Written by Adaley Heninger, Hadleigh Johnson, and Jaylene Trevino, Estabon Diaz

In the Newspaper, it is not only news that is posted, but sometimes there are stories within the pages. After asking Mr. Weldon’s Creative Writing class for a couple of stories we were sent one. Written by Estabon Diaz (10), It's Time is a story for any crime or detective lovers with a taste for justice.  

 It’s Time

Estabon Diaz

“And finally, we closed this case after a month.” Someone sighed and put it away into his filing cabinet. Someone else walks through the door, it’s a woman that has long, black hair, wearing a white sweater and a green beanie. 

“Hey, can I speak to you, Detective?” The woman asked, sounding tense about something. “I was just about to close, but sure, I have time to hear you for a bit.” He said while he stands up and puts on his sweater.

“I.. are you sure? It’s going to take a while, probably” She asked, waiting for reassurance. He sits down and grabs his cup of coffee, “Yeah, I’m sure. I have nothing else to do at home anyways.” “Oh, okay. Thank you.” She responded as she sat down, on the other side of the desk. “So… what’s the problem?” He asked while setting his cup of coffee back down. “It’s about my child…” she said, putting her head down like she was mourning her loss. “What happened to her…?” The Detective asked, not knowing what to say to her.

“She… disappeared on me when I was at the store…” She said, pulling a picture out of her purse. The Detective picked up the photo. It was a girl that seemed maybe around 15 years old. “When did she disappear?” He asked, grabbing a new file and putting any info that’s needed, down onto the paper. “She disappeared around the 20th. The police went around searching for her after. Nothing showed up” She said, putting the picture back into her purse, and pulled out a phone. “This was hers, you can use it to see if there is evidence in any of the apps on the phone.” She said, placing the phone onto the desk. “Sorry if it’s a little cracked. I think she dropped it on a rock or something.” She puts her hands onto her leg, clenching her thighs. “I can’t believe my daughter would let something like this happen to her…” Eyes swelling up, tears rolling down her cheek. “Do you think she was kidnapped? Or…” He said, putting down the pen and picking up the phone. 

He then checks on his computer, then plugs in a chord from the computer, to the phone. “Sorry, give me a minute.” He said while he starts going on the computer, and hacks through it. “How did you do that?” The woman said, while wiping a tear from her eye. “I worked at a phone repair place for around 10 years, this is kind of easy to do at this point. Especially on these new IPhones.” He said, picking up her phone and checking through everything.  “There seems to be barely anything on the phone…?” The Detective said, showing only the last location before she disappeared from sight. 

“I told her, ‘Don’t stray too far!’ And she wandered off onto the other side of the store. Then she’s just gone.” The mother said, about to cry a river. “Woah, calm down ma’am. Did you see the culprit at all?” He asked, getting up from the chair, and walked over to the filing cabinet. “I didn’t really see what he looked like, but he was a tall, white male.” She said, wiping her tears off her face. “Of course it’s a white male” He said, while sighing and opened the filing cabinet to grab something out of it. “We had a case a while ago that had around the same thing as your child, but it was with an older woman.” He walked back over to the desk and put it right in front of her. “Look through the file while I call the store to see if they can send me the video footage of that day.” 

He dials the number and puts it on speaker phone. Someone picked up the phone from the other line:

“Hello, and thank you for choosing to call the Noble Market. This is Evan, how may I help you?” Evan said on the phone.

 “Hi, this is Detective Alan, and I have a lady hear about her child that was supposedly abducted during the time she was there.” Alan said, picking up his pen and was ready to put down some information. 

“Oh no, I’m terribly sorry for that. Do you want me to see if I can pull up some CCTV footage to find them?” Evan asks, while he has troubles, removing papers from his desk, and pulls up the CCTV Cameras.

“What was the day the child went missing?” Evan asked, while switching through the feed.

“If I remember correctly-” “December 20th, at exactly 1:07pm.” The woman interrupts Detective Alan.

“Okay, looking up around that time…” Evan said, hearing typing and mouse movements on the other side of the phone. 

“Ma’am, what was the child wearing?” Evan asked, concerningly.

“She was wearing her pink beanie, and was wearing a white sweater, and had a gray shirt with black leggings' ' She said frantically, while waiting for a response from Evan.

Silence overtakes the room. 

“Well, I found her, but she wasn’t wearing a beanie.” Evan said, while Alan and the mother were hearing more things being shuffled around on the other side of the phone.

“I can send the footage over towards you guys, you can review the footage.”  Evan asked.

“Yea sure, we can take it from here. Here, send it to this email and we will keep you updated, if you want it.” Detective Alan said, giving him an email to send the Footage to.

“Ah, there is the footage,” Alan said, opening up the Footage on his computer, turning the monitor towards the mother, showing the footage. The mother opened her eyes widely, showing a shocked expression on her face. She covered her mouth and softly sobbed, turning away from the monitor. “I can’t believe this!” She said, putting both of her palms on her face, covering it up. Alan turns the monitor back towards him. “I…” Alan swayed off of his words and kept his mouth shut for a bit. “You don’t know how it is, losing the only child you’ve had..” The mother said, looking back at Alan, showing no expressions on her face, and her voice was breaking. 

“I don’t know how that feels but… I lost my parents when I was younger…” Alan said, getting up from his chair, and puts on his beanie. “I’m closing up now, I’ll look at the case in the morning.” Alan said, grabbing his cup of coffee and his bag, bout to head out the door. “You don’t understand how I feel, Detective!” The mother yelled at Alan. “I do know how you feel! Just, get out!” Alan yelled, pointing at the door.

“Leave.”

The mother stood up and took her bag and walked out of the door, and slammed it. Alan then walked out of his office and walked home. On the way to his house, there was a bridge he always visits. He walks towards the middle of the bridge, and stands there looking at the water. “I Don’t know what to do about this case…” He said to himself, and just kept walking along. “Why is this town filled with snow most of the year anyways?” He asked himself. He finally makes it to his house. He walked through the door, and set his bags down onto the little table that’s sitting In front of his walkway. Walking towards his living room, he wonders, “How am I gonna solve this case?”.  “I’ve gotten barely any clues, nothing to work off of, but only one place to look at.” He looked at the time on his phone, seeing that it’s December 26th, 2003. He looks at the time, it’s currently 12:00am. “I’ll just work on it tomorrow when I Actually get some sleep.” He plops down on his couch, puts on a show, and falls asleep right then and there.

Knock. Knock. Knock. A faint noise wakes up Alan. He rubs his eyes and gets up. “Who could it be right now?” Alan asks himself, checking the time; 6:00am, December 27th, 2003. “At least it’s more sleep than usual…” Saying, going to the front door and checking through the peephole. “Oh, it’s the mother.” Alan said, opening the door. “Hello there…?” Alan sat there, remembering that she never told him her name at all. “Oh, It’s Janett. Sorry about that.” Janett said. 

“It’s alright. By the way, We have to go check the perimeter of The Noble Shop to see if they’re are any clues to see where he took her to.” he said, grabbing his bag. “ Wanna come with, Janett?” he asked while he walked to his car. “Sure.” Janett followed and got into his car, while he got in the driver’s seat. He started up his car and pulled out of the driveway. They then started to head to the Noble Store, but they felt something was… off… “Hey Alan, does something feel… Weird to you?” Janett asked, looking at the outside of the car. “Yea, the atmosphere feels… Dreadful.” Alan said, while pulling into the Noble Store parking lot. They both stepped out of the car, and scouted out the area real quick. 

Alan then spotted something hanging on a tree, close to the parking lot. It seemed… like a white sweater. He walked over to the tree, “Alan? Did you find something…?” Janett asked, not knowing if she wanted to know if he Did find something. “I did.” He said, grabbing the white sweater and showing it to Janett. Janett was shocked, and grabbed the sweater. Tears started rolling down her face, finally seeing a piece of evidence after seven whole days of not seeing where her child went. 

Then, Alan noticed something else. There was a culvert pipe, down in the small valley. Alan jumped over the railing, Janett didn’t know where he’s going, but still followed him. After they reached the bottom of the small valley, he looked into the culvert pipe. It leads somewhere. “You probably won’t like this, but.. We have to go into the pipe to see if there is any evidence on where they went. “Yea, I guess this is what you have to go through if you’re a detective…” she said, following behind him, but feels disgusted by everything around her. There was a little opening on the side of the Culvert pipe. Alan then went to go check it out, with Janett following behind him. It was a dirt path, leading to somewhere. He took a step in, then heard something.  There was someone screaming. “He-” Janett was cut off by Alan’s hand covering her mouth. “Be quiet. We don’t know if he’s dangerous!” He whispered towards Janett.

He uncovered her mouth, and they both stepped in quietly. It was a long dirt path, pitch black. They hear another scream. “I know you think it might be your daughter, but you need to be quiet,” Alan whispered, making sure they weren't being heard. They finally got to a different room. They kept their heads down, and peeked into the room. A man was heard walking towards them. Alan grabbed Janett’s hand, and hid closely to the wall. They see a dark figure walk past them, “That kid is dead already. Time to find another one” The figure said, in a monotone voice. After he left, Janett let go of Alan’s hand, running into the room. Alan speed walks into the room, seeing that Janett was holding a child, tears streaming down her face. “Allison, are you okay?” Janett said, panicked. She held the child by the head.

She was covered in bruises, and filth. There was a little bit of blood on her face. Allison’s eyes started to swell. Allison said weakly, “I’m sorry mom, I should’ve stayed next to you. This is my fault.” “Why would you believe that, Allison? It wasn’t your fault. It was no one’s fault.” Janett said, crying more tears. “I think it’s too late mom, I can’t feel anything anymore…” Allison said, raising her hands up and hugs her mom. “No, don’t say that Allison. I just got you back” Janett said worried, more tears started going down her face. Allison’s hands and arms slowly losing grip on her mom. Her arms fell to the floor. “No! Allison! Please don’t die on me!” Janett yelled, going into an uncontrollable sobbing. Alan walked over and put his hand on Allison’s heart. No pulse…

Alan then took his hand off of Allison’s chest and looked at Janett. Alan then was sombre. “She’s… gone, Janett.” Alan hugged Janett, trying to calm her down. Janett stood up, leaving Allison’s lifeless body onto the floor, and she walked towards the entrance of the room. “ I was too late..” Janett said, more tears strolling down her face. Alan picked up Allison’s body and pulled out his phone. He called 911, making sure to describe everything.

“911, what’s your emergency?” The 911 operator said, ready to help

“This is Detective Alan, and I found somebody’s child, and an unknown space in the culvert pipe. Can you send the cops and ambulance down here to block this place off?” Alan asked.

“Right away sir, where are you located?” 911 operator asked Alan, already talking to the police and ambulance

“Do you know where The Noble Store is?”

“Yea.”

“There’s a small valley past the railing, there is a culvert pipe. I won’t be here, I have to catch the culprit.” Alan said, walking to the outside of the Culvert pipe, laying Allison on the ground, back towards the end of the culvert pipe. 

“Okay, They’re gonna be there in around 10 minutes.” The 911 operator said, and added on,” But make sure whenever you catch the culprit, make sure to call the line again.” 

“I will, thank you” 

Alan hangs up the call. “You can stay here, or you can come with.” “I’ll stay here, I guess…” Janett said, her voice breaking as she spoke. He then headed out to the store and went inside. Now what was the man wearing… He asked himself while he walked through the store. Just look around for anyone that’s being a creep.  He walked around the store, until he spotted someone creeping around a child. He can overhear the conversation with the child and him. “Hey, I have a daughter that likes those toys, you wanna talk to her?” He asked, holding his hand out. The kid grabbed his hand, and the kidnapper yanked him towards himself and covered his mouth with a napkin. Alan went over and yelled at him. “Hey! Get your hands off of him!” Alan grabbed and pulled the kid away from him. “Are you okay? He nods. “Go to your mom and call the police-” then, there’s a thud on the floor. “You deserve that, for what you did to my daughter.” Janett said, having a very angry expression on her face.

Alan then picks him up from off the floor and drags him outside. The kidnapper was unconscious still, dragging his hefty body towards the exit. The kidnapper woke up, noticing he was being dragged. “What are you doing to me? Let go of me!” He said, wriggling around. “No, You’re gonna pay for all the crimes you’ve done.” ALan said, grunting every time he pulled the kidnapper. “Aren’t you Detective Alan?” The kidnapper asked, having a smile on his face. “So what if I am?” Alan scoffed, still dragging him.

The kidnapper let out a small giggle. “What are you giggling about?” Alan said, looking at him with a stern look. “Alan Corduroy Ponder” The sinister laugh came after he said Alan’s full name. Alan stopped in his tracks, and looked him straight in the eyes. “How do you know my full name.” Alan said, looking at the kidnapper with no expressions. “Oh, your face on that day” The kidnapper said, before throwing fitz of laughter. “What…” Alan said, now having a concerned look on his face. “You sat there in the darkness, thinking I couldn’t see you. My clothes were full of uhhhh..Human blood. Right? ” He smiled Maniacally. Alan dropped the kidnapper’s legs and had a of shock and terror, coursing through his body. “I-it was you.” Alan stumbled and fell onto the floor of the store.

The kidnapper nodded and widened his grin. “It was me who killed your parents.”  The kidnapper said in a monotone voice. Alan’s face went blank. He got up and walked away. He soon came back with an axe in his hand, still not saying a word. “W-wait, what are you doing?” The kidnapper said, now actually worried for his life. No answer from Alan. “W-wait, we can talk about this. Right?” The kidnapper continued. Alan looked at him with a furious expression. “It’s time for you to pay the price. The murdering of multiple kids, and a child’s parents!” Alan swung the axe with a heavy grunt…

The kidnapper opened his eyes, trembling with fear. He looked right next to his head to see an axe almost stuck him in the head. He was still trembling, slowly turning his head to Alan. Alan punched him in the face multiple times. “You’re spending the rest of your life in prison, you sick monster.” Alan said, picking the kidnapper back up. “Start walking.” Alan said, pushing the kidnapper to the outside of the store. The police were already there, waiting for those two to come back out. Alan smiled, pushing the kidnapper towards the police.

One Week Later

“Hereby this day, Joseph D. Walters, You are sentence to life in prison for the lives of 2 adults, Child murder, attempted murder of a child, attempted kidnapping, and kidnapping.” The judge smacks their gavel onto the table, everyone celebrating the arrest of Joseph D. Walters. The killer who haunted Alan’s nightmare for 15 years. He’s finally arrested and avenged his parents for their deaths. “Hey, Detective Alan.” Allison said while Janett rolled her into the courtroom in a wheelchair. “How is your recovery Allison?” Alan said, going up to her and hugs her, being careful not to hurt her. “Recovery is going well, I’m glad you guys found me before I was gone.” Allison said, hugging back. “By the way Alan, thank you for helping me with everything. I really am.” Janett said, crying tears of joy. "We also got the perpetrator that has done many, many things in the past, and the stuff that recently happened.” She wiped her tears away, smiling. 

“Heh, they don’t know anything just yet” 

Sinister Laughter.