Chapter 12 Isaac's parents face the media

The detectives car and inside it Jack and Joan continues its tail after Joshua's car at a safe distance so that he doesn’t suspect anything. Jack chain smokes and watches Joan from the corner of his eye defiantly.

"I think we're wasting our time staking the wrong man…I bet it's not our guy"

"I'm sure he's not that weird and harmless as you think"

Joan hugs him affectionately. Suddenly Jack pats her on the shoulder gently.

"The car just went into the woods…I wonder what he's looking for over there. Call Wally…let's see what he says"

Wally is sitting in Mickey's office looking at Mickey going over reports. Ally sighs, lights a cigarette and takes a sip from the flask.

"What's the matter Wally? Tired of looking at reports? Believe me…I'm tired as well… but, it's part of the Lt.'s job". …He smirks.

"When you sit on my chair you'll read so many reports till they drive you insane! What can you do? If you want to be a Lt. you got to put in some effort with the reports not only the broads…now hand over the flask before you decide not only my chair but my flask as well belong to you"

They both laugh out loud and Mickey grabs the flask from Wally and gulps it down. Wally's phone rings.

"Yes? It Wally! Hi Joan…what's going on? Hold on a second."

He covers the phone and whispers to Mickey.

"It’s the suspicious pervert…so far nothing has happened but I told them to follow him and they are without his knowledge! He told them he was waiting for the bus but he had a car and he just drove it into the woods."

He takes his hand off the phone.

"What's going on now? Where is he going?"

"He's going into the dark woods…should we continue following him? Check his van after he gets off it? If he lives around here should we check his house?"

"I'll get back to you soon…don’t do anything for now…I'm conferring with Mickey and I'll call you back"

Wally hangs up the phone and turns to Mickey with the excitement of a warrior of to do battle.

"What do you say Mickey? Should they arrest the suspect immediately and search his vehicle and home? Or is it better to wait?"

Mickey thinks for a moment as he looks at Wally curiously, he gets up and paces the room back and forth restlessly.

"We have the suspects' details…the car details. Let's try to see if he has a record of any sort"

Wally calls out the details as Mickey operates the computer pulling up his details on the screen.

"Joshua Solomon…of 23 Jackson Avenue…I see you don’t have a criminal record!! Huh…wait…you have a record for shop lifting, tried and go one month probation... .That's it? Good…good!! You also have a boat at the marina? Let's hope you don’t have a private plane. You don’t seem familiar to me…maybe you have a connection to the pervert case…and maybe you don’t…we don’t know right now"

He calls Jack.

"Hi. Mickey here! How are you and Joan? Listen. Follow the suspect quietly. Watch where he goes…who he speaks to and what he does…don’t check his car yet or his house. As soon as our suspicion is based on evidence we'll organize a search warrant by a district judge and we'll hit him with everything we got…but everything has to be legal because otherwise his lawyers we'll reverse the case and set him free. Remember what happened with the pervert two years ago? We found a sea of proof but because the search was executed without a warrant his lawyer nailed us to the wall and the bastard flew the country. Luckily for us Interpol caught him soliciting children because we sent them our file. Follow him and report to us!"

Mickey hangs up and doesn’t understand why Wally watches him with a smile and whispers.

"I have a good feeling about this Mickey! I think we're on the right track! We'll get him cold."

"I hope…Wally…I hope so..! Believe me that singing pervert has been the death of me…it's time to close the book on him"

They both look at the singing pervert's folder and the pictures of Joshua, Abraham, Isaac, Michelle, Eve and Gideon.

"I'm calling Abraham, Michelle, Eve and Gideon in tomorrow for further investigation…maybe they'll remember something else...maybe"

Mickey mumbles to himself and Wally nods his head agreeably…Mickey sighs and turns on the VCR.the TV screen plays Abraham and Eve's wedding. At the same time, Abraham and his work colleagues, neighbors and other curious volunteers search the neighborhood. They all have Isaac's picture, they knock on doors and ask questions. They look in yards, shelters and basements. At an agreed time they all return to Abraham's house to eat the sandwiches and drink Michelle prepared, but Abraham is not with them and Michelle worriedly calls him.

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"Abraham where are you? Everyone came back to eat and rest and you're not here!! What's going on? You need to rest and eat too and you can continue later with renewed energies...maybe I'll join in too…I can help you"

"No Michelle! Don't you dare think of it! Don't forget our baby you're carrying… you need to rest and not exert yourself. I don’t need more problems!! I have enough of that!! And don’t worry about me…I'll eat something on the way and continue searching." He starts to weep.

"Where has Isaac disappeared to? Why can't we find him? I don’t know where to look anymore!! What..."

Michelle interrupts him

"I just remembered Abraham! You and Eve are invited on TV tonight at 8:30 p.m... You'll be on the news to ask the public's help in the search. Also the police called and asked that you be there tomorrow morning to talk to them. Eve and Gideon are also invited at 9 a.m. at the police station."

