Blackwater by Eve Bunting (Chapter 6)

Raul, an officer, visits the family and discusses the ongoing search for Otis and Pauline along the Blackwater riverbanks. He expresses sympathy for Pauline's parents, particularly her mother who had a heart attack, and Otis's mother, who is with her daughter Wendy, waiting for news. Brody's father plans to visit Pauline's family to offer support. Brody recalls happy memories of Raul and his family visiting.

Raul asks to see the towels found. The black towel contains Otis's flip-flops and broken sunglasses, which Brody couldn't identify as Otis's. The yellow towel reveals Pauline's lipstick, pink-framed sunglasses, a comb, a unicorn mirror, and one pink flip-flop. Brody's mother becomes emotional, recognizing the flip-flop and recalling Pauline's visits to the river. Alex suggests Otis and Pauline might have hidden the towels, and someone, thinking they belonged to Brody's family, left them at their house. Raul decides not to show the items to the families yet.

Brody's father asks about the search, and Raul explains it will likely be called off once they reach the falls if Otis isn't found. He grimly describes the fate of anyone going over the falls, mentioning a whirlpool that once caught a drowned dog, causing Brody distress.

Raul plans to take statements the next morning, despite Brody's father's hesitation. He hopes witnesses will come forward. Mom brings bags for the items, and Raul mentions rumors about Otis Mandalas not being well-liked. He reassures Brody, praising him for his bravery and recalling a past incident where Brody broke his wrist playing baseball. Alex agrees to look out for Brody.

Brody's mother sends him back to bed and Alex brings up some magazines and a book titled 'Beyond the Western Sea' that a girl brought for Brody. Brody struggles to read, feeling overwhelmed. Alex, contrasting Brody's parents with his own 'disappearing' father, then speculates about who left the towels. He dismisses the newspaper reporter and suggests it might have been Otis McCandless himself, believing he's not dead and will return.