The space on Chief Wiggum's desk was occupied primarily by a few half-empty boxes of donuts and Chief Wiggum's legs. The portly law enforcer was snoring loudly when officers Eddie and Lou entered the station, gently pushing Alan after them.

"Wake up, Chief," said Eddie. "We got something."

The chief's eyes flew open. "Huh…wha…what's going on?"

"We found a missing kid," Lou told him.

"That's good work, boys," said Wiggum, dropping his legs from the desk. "What's he charged with?"

"He's missing," replied Eddie.

Wiggum's chair swiveled as he rose to his feet. "Missing what?"

These cops are idiots, thought Alan. I'll bet just telling them about my powers will be enough to scare them away.

"Look at the poster, Chief," said Lou, pointing at the wall. "Alan Powers. That's him."

Wiggum scrutinized the poster, then Alan's face. "Yeah, they do look alike," he remarked. "On the other hand, I've never been to Elwood City. For all I know, all the kids there look like him."

I should come up with a false name and a phony story, Alan thought. I'm sure they'll buy it. Still, what will I accomplish that way? I'll just end up out in the cold again, with nowhere to go.

"Is that you?" Wiggum asked him. "Is your name Alan Powers?"

Maybe I should give in. Maybe I should let them lock me up. Do I want to spend my whole life running, and hiding, and messing with people's memories?

"Yes," he said with a tone of resignation. "My name is Alan Powers. That's my picture on the wall."

"Better hook him up to the lie detector, Chief," said Eddie.

Wiggum grabbed a cruller and started to munch on it. "So you're Alan Powers," he said indifferently. "I have special instructions regarding you."

Oh, great, the boy thought. They're going to send me straight to an institution. I won't even get to see my parents!

"Let him go," the chief ordered his men.

"Huh?" said Eddie and Lou in unison.

"I said, let him go," said Wiggum through another bite of donut. "Those are the special instructions."

The two cops looked quizzically at each other.

"You're letting me go?" said Alan, startled.

"That's right, kid," said Wiggum. "I'm sorry the boys dragged you in here. Take a box of donuts for your trouble."

Elated, Alan took the box offered him by the chief, and turned to leave the station.

"Well, don't just stand there," said Wiggum to his officers. "Make sure he has a place to stay. Put him up in a hotel if you have to."

As the befuddled cops departed, Chief Wiggum waddled over to a bureau and pulled a drawer open. A little boy with stringy hair poked his head out.

"I'm a case file," he said in a squeaky voice.

"It's way past your bedtime, Ralphie," said Wiggum. "Stop playing and go to sleep."

Alan's first act after being dropped off at the Simpsons' house was to shake Lisa awake.

"…and I'd like to also thank Stephen Hawking, without whose inspiration my Hurricane Eradicator would have never…huh?"

"It's me, Lisa," said Alan quietly.

The girl sat upright. "What's wrong?"

"I tried to run away," Alan admitted. "The police caught me and took me to the station, but the police chief let me go."

Lisa's sleepy eyes widened with confusion.

"He knew who I was," Alan added, "but he let me go anyway. I don't understand it."

Lisa sighed. "He was paid off," she said with certainty.

"You mean bribed?" said Alan.

"No, I mean he made the last installment payment on his account, and doesn't owe any more. Yes, I mean bribed."

"But who would do that?" Alan wondered.

Lisa suddenly gaped.