Haunted Organic (2014 Watty Award Winner)

Fourteen: Broken

FOURTEEN - Broken

"No, there is no solid evidence to link Josie Brown to the disappearances of these kids," The Barrell was speaking to Rhonda Blathers, in front of the Organic Food Store.

"...But there is no evidence exonerating him either."

It was a sunny day, and it seemed tourists and sight seers and rubber-neckers from all over Australia were curious about what happened on Tamarama Street. The tiny street bustled with groups of people snapping photos and standing on the sidewalk in front of Emerald's house, peering into the windows of the store, gabbing about what happened there.

Rhonda and Horace were filming for their TV special, "Teenage Child Abductors: How to Spot Them Before They Steal Your Child"

"But, Detective...er I mean Sargent, you were given a commendation and promotion for your work on this case, right?"

"Yes, I was. But catching bad guys, saving poor defenseless kids, it's all in the line of work for any cop, really," The Barrell said, puffing out his chest.

His mustache fluffed itself, dramatically.

"Well, Sargent, people are saying that one young man helped you make your case here. Do you have anything to add about that?"

"Well, no it was really the hard investigative work of the Sydney Police Depart...."

"Wait! Wait!" a voice screeched from behind them.

"I have something to say about that!"

It was Mrs. Doris Kippelibby, dressed in her finest orange flowered moo-moo, and her brightest red lipstick, her hair curled to perfection in little swirls around her head and tied up with a matching orange piece of cloth.

She was running toward them, her legs moving clumsily like two angry pork butts.

"It was Greg Umple..." she said huffing and puffing, parting the crowd that formed and grabbing the microphone.

"U-M-P-L-E...got that?" she asked, poking her index finger into Rhonda's notebook.

"Yes, we heard Greg Umple was critical in finding the children and getting them out of the Organic Food Store."

"Oh yes, he was. He saved those children," Mrs. Kippelibby explained.

"Those children were going to be drowned in all that water, when they say that pipe burst, or whatever it was, and he got them out safely."

"Would you call Greg Umple a hero?"

"Oh yes, I don't think a braver boy ever existed," Mrs Kippelibby said.

"Well, I don't know about brave..." The Barrell butted in, sticking his mustache into the microphone.

"Mr. Umple helped the police, and when young people help the police, good things happen," The Barrell said in the most condescending manner possible.

"We appreciate all the junior detectives who help us fight the bad guys," he said, as if he were talking about four-year-olds, wearing tin badges and playing cops and robbers.

"We're having a parade for him, you know, with a float and everything," Mrs. Kippelibby said, putting her balloon face in front of the microphone and shoving The Barrell aside with one thick hip.

"Um, um, yes....sounds wonderful..." interrupted Rhonda Blathers.

"I'm getting word from the station that we are live with Dorin Hanes, the aunt of Trinket Parsnips, down at the hospital," she said, holding the ear piece in her ear.