"Ok Michelle, I won't forget"

Abraham's face is closed and gloomy… he is desperate and helpless and would probably rather keep searching then be delayed on TV or at the police station. On the other hand…Eve is home, staring at the TV with disinterest, weeping and Gideon quickly brings her a glass of cold water and some valium mumbling to himself in rage and hatred

"I'm tired of being her babysitter and psychologist! Not only am I not getting paid for it, she's moody and doesn’t feel like sleeping with me and she wants me to understand her but she doesn’t try to understand me! All that time, that little rat, Isaac was in our way when he was here! Now that he's gone he's even more in the way"

Eve notices from the corner of her eye his strange murmuring and angry looks and quickly snaps at him

"What is it Gideon? Is something bothering you? My situation is hard on you? I you prefer to leave…I'll understand you"

"No, no, Eve…what gave you such an idea? I was just praying that we find Isaac soon. Don’t forget you need to at the news studio at 8:30."

Eve doesn’t respond and just lowers her head, held by her two hands and watches her reflection in the glass coffee table silently.

"Do I a favor Gideon, I want to be alone, Ok?"

The night slowly goes down and covers the sky and horizon with a black sheet signaling to all night creatures to come out of their dark nukes. Partiers and passersby found near TV screens at the store windows or bars hold their breath and stare curiously at the anchor and Abraham and Eve sitting at both sides of him. They seem like strangers and alienated. Abraham's face is gloomy whereas Eve pulls out a tissue from the pack she placed on the table and wipes away the tears that appeared on her cheeks. Isaac's image is shown on the screen. Joshua is sitting at an apartment belonging to one of his friends. He stuffs himself with chicken and drinks beer, watches the news with disinterest until the moment Eve and Abraham sit down next to the anchor. Joshua suddenly stops everything he's doing and stares at the screen in revulsion. His friend Julia watches him, watches the screen and the Joshua again in a suspicious look. She asks

"What's the matter Josh? Don't you feel well? You look like you've seen a ghost!" Joshua mumbles in disgust.

"I know that man! I can't stand him. He's a user and obnoxious…I don’t know why he's on TV."

"Shhh...Shhh..." Julia interrupts. "I want to listen" Joshua watches her sourly but waves his hand and continues to gorge down the food loudly.

"OK…OK… You can continue watching that nonsense…"

"Dear viewer! The news has ended but we continue with another item and bring you Eve and Abraham, the parent of Isaac who disappeared from his home three days ago! The parents are requesting to address the public through us and our help…please: Eve, Isaac's mother…and Abraham: Isaac's father".

The parents say hello weakly.

"And we decided to accept their request and the police request to tell the sad story… please… Eve!"

"Good evening to you all dear viewers! My son Isaac went missing Saturday morning and has not been found until now"

New tears start going down her face and Abraham quickly hands her a new tissue but she ignores him and takes the one the news anchor hands her in embarrassment….Eve stutters.

"I…I… I'm sorry. I'll explain again! My son Isaac disappeared from Abraham's house, who is my ex, on Saturday morning between 7 and 9 am. Isaac was staying on 13 Hope St. and was playing in the yard. I ask the viewers…and anyone who might have seen or heard anything suspicious in that area to call the police and let them know."

She starts crying.

"Please help me! I want my son Isaac back! My dear Isaac! If you can hear or see me now…come home!! I miss you!! If you think we're angry at you, you're wrong!! I love and I beg you to come back!! Please, viewers…help me!!"

Eve sobs again but tries to calm down and stops unsuccessfully as Abraham watches her. The anchor who feels exhausted by the goings on quickly turns to Abraham and feels the foreboding sensations in his tormented face

"We thank you Eve…and now to Abraham…Isaac's father"

"Hello viewers! My name is Abraham Menis and I am Eve's ex and Isaac's father who disappeared from my house and has not returned yet."

His face contorts in despair; he wipes hidden tears from his face and continues shakily

"I too appeal to you and ask that you help us find our dear son Isaac! We love you Isaac. You're a sweet and good boy and we beg you to come back…we love you…if anyone is holding Isaac and wants money for his return…call us…call the police… we'll pay handsomely just return Isaac to us!! Please don’t do him any harm…return Isaac and you'll receive money!! I again repeat Eve's request and beg anyone who knows anything to please call us or the police, even anonymously. If your information leads to finding Isaac there's a reward for 50 thousand dollars. Please help us!"

Eve and Abraham burst out crying in front of the screen. The embarrassed anchor continues in a shaking voice. All the viewers, where ever they are also start crying.

"Thank you Eve and Abraham. I hope Isaac is returned safe and sound to his father and mother...this continues this edition tonight. Goodnight and hoping many of you will join in on the search for Isaac!"

The anchors voice is heard from within José's shack at the landfill. At the end of Eve and Abraham's words José also wipes a tear from his face. He falls asleep with a smile on his face. Unfortunately for him a short time later he starts to dream his body seats and moves under the covers and his face is flushed. His breathing is as shallow as that of an asthma patient. Images from different events appear and disappear from his tormented brain! He see the pictures from the news joined by the picture of the missing children and pictures of police forces searching for them headed by Mickey and Wally, while in the background the police voices are heard asking the public to help with information and aid in the search. He is again dreaming of the bearded man who disappeared from the landfill and the gold bracelet he found in the pile of garbage and in the background Eve and Abraham's plea during the news to return Isaac to them and trade information for a reward. José jumps up from the bed, shaking in terror, dripping sweat as the strangers face in the landfill, the bracelet and the plea of Isaac's parents echo in his brain like hammers. José holds his head in desperation and quickly looks at the bracelet in fear while his heart pounds quickly.

"This bracelet is cursed; it'll bring me nothing but trouble…and who the hell is that stranger I saw?"