This story is part of an ongoing series.
The chronological order of my stories is now listed in WifeWatchman's biography.
Feedback and
constructive
criticism is very much appreciated, and I encourage feedback for ideas.
This story contains graphic scenes, language and actions that might be extremely offensive to some people. These scenes, words and actions are used only for the literary purposes of this story. The author does not condone murder, racial language, violence, rape or violence against women, and any depictions of any of these in this story should not be construed as acceptance of the above.
Special note: There are *NO* sex acts involving anyone under 18 years old in this story, nor in any of my stories.
The Slender Man was
created
discovered by Victor Surge Knudsen.
Part 9 - Urgency
"Oh nooooooo..." Cindy whispered as she fell back into her chair. Cindy had formed a bond with young Susie, going back to the night at First Baptist Church when Mrs. Veasley had died and Raymond Westboro had blown up the building, then helping Susie through the ordeal of testifying against Sharples about the death of Susie's cousin Scrawny Haskins.
"Sit this one out." I said, seeing that Cindy was rocked by the news. "I'll handle it." I turned and went to Teresa's office and told her. As she called to get a team to the school, I went down to MCD and told Joanne, and gave her instructions to get to the School.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Cindy was talking with Susie's shocked, distraught parents in the gym when Joanne Warner returned from the school at 1:30pm., Friday April 20th.
"We found this on the chalkboard in Susie's classroom." said Joanne. It was a drawing in black crayon. On the left side was a cedar tree, in the middle was a drawing of Slender Man, and on the right, spelled vertically, was the word 'FOLLOWS'. A small '7' was on the upper right-hand corner of the page.
"That's it." I said. "We have eight pages. Let us pray that it is the last one. Put it on the whiteboards. And make sure the pages are in number order."
"They are, sir." said Joanne. "The top row is 1-4, and the four underneath are 5-8."
"Good." I said, looking at a full set of eight pages now. What is your motive, you son of a bitch? I thought to myself. What are you after?
No answer came to me.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Any ideas at all?" asked Chief Moynahan.
It was 2:00pm, and we were in the Chief's Conference Room, the Chief, myself, Captain Croyle and Captain Ross. Also in the room were FBI Special Agent in Charge Jack Muscone and Special Agent in Charge Clark Webster, who was in charge of the FBI's Missing Persons team in the City.
"No sir." I said. "The only connecting link that I see is that we've met most of these kids before through TCPD activities. Rachel Fourier and Alton Taylor were two of the three kids I rescued at Ward Harvester when it blew up... the first time. Marie Pressman was the child that we believe Sharples kidnapped so that he could rescue her and look like a hero. I remember my wife interviewing her after she was found."
I continued: "Susie Haskins was in First Baptist Church the night Westboro trapped everyone in there. She also testified against Sharples, and was helped by Captain Ross in all that." Cindy bowed her head at my words.
I went on: "Zack Ridley was involved in the Tylenol Bottle case earlier this week. That leaves Bettie Paige and Tommy Tomlin. Bettie is Public Health Officer Beth Paige's daughter, and I've met her on some occasions. Tommy Tomlin... he's the only one we Police have absolutely no connection with, at least that I know of."
"The Data people are looking into the Tomlins, to see if there's another connection we just haven't found yet." said Cindy.
"Well, if you ask me," said Jack Muscone, "The Slender Man wants your attention, Don."
"And he definitely has it now." I replied. "I just wish he'd let us know what he wants, besides my attention."
"What about this 'Slender Man' motif?" asked Chief Moynahan. "I wouldn't be believing any of this, except that too many of you have seeeeen this basturrrrd."
"I'm not prone to believing supernatural things, sir." said Teresa. "But this doesn't seem like a motif. This guy is acting like the Internet legend in every way... appearing and disappearing, whisking away children in seemingly impossible ways..."
"Well, Captain," said the Chief, "I've seen many crimes, but none truly committed by ghosts. We're dealing with a man here, a sick, demented man who is kidnapping children. I need not say we need to find this guy and stop him cold."
"I'm more worried about the children, sir." I said. "It's getting to be nearly a full day for Alton Taylor. These kids will need water, and ultimately food."
"If they're still alive." Teresa said.
"Don't say that!" Cindy said sharply. "They're alive!" Teresa peered at Cindy, but said nothing more.
"We'll act on the premise that they are alive, until we find otherwise for sure." said Jack Muscone reassuringly. "So, no calls for ransom?"
"No, not yet." I said. "Nothing but those damned eight pages of drawings. Not even a note saying 'Gimme twenty dollars.'."
"In case you guys don't know," spoke up Teresa, seeing the looks on everyone's faces, "one version of the Slender Man video game played the song 'Gimme Twenty Dollars' instead of spooky sounds when Slender Man was following the game player around in the woods." Everyone nodded, now understanding my very poor joke.
"This guy has to want
something.
" said Clark Webster. "If not money, what?"
"He wants Commander Troy." said Teresa. "I'm not kidding about this. The Internet legend is that he pursues someone relentlessly until he captures or kills them. He's been appearing around the Iron Crowbar for some time now."
"Captnnnn Croyle..." said Chief Moynahan, shaking his head. "I am really less interested in the Slender Man Fan Club in England and their Internet drivel than I am in this very real perp kidnapping very real children..."
"She does have a point, Chief." I said. "Though maybe not for the reasons of Internet legend and Creepypasta. Jack just said it, too. I think it's a very valid hypothesis that this guy wants me, or something to do with me... but what that is, I have no idea."
Just then, the Duty Desk Sergeant knocked on the door. "Sorry to interrupt, everyone," he said, "but there's a Dr. Mickelson from the University in the lobby who wants to talk to Commander Troy. He says it's urgent, and about the Slender Man cases."
Part 10 - Sigma Radiation
"Are you really going to let this guy do this?" asked Chief Moynahan to me.
"Yes sir." I said. "Crazy as it sounds, sir, he might can help us."
"If it were anyone but you," said the Chief, "I'd never go for this. But you have that crow-bar, and I don't want to be your practice fodder for the Boxing Matches."
"Molly always said you were a brilliant policeman, sir." I replied. Moynahan chuckled as he shook his head.
Dr. Mickelson was the Biology Professor we had come to know in the 'Point Hollow' case. He had come and asked permission to check all the items we'd recovered for 'sigma radiation' as he called it. It was supposedly an energy signature left by the Slender Man, the Rake, and other Creepypasta bad guys. Nearest I could tell, it was an energy level close to brain waves.
He had a device that looked like a Geiger counter. He asked everyone except me to leave the MCD room to reduce the energy signatures in the room. Cindy stayed at the door, anyway, as Dr. Mickelson waved the instrument in front of the eight pages.
"I'm getting faint readings." said Dr. Mickelson. "But the signature is there. Especially on this last one." He was referring to the eighth page, the one found with the disc golf discs. And that reminded me...
"Why don't we go check the disc golf discs in my office." I said. Dr. Mickelson followed me to my office. As I put on latex gloves and got the bag out of the safe, Dr. Mickelson did what everyone else does that comes into my office for the first time: he looked around in seeming awe and wonder.
I took the bag of discs and placed it on my desk. Cindy was watching from just outside the doorway, and I was standing back from the desk, near the safe.
"There's a lot of background radiation in this office." said Dr. Mickelson. "A lot of energy. This must be where you do all your thinking. Have you ever felt anything strange about this room?"
"Uh, I've always felt this room was 'home', that there really is something about it." I said truthfully. This office had 'the vibe' for me, which is one reason I refused to move out of it. "Why don't we take the bag to MCD and see if it works better for you."