Flashback - November 18, 2024

It was a rainy day, and the atmosphere at Seattle Boys High was heavy with tension. Thomas was seen running out of the school, clutching a newborn baby to his chest, his face pale and eyes wide with fear. David stood nearby, his phone raised, capturing the entire scene.

"Look at the freak," David sneered as he recorded. "Thomas, the pregnant boy. What a joke."

Thomas stumbled through the rain, desperate to protect the baby from the elements. His clothes were soaked, and he was shivering, but he pressed on, determined to find safety.

Back to Present

Dean was stunned by what he had learned. "So, you're saying Thomas gave birth, and there's a video of it?"

Eleanor nodded. "Yes, the video circulated among the students. It was how we found out as well. The child's location is unknown, and Thomas always denied everything about the pregnancy and birth."

Dean stood up, his mind racing. "Thank you for your time. I need to follow up on this lead."

He left the Whitmore mansion, his thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and urgency. This new information turned the case on its head. A boy getting pregnant and giving birth was unprecedented, and the implications were staggering.

Dean's Office

Back at his temporary office in Seattle, Dean immediately began searching online for any record of the November 18 incident. It didn't take long to find a multitude of results. The video David had taken had indeed gone viral, showing Thomas running through the rain with a newborn in his arms. The comments and reactions were a mix of shock, ridicule, and sympathy.

Dean knew he had to find the child. The baby's location and the circumstances surrounding its birth were crucial to understanding Thomas's final days. He also needed to speak to Han, the boy who had stood by Thomas during his torment and might know more about this incredible and tragic turn of events.

As Dean pieced together the new information, the urgency of the investigation deepened. The stakes were higher than ever, and the truth about Thomas Garrett was proving to be more complex and heartbreaking than anyone had imagined. The next steps would take Dean into uncharted territory, but he was determined to uncover the full story and bring justice to a boy whose life had been marked by extraordinary challenges and courage.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Flashback - May 8, 2024

David waited impatiently outside the teacher's lounge, a wad of cash concealed in his pocket. He knew he needed to secure his passing grade, and this was the only way he could think of.

When the teacher, Mr. Jacobs, finally emerged, David approached him with a confident swagger. "Mr. Jacobs," he began, "I need to talk to you about my grades."

Mr. Jacobs eyed him suspiciously. "What about them, David?"

David glanced around to make sure they were alone, then discreetly handed Mr. Jacobs the cash. "I need to pass this class. Make it happen."

Mr. Jacobs hesitated, then took the money with a resigned sigh. "Fine, but this is the last time."

David smirked. "You won't regret it."

Present Day

Inspector Dean was sitting across from Mike Whitmore, Thomas's biological uncle, in a quiet room at the local CIB office. Mike was the only member of the Whitmore family who had shown unwavering support for Thomas, and his grief was palpable.

"Thank you for coming in, Mr. Whitmore," Dean began. "I understand you were close to Thomas. Can you tell me more about him?"

Mike nodded, his eyes misting with tears. "Thomas was a ray of sunshine. He was always smiling, always full of joy. He had this incredible spirit, no matter what life threw at him."

Dean listened intently, sensing the deep bond between Mike and Thomas.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Flashback - Same Day, May 8, 2024

Thomas and his Uncle Mike were spending the day together, a rare escape from the tension and hostility of the Whitmore household. They had booked a room at a hotel downtown, a place where they could relax and enjoy each other's company.

"Uncle Mike, this place is amazing!" Thomas exclaimed as they entered the spacious suite.

Mike grinned. "I thought you might like it. We needed a break from everything."

They spent the day exploring the city, eating at Thomas's favorite restaurants, and even visiting a local arcade. For a while, Thomas could forget about the bullying, the pressure, and the strange circumstances surrounding his life.

Later, as they relaxed in the hotel room, Thomas opened up about his life at school. "There's this guy, Han," he said. "He's been really nice to me. He even stood up for me when David and his gang were bullying me."

Mike smiled warmly. "Sounds like a good friend. Do you hang out with him a lot?"

"Yeah," Thomas replied, "he's great. He loves playing the guitar, and he's been teaching me a bit. I really enjoy it."

Mike's heart swelled with pride and affection. "I'm glad you have someone like Han in your life, Thomas. You deserve all the happiness in the world."

The same day Thomas spent with his Uncle Mike, they had dinner in a cozy restaurant. Over a meal of Thomas's favorite dishes, they talked about everything from school to dreams for the future.

"Uncle Mike, I really like playing the guitar," Thomas said between bites. "Han has been teaching me, and it's been so much fun."

Mike smiled. "I'm glad you've found something you enjoy, Thomas. You have a real talent for music. Maybe one day, you can perform in front of an audience."

Thomas's eyes sparkled with excitement. "I'd love that. Han thinks I have potential too."

Mike's heart warmed at the sight of Thomas's joy. He wished more than anything that Thomas could always be this happy and free from the troubles that plagued him.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back to Present

Dean could see the pain in Mike's eyes as he recounted the happy memories with Thomas. "It sounds like you were a great support for him," Dean said gently.

"I tried to be," Mike replied, his voice thick with emotion. "Thomas had so much potential, so much love to give. It breaks my heart that he's gone."

Dean nodded, feeling the weight of Mike's sorrow. "Do you know anything about Han? He seems to have been a significant part of Thomas's life."

Mike thought for a moment. "I remember Thomas mentioning Han a few times. He really looked up to him. They spent a lot of time together, especially after school. Han was teaching him to play the guitar, and it brought Thomas so much joy."

Dean made a note of this. "Thank you, Mr. Whitmore. Your insights are invaluable. We're doing everything we can to find out what happened to Thomas and bring those responsible to justice."

After Mike Whitmore had left, Dean sat in his office, contemplating the bizarre claims of Thomas's pregnancy. The idea seemed preposterous, yet it had been repeated by multiple sources. Determined to get to the bottom of it, Dean decided to question Mike directly.

He picked up the phone and called Mike, who answered after a few rings. "Mr. Whitmore, I have one more question," Dean began. "Can you tell me anything about the rumors that Thomas was pregnant and gave birth to a baby?"

There was a brief silence before Mike responded, his tone incredulous. "You seriously believe that nonsense, Inspector? Thomas was not pregnant. It's ridiculous. Have you seen any videos of him actually giving birth? No, because they don't exist. The only videos out there are of Thomas running with a baby in his arms, nothing more."

Dean frowned. "But the rumors are persistent. And there's a teacher who claims he saw it happen."

Mike scoffed. "People will say anything for attention. Without concrete evidence, it's all just hearsay. Thomas was removed from the school because of those baseless rumors and the hysteria they caused."

Dean hung up, deep in thought. Mike's reaction made sense. The idea was indeed far-fetched, and the lack of any real evidence to support it only added to the suspicion. Determined to verify the facts, Dean delved deeper into his search for proof.

He scoured the internet, examining every video and article related to Thomas. As he suspected, none of the videos showed Thomas giving birth, only him running with a baby during the rainstorm. The internet was rife with speculation and gossip, but there was no concrete evidence to support the pregnancy claim.

Finally, he stumbled upon a small, obscure article that caught his attention. It was a brief report about a teacher named Jacob who had confessed to seeing Thomas give birth. According to the article, this confession had led to a wave of protests from parents, resulting in Thomas being expelled from the school.

Dean knew he had to find Jacob and get a firsthand account of what he had supposedly witnessed. The article didn't provide much detail, but it was enough to go on.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dean's Office - Later That Day

Dean called Lisa to update her on his findings. "Lisa, I need you to track down a teacher named Jacob. He claimed to have seen Thomas give birth, and his statement caused a lot of trouble for Thomas at school. We need to find out if there's any truth to his story."

Lisa's voice crackled through the phone. "Got it, Dean. I'll look into it right away. Anything else?"

"Yes," Dean replied. "See if you can find any additional witnesses or evidence that might support or refute Jacob's claim. We need to be thorough."

Dean received a call from Lisa. "Dean, I found Jacob. He's willing to talk. He said he saw everything and is ready to give his side of the story."

"Great work, Lisa," Dean replied. "Set up a meeting as soon as possible. We need to get to the bottom of this."

As he prepared to meet with Jacob, Dean felt a mix of anticipation and apprehension. The truth about Thomas's life and the bizarre rumors surrounding his death were within reach, and each new piece of information brought him closer to unraveling the mystery.