Realizing they needed professional help, Eleanor stated they had to call the police. Arthur nodded in agreement and walked her back to her house to use the phone. He told her to take a deep breath and promised they would find him.
Back in her kitchen, Eleanor paced the linoleum floor, her hand hovering over the rotary phone. Her fingers, stiff from the cold and stress, fumbled with the dial. After a few tries, she finally heard the steady, professional voice of Sergeant Miller at the local precinct.
Trying to keep her voice from breaking, she identified herself and reported her eleven-year-old son missing. She explained that he hadn’t returned from school and that it was now past 6:30 PM. The Sergeant cut through the panic, asking for Billy’s full name, age, and the last place he was seen.
Swallowing hard, Eleanor gave the details: William “Billy” Thompson, fifth grade. She described his clothes—denim jacket, corduroy pants—and his leather satchel. She made sure to mention the distinct birthmark on his right cheek. She ended the call with a quiet plea for help.
The Sergeant’s tone became strictly business. He took down the information and told her to stay by the phone. He promised an officer would be there shortly to take a formal statement. Eleanor hung up, sat heavily on a kitchen chair, and buried her face in her hands.
Mrs. Henderson, who had followed her in, poured her a glass of water and urged her to stay positive. She argued that the police would find him quickly, perhaps with the K-9 unit, and that Billy had likely just wandered off. Eleanor looked up, her eyes red, and firmly replied that her son knew better.
When Eleanor voiced her darkest fear—that someone might have taken him—Mrs. Henderson went quiet, unable to offer a platitude for that. Within thirty minutes, a patrol car pulled into the driveway. Officer Davis, a young man accompanied by a more seasoned partner, stepped into the house.
The officer opened his notebook and asked Eleanor to walk him through Billy’s routine. She described his friends, his usual route, and any strangers he might have mentioned. The officer recorded every detail, nodding occasionally to encourage her to keep talking.
Once the interview was over, the officer informed her that a BOLO (Be On the Look Out) was being issued to all units. He mentioned that volunteer search parties would be organized to check the woods and the old quarry, but he insisted Eleanor stay home in case Billy called. He told her to contact the station immediately if he showed up.
