In Thomson's hands, the drawing was no mere child's play; it was a beacon, leading him through the murky memories that clouded his past. The office was silent, save for the soft rustle of paper as Thomson laid out the map of the city beside the child's drawing.
Thomson: "The sun here... it’s not just a sun. Look at the shape beside it, the outline; it's the old water tower, on the outskirts of the city."
Ricky leaned in, squinting at the crude shapes sketched in crayon. The realization dawned on him too.
Ricky: "So, the child's gaze — it's not up but... it's pointing."
Thomson's eyes narrowed, a hunter zeroing in on his prey. The child figure was looking toward a specific part of the drawing, a place where the sun's rays touched the earth.
Thomson: "Here. It points here. 'Follow the child's gaze and you'll find what you seek.' We need to get to that water tower."
The journey was silent, the tension thick. The water tower loomed in the distance, a silent sentinel overlooking the city. As they approached, the tower's shadow stretched out like a dark finger, pointing.
They scoured the area, the ground where the shadow of the sun would fall at midday. It was Ricky who found the anomaly, a patch of earth that was disturbed, recently turned.
Ricky: "Thomson, here!"
Shovels bit into the soil, each scoop a heartbeat. And then, the metallic clink of metal on metal. A box, old and rusted, but still strong, emerged from the earth's grip.
Inside, they found an array of items: more drawings, each with different landmarks, a series of letters written in a child's hand, and a locket containing a photo of Thomson's son, bright-eyed and smiling.
Thomson (whispering): "My boy..."
The letters were stories, each one detailing a day in the life of a child. They spoke of adventures and dreams, but in between the lines, there was a coded message, a timeline that hinted at where the child had been... and where he might be now.
The episode closes with Thomson and Ricky under the shadow of the water tower, the city spread out before them, and a newfound resolve shining in Thomson's eyes.
To be continued...
What secrets are hidden within the letters? How will they lead Thomson to his son? And who has orchestrated this trail of breadcrumbs from the shadows?
Stay tuned for Episode 8, as the odyssey takes a turn toward the heart, guiding Thomson not just to a child lost in the past, but to a truth that has been waiting in the wings all along.
The Bounty Hunter's Odyssey - Episode 1: The Hunter's Echo
The Bounty Hunter's Odyssey - Episode 2: The Unseen Threads
The Bounty Hunter's Odyssey - Episode 3: Whispers from the Deep
The Bounty Hunter's Odyssey - Episode 4: The Crow's Nest
The Bounty Hunter's Odyssey - Episode 5: Shadows Within Shadows
The Bounty Hunter's Odyssey - Episode 6: The Key Unearthed