The Curse of 1977 (Book 2)

Like a frightened kitten Lynnette crept into the semi-busy police station where a light stream of disorderly traffic swept through the floor; from officers escorting pimps and prostitutes, to drug addicts and homeless people being processed at various points throughout the area.

In Lynnette's mind everyone that surrounded her were shadows that were caving in on her. She held her boney arms as though she were freezing cold while trying not to make physical contact with any of the other undesirables that resided in the station's front lobby.

Ahead of her was a long podium that stretched at least fifty feet wide. At the very center of the podium was an older black lady who was dressed in full police regalia and steadily writing away on a piece of paper while successfully ignoring the rest of the world around her.

"Excuse me." Lynnette meekly gawked at the woman.

The lady, who was still scribbling away on her piece of paper, didn't remove her eyes from her duty.

"Can I help you?" She mumbled.

"My...my son has been kidnapped." Lynnette stammered.

At the snap of a finger the lady stopped writing and looked straight at Lynnette asking with a suddenly concerned look, "How long ago was your son taken?"

"I...I don't know for sure. Maybe about an hour ago or something."

"Okay, just hold on, I'll be right back," the woman said while getting up from out of her seat and walking away.

Lynnette stood by and watched as the unnamed shadows passed by her in a simultaneous chorus of blundering chaos. She didn't know whether to remain at the podium or simply walk away altogether. She couldn't stop shaking, and the more she thought of Isaiah the more she just wanted to break down and bawl all over the floor. It had been months since she had control over her own being.

"Can I help you?" A middle-aged, black police officer approached Lynnette.

Lynnette looked at the man and tried to speak. "I...my son has been taken away."

"Okay, follow me and we'll see what we can do."

The man led Lynnette away from the open floor and to a series of desks that were located in an adjacent area. Within the area were other officers who were either heading home for the evening or just beginning their shifts.

The officer pulled out a chair for Lynnette to sit in. Seated just three feet beside her was another desk where a white man who was disguised as a mime was arguing with an officer.

"Okay, my name is Officer Barron." The man said as he sat down behind his desk. "And what is your name, ma'am?"

"Uh, Lynnette Glover," she timidly replied. Barron paused for a bit looking as if he were trapped inside a thought.

"Glover, Glover. Why does that name sound so familiar?" He tapped his fingers on his desk. "It doesn't matter. Miss Glover, can you describe your son for me, please?"

"He's two years old. He has...he has." Lynnette tried and tried so diligently but could not seem to conjure a mere picture of her son in her head. "I'm sorry, I'm not thinking very clearly right now.."

"That's okay, but we need some kind of description in order to get this search underway. Now, what was he wearing when you last saw him?"

"I...I don't know for sure."

Barron placed his pen down onto the desk before sitting and studying Lynnette very meticulously.

"Miss Glover, are you sure that your son is even missing?"

"Yes, yes he is!" Lynnette hurried to say. "You see, I haven't been home in a few days. I've been...working a lot."

Barron continued to hand the young woman the 'square eye' before he picked up his pen and began writing all over again.

"Can you possibly give me anything to go on? Something about your son that we could latch on to in order to make this easier," Barron persisted.

Lynnette bore down as hard as she could before blurting out the first thing that came to mind. "He has curly hair and a scar on his left hand that his...father gave him."

"Curly hair and a scar on his left hand," Barron recited to himself while writing. "Is it possible that his father—

Barron right there stopped himself before taking his pen and nibbling on the very tip while staring on at Lynnette. "Now I remember that name." He said in a low voice.

Lynnette only turned her head and blushed the longer Barron looked at her. "Miss Glover, where was your son when he was abducted?"

"He was with my parents at their house."

"Okay, and what's your parents' address?"

"2167 Anders Road."

"Would your parents be able to give an accurate description of your son? It would help."

Shaking her head in a futile manner, Lynnette said, "No, they were both attacked this evening, too."

"I'm taking that this was a burglary?"

"Yes."

"Did your parents happen to get a description of the intruder or intruders?"

"My mother said that there was—

Lynnette's brain came to a complete and abrupt stop at that very instant. All she could think of was what her mother had mentioned.

"Miss Glover, are you okay?" Barron waved his hand in front of her blank, pale face.

