The Theft- Second Part

The Theft (Part II)

23 July 1999, exactly 15 years ago from this day, a little boy’s mother was murdered in cold blood. Rain pouring all over. Similarly cold night. The boy was sleeping in his bed. 10 year old little lad, still suffering from the consequences of a tiny bladder. He was often teased about this fact, in the school and at the home. He felt embarrassed every time he found his mom mention it to anyone. They’d always say,” isn’t he too old to pee in his bed” or “you should seek a doctor, maybe he’ll prescribe something”. His mom always laughed it off. She knew he’ll just outgrow it.

That night was different, this time the boy had woken up in time and was delighted about the fact that his bed wasn’t wet but he heard some kind of noise which frightened him. Still he had to answer nature’s call. The boy hurriedly stood up from his bed. Walking in darkness wasn’t his strong suit either, so he slowly walked to the door, using the light from beneath the door as a beacon. There, he reached the door, pulled the handle down and the door slid itself outside because of yesterday’s oiling. It was the same reason behind it being so noiseless otherwise the creaking sound in the middle of the night would’ve woke up the neighbours. The earlier vague sounds now became clear. It was a woman, his mother yelling at someone.

The voices scared the boy, but he had to pass the living room in order to get to the other side of the house. So he started walking downstairs. Very slowly, silently. Just when he reached around the wall, a glass smashed. The boy froze right where he was. He was at the bottom of the staircase, just behind a wall from where he could see the corner of the living room and there stood his mum arguing with the tall man. There was water all over the floor. She was cornered, looking terrified as almost about to cry. The little boy had never seen his mom crying or scared. He could not see the man’s face as he was facing towards his mom. “No, I don’t want to see you, not ever again. Go away!”, she said. The man punched the wall, clearly agitated. But went away silently, nicely closing the door on his way out.

Claire took a deep breath. She was relieved at last. Now her eyes fell upon the little kid behind the wall. “Go back to your room, boy” she said firmly. “I just wanted to go to the toilet”, he replied. “Hurry up and go back to sleep, there’s school tomorrow”, she said. Just when the boy was about to move his little feet, the door opened suddenly with a loud thud and that tall man returned with a shovel held up high in his hands. Hit Claire on the back of her head, she fell on the floor but he was still angry so he kept on hitting her head. Just there, right in front of the boy, he bludgeoned his mother to death. When he finished, he threw the shovel there, gave the boy a dreaded look and went away again nicely closing the door on his way out.

The boy just stood there, his mind went blank for a while there before he started crying. Hearing all the noises, the neighbours came running and Mrs. Acorn screamed at the top of her voice before fainting as she gazed upon Claire’s body.

The boy remembers it all to this very day. After 15 years, just like it was last night. He remembers Mr. Acorn running and picking him up, trying to calm him. Calling the emergency number for reporting a homicide and an ambulance for his unconscious wife. The sirens after the local police arriving. The boy couldn’t help but notice a bald guy in one of the police cars but he wasn’t the one who killed Claire. The good policeman Mr. Moe with a big hairy moustache trying to get an idea of what happened here from the 10 year old, traumatised and unfortunate witness who wished it all to be just a nightmare. Although everyday was a nightmare after this incident. And the boy may not think of that night all the time now but he never forgot the pain. The horror still lingers in his heart. The fear which later turned to hatred and now, all those years later, he yearns for revenge.

It was a regular day at the Hooper and Looper accounting firm. People working with the same dedication as always. Everything normal till the office attendant came to Stewart’s cubicle. Stewart Johnson ‘Stu’ as his mama and friends called him. He was told to meet the manager as soon as possible. “You fraud”, exclaimed the manager as soon as he saw Stu. The manager accused him of embezzlement and stealing their clients’ money. “It was not me”, Stu cried. “I know money’s missing and I know it was you!”, the manager yelled. Stu’s pleading and arguing was doing no good to the situation. The manager was convinced that it was Stu who stole the money. Stu knew that his suspicion was also justified as his father was really sick recently and he asked the manager for an advance but even that wasn’t enough to get him the treatment he needed. How could he convince the manager that his estranged cousin won it big at gambling, gave a loan to Stu and died of drug overdose the week after. Stu was the obvious suspect. The manager gave him two options- to confess and resign or he would call the police. Stu had no choice. He knew the police won’t believe him either and he’ll end up in jail. So, he chose to confess to a crime he did not commit and promised to resign the day after. To Stu’s utter despair, this was exactly what the manager expected. That sly crook recorded the whole conversation and called the police immediately after Stu left his office. The police came and arrested Stu in front of his colleagues and dragged him to the police vehicle. “Hire a good lawyer”, officer Moe told Stu in a condescending voice.

They were on their way to the police station when there was a call on the radio asking anyone in the area to immediately report to a crime scene- homicide, female, mid-thirties, bludgeoned to death.

Instead of solving the mysteries, this part created some of its own.Who was this kid? Will he avenge his mother? And most of all- the fate of Joe? All of this will be sorted out in the next and final part of the series.

Till then, enjoy this video:-