Concealed

stench. I skim through the file of 1963. Stumped in thought, I lay on the floor and stare into the pictures from the gift again hoping to miraculously find new information. Then a sudden sense of realisation washes over me, I look closer to magnify my view of the young boy in the picture, with a recognisable scar on his left arm, almost identical to the one the umpire had.

The horrors of the incident became more vivid as secrets are beginning to be uncovered. It appears people who were present on the day of the missing boy, were staying quiet for a reason. Chapter 5 T he sun was slowly setting, as the as minutes turn into hours of searching for new clues. My heart skips a beat when I make the breakthrough with the boy in the photo and the umpire, the scar in both photos were uncanny in their resemblance – I stand up and lower myself down the ladder to reach the main office again. I begin storming my way through the school oval to question the Umpire, when I start to think rationally through my scattering thoughts. Was he the reason for the mysterious disappearance? Just off his appearance he seems more than capable to do so, with his inhumane, icy cold stare. “I’d rather not re-live those moments.” He says when I question him. “Oh, so you do talk?” I reply sarcastically. “There’s a reason why there’s no media coverage in the past decade over a missing boy. I’ve spent years trying to erase those events from my past, by swarming off wannabe Nancy Drews just like you! And I won’t let you jeopardise my life!” I back away speechless. It is clear now that he is hiding something. Why is he so private about the events in 1963? Obviously, he had something to do with the disappearance, but why? Was it out revenge, jealousy or maybe even hatred? As I think this over, I notice something else in the photo. A boy named...Tommy Figus. The same boy who disappeared! With my heart racing, I rush back to Bluebird Publishing to my computer and begin sending email after email to school, sport centres, anywhere I can think of that he might have gone to...