular and much shorter than my other one, A Secret Hidden From You. I'm still thinking about it but since I'm on a roll with this one, that might be the outcome. I'm hoping that I'll be able to keep my momentum going and that I won't disappoint you guys!