At once, Lynnette started to tremble all over again. "My...my mama said that there were

other two?" She then

his hand out, Barron said, "Okay, Miss Glover,

were three of them!" Lynnette sobbed loud enough for everyone within

"Miss Glover, please try

I don't know who

"Look, I know exactly how you feel. I have two sons of my own." Barron said. "But in order for us to find your child, I need for you to settle

before clasping her hands together as tight as possible. "I know one of them." She whimpered. "She had these brown eyes and afro puffs. She was dark

on his pad, Barron asked, "Okay, what about the other

Lynnette tried to catch her

a gang?" Barron inquired. "We have been seeing a spike in gang activity in the city as

few seconds before opening them and exhaling the warm air around her. The words she wanted and needed to say were right there on the very tip

very calm voice, Lynnette explained, "I'm going to tell you something that

young woman while not batting a single

am about to tell you won't sound...real, but it's all I have. These

a loud commotion erupted from clear on the other side of the area. It was two

once, everyone within the vicinity, from officers to victims and perps, stopped what they were doing and directed their attention at the melee which began sprawling all onto the floor, making

Barron breathlessly stated as he shot up from out of his

At once, numerous officers all descended upon the two unruly men in order to

her teeth chattered. Lynnette was wrapped up in all sorts of misery, from the spurts of profanity-laced mayhem clear on the other side of the room, to her own son; no matter what, the woman could not catch a simple breath. She had spent months ignoring Isaiah to the point where at

was gone. The same child that she hadn't seen in days was nowhere to be found, and just knowing that something beyond darkness had taken him to God knows where only made her want to throw up

"Tea," a man's voice suddenly

connected with the man seated only three feet to her right at the

She

in his mime disguise casually remarked from his chair. "Drinking a warm cup of tea

to gather herself, Lynnette sat up in her seat and wiped her misty eyes. "Thanks."

is until a good friend told me about the wonderful effects of

looked at the man and arrogantly

at Lynnette's scarred up arms for her to turn away from

sorry your kid is missing, but the last thing you need is to be in here of all places shaking like a leaf. These cops see it

Lynnette tried her hardest not to look at the man, who with his makeup only appeared as a scary clown in her eyes, despite his carefree

"Look at that mess over

to view the carnage that was still taking place in the middle of

understaffed due to most of them walking the beat after this wild animal that's running loose." The man explained. "That's why I'm here now. No, I take that back," he sniggered. "I'm actually here because I was harassing this

good thing that you're sitting in here and not out there." Lynnette found the courage to speak

"Maybe you're

with her arms wrapped around her body in the hopes that her shakes would end, Lynnette watched in silent comfort as the officers

do to kill it." Her voice faltered. "I've seen

you've actually seen this animal before?" The

now," she replied. "Ever since then...I know what the devil looks

"You sound like a poet." The

I just see people for who they

"Yeah, so do I." The man began to rub off the white paint from his face. "I've been cooped up inside this station for the past three hours, and in those three hours I've had the opportunity to see all sorts of characters besides myself." He indignantly stated. "You see that old, black lady over there?" He pointed. "She has a complaint about her neighbors' dogs that keep barking all night. Then you have that guy right there, the bald, white fellow. He's in here complaining that a hooker didn't give him the blowjob he paid for. Then there's that guy right over there in the cuffs. The black kid. This joker actually walked in here on his own volition a while ago. Apparently he's been running around town for the past few days harassing

person carefully until she came eye to eye with the aforementioned bearded, 'black kid' that the mime

right back at Lynnette in the most distressed manner possible, as if he wanted to reach out for her in the

and attention away from the man, but the more she

me in a cell already." The mime grumbled. "I can't take this sitting a second

so long she couldn't bear it any longer. She got up from out of her chair and

kid, lady?" The

so much anarchy her brain had been reduced to mush. Isaiah was still fresh in her heart, but Lynnette desired to be away from prowling

came closer to the handcuffed man Lynnette couldn't help but to quickly glance at him on her way out

"Lynn!"

to stop. When she gazed down all she could see was Cloyse looking back up at her

"Who...who are you?"

closer to her, Cloyse

backed away from the feverish man as though he had a disease.

His face and clothes were saturated in sweat, while his bloodshot eyes gave the impression that he hadn't rested

Lynnette could only see a fraught, pathetic man before her who could have been high on the same kinds of drugs

"Please...let me

don't know you." Lynnette turned up

in your face dat you

Lynnette once more stopped before turning back around

Cloyse dropped his head for a moment before looking back up and saying, "You have

"Who," Lynnette clinched her

"The two with de eyes," Cloyse

Lynnette's left foot tapped so hard on the floor from fear that

are you and

of

She

"I don't know you!" She yelled. "Who's coming

came up behind Cloyse and began to uncuff

I need to speak with him!" Lynnette urged

this guy to a cell, pronto." The officer began dragging Cloyse away.