Authors Note: This chapter has been updated
Detective Sanders met Officer Brady making his departure from Lynn and Lucy's bedroom in the hallway and asked, "Have you found anything?"
"No but one of the teenage girls is a Goth and there's a coffin beside her bed," Officer Brady reported.
Detective Sanders repeated, "A coffin?" in utter disbelief.
His partner replied, "My teenage nephew is a Goth and has one," he also spied Lucy's black notebook lying on her bed with "Lucy's Poems," written on the cover but ignored it.
Their next destination was Luna and Luan's bedroom. Meanwhile the family and Albert sat silently, anticipating that the officers wouldn't discover anything of importance to remove from the house.
"Just musical instruments and comedy props," Officer Brady thought then walked over to the closet and found nothing. A few months ago Luan had gotten rid of every video cassette containing Lincoln's embarrassing moments.
"Let's search the next bedrooms then the bathroom," Detective Sanders said.
Officer Brady entered the twin's bedroom while his partner walked over to Lori and Leni's room and was surprised to see a security system on the outside.
"Why would they allow their kids to have a personal security system for their room?" he wondered before walking inside.
Detective Sanders first searched under Lana's bed and found her toolbox underneath and nothing else. Next he peeped under Lola's princess bed and he pulled out a pink journal with the words, "Sibling Secrets to blackmail them," on the cover. Shaking his head in amazement the officer thought, "Like I said, something wrong with these kids," before placing it back then continued searching.
Afterwards both Officers searched the bathroom but found nothing
Back downstairs the Officers entered the master bedroom where Officer Brady glanced at the calendar behind the door and noted last month's page hadn't been removed showing the same dates circled on Lincoln's calendar with the events they attended for each girl scribbled down.
After a thorough search of the basement yielded nothing of importance, they decided to stop searching.
"We're done here," Officer Brady told the family, "Enjoy the rest of your evening."
The parents walked with the officers to the front door where Rita locked it behind them. Breathing sighs of relief, the parents rejoined the others.
Albert spoke next, "Well time to take a shower and turn in, night kiddos."
Later Albert and the sisters were sound asleep and Rita and Lynn Sr. watched an old movie on Rita's laptop in the master bedroom. In Lincoln's bedroom, he was experiencing a little difficulty falling asleep and was reading an Ace Savvy comic. At present Clyde lay in bed watching ARGGH on his TV. Howard McBride who returned home late due to working overtime just finished dinner and settled on the couch to watch the nightly news when Clyde approached him and sat beside him.
"Dad thank goodness you're sitting down, I have to inform you that Lincoln's parents were arrested two weeks ago for child abuse for making Lincoln stand in a squirrel suit at the beach," Clyde began.
Instantly the somewhat high strung man's face paled then he gasped in astonishment, then positioned his right hand over his heart. Few seconds passed before the flabbergasted man responded.
"Oh my goodness," Howard exclaimed in disbelief, "Why would they do such a terrible thing?"
"Lincoln tricked his family by pretending to be unlucky because he needed a break from attending his sisters events after Lynn Junior accused him of making her lose a baseball game, he told me about having no free time for himself for five weeks because he had to support his sisters," Clyde explained.
"That is just unbelievable!" Howard responded, his heart rate beginning to slow down.
"The trial continues tomorrow morning at eleven," Clyde replied, then Harold who just finished with an important phone call walked into the living room with a somber expression.
"I just received a call from a Mr. Shapiro, the defense attorney representing Rita and Lynn Sr. He asked if Clyde would be available tomorrow to testify on behalf of the family," Harold announced.
"How did he get our number?" Howard asked inquiringly.
"He contacted Mrs. Johnson and asked her if Lincoln had any close friends who could give testimony and she gave him our phone number," Harold explained
Instantly Howard became unsure about his son taking the witness stand.
"Dad, I'd really like to testify since Lincoln's my best friend after all," Clyde declared.
"I think he should Howie," Harold added.
Howard sighed in resignation then placed a hand on Clyde's left shoulder and replied, "All right dear you have my permission."
Clyde felt his eyes getting heavy with tiredness and decided it was time for bed after choosing a suit in his closet to wear tomorrow.
"Good night dads," he said before releasing a yawn.
"Good night Clyde, sleep tight," Howard replied affectionately.
Harold sat beside Howard and waited until he heard Clyde's bedroom door closing before speaking.
"Dear I'm worried, what if the Judge finds Rita and Lynn guilty," he surmised.
Howard released a gasp of horror upon realizing what could happen to the Loud kids if their parents were sentenced to prison.
"It's too unpleasant to think about those kids getting separated," Howard remarked.
"We have to be realistic Howie, if that happens, I'm thinking we could have Lincoln live with us and probably one of the girls," Harold said next.
A sudden memory flashed across Howard's mind, making him shudder. A few months ago the sisters practically invaded their home one Thursday evening seeking Howard and Harold's assistance regarding their hobbies. The end result were the husbands almost having nervous breakdowns caused by rushing from each sister to help them practice and in Lori's case, Howard helped her with a quiz in a fashion magazine and Lisa caused a small explosion with some chemicals. Having enough of the sisters being noisy and demands for attention, Harold blew a whistle and told them politely he was sorry it was time for them to get home because it was almost Clyde's bedtime. Once the sisters packed their belongings Harold drove them home, being careful not to pass the speed limit. Arriving at the Loud residence, Harold sped away once the sisters exited the van. It was sweet relief to Howard upon hearing complete silence seconds after the sisters departure. The next day, he called Lynn Sr. to come over and retrieve Lola's toy car since it had been forgotten in Harold's haste to take the sisters home.
Howard's reaction didn't go unnoticed by his husband, "Howie I know Lincoln's sisters are an acquired taste but…"Harold stated before getting interrupted.
"Hare bear you can't be serious," the taller dad said incredulously.
"Howie, I'm thinking we could take Lucy," Harold stated but Howard remained doubtful about his partner's suggestion.
Harold released a sigh and departed for the couple's bedroom to choose a suit to wear and steam press for tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Aunt Shirley and her husband Ethan were enjoying a late dinner at their colonial style home in Huntington Oaks. Ethan Maxwell, the Principal of a school in their town, had worked overtime to complete some matters regarding the upcoming graduation of the senior students.
"Ethan, Lynn called me this evening and asked me if we could both attend the trial tomorrow to offer moral support," Shirley suddenly remarked.
Ethan swallowed the last bite of goulash then replied, "Sounds like a good idea, Shirley."
"The trial starts at eleven a.m. so we have to leave around ten," Shirley continued.
Ethan remained in deep thought for a moment, then remarked, "You know, if heaven forbid Rita and Lynn are found guilty, their kids could be separated."
"Let's hope the Judge finds them innocent," Shirley replied. After dinner, Ethan retired to bed while Shirley watched the local news report.
The next morning….
Lori stirred awake thirty minutes before her alarm clock was scheduled to go off. Whilst the other siblings asleep Lori lay in bed wondering about her boyfriend Bobby who just recovered from a sore throat five days ago. The teenage boy had been kept in the dark by his girlfriend about her family's situation since Lori hesitated to inform him in fear of another breakup happening between them.
Lori sighed, then chastised herself," Stop being a coward and explain the situation to Bobby in a certain way that will not make him upset."
Lori decided to check her text messages since she was too occupied regarding the trial yesterday to check her phone and grabbed it from her night stand. She recognized her boo-boo bears number then read the text message.
"Lincoln just told Ronnie Anne this afternoon about what your family did, how could you go along with your parents and sisters by making Lincoln wear a mascot suit on the beach as punishment. Just please don't get angry at Lincoln for telling my sister."
Surprisingly Lori breathed a sigh of relief after returning her phone on the table.
"Trust him to inform Ronnie Anne," Lori thought wryly. The teenager rested her head on the pillow once again and glanced upwards at the ceiling.
"Well Bobby is still sleeping, I'll find somewhere quiet to talk with him before we leave," she thought. Whenever Bobby worked nights delivering pizza, his shift ended at three a.m. Lori instantly dozed off and awoke when her alarm sounded.