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.

over again. "My...my mama said that there were three?" She turned

other two?" She

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

"She said there were three of them!" Lynnette sobbed loud enough for everyone within earshot

Glover, please try

I don't

"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 down and

as tight as possible. "I know one of them." She whimpered. "She had these

Barron asked,

two." Lynnette tried to catch her breath. "My mother said that there were three of them, but

part of a gang?" Barron inquired. "We have been seeing a spike in gang activity

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

you something that you won't

sat up close and personal to the young woman while not batting a single eyelash as he stared hard

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

from clear on the other side of

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 it appear like a

to excuse me!" Barron breathlessly stated as he shot up from out of his

men in order to subdue the turmoil, while Lynnette sat by in her chair and watched in

misery, from the spurts of profanity-laced mayhem clear on the other side of the room, to her own son; no matter

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

"Tea," a man's

her eyes connected with the man seated only three feet

She cleared

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

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

up, too. That is until a good friend told me about the wonderful effects of tea calming the

and arrogantly said, "For you information, I am

stare at Lynnette's scarred up arms for

thing you need is to be in here of all places shaking like a leaf. These cops see it

with his makeup

"Look at that mess over there." He nodded his

Lynnette slightly turned her head to view the carnage that was still taking place in the

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 elderly couple. They said they would give me five dollars for my routine, but once I was through, the old geezers just up and walked away. Next thing I know,

here and not out

you're right."

in the hopes that her shakes would end, Lynnette watched in silent comfort as the officers eventually brought the two

can do to kill it." Her voice faltered. "I've seen it before with my

"Wait a minute, you've actually seen this

"Yeah, twice now," she replied. "Ever since then...I know what the devil looks like. He either has fur, or he tells me

like a poet."

"No, I'm not, I just see people for

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

came eye to eye with the aforementioned bearded, 'black

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

and attention away from the man, but the more she twisted and squirmed in her seat,

and at least put me in a cell already." The mime grumbled. "I can't

became, until after so long she couldn't bear it any longer. She got up from out of her chair

"Hey, what about your missing kid, lady?" The

past one busy officer after another. At that point, and after 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 eyes, officers

As she came closer to the handcuffed man Lynnette couldn't help but to quickly glance

"Lynn!" Cloyse

down all she could see was Cloyse looking back up

"Who...who are you?" She

Scooting his chair closer to her, Cloyse gasped,

Lynnette only backed away from the feverish man as though he had

face and clothes were saturated in sweat, while his bloodshot eyes gave the

see a fraught, pathetic man before her who could have been high on the

me out

Lynnette turned up her nose

"I can see in your face dat you have seen them!" He

Lynnette once more stopped before turning back around and frowning,

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

"Who," Lynnette

two with de eyes,"

tapped so hard on the floor from fear that she could hardly even stand

"Who are you and what are you

have seen dem. I have seen dem all of

any wider than they were at that painstaking instant. She heard the words coming out of Cloyse's mouth, but she honestly couldn't believe what she

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

do it for you." A male, white officer came up behind Cloyse and

"No, no, I need to speak with him!"

pronto." The officer began dragging Cloyse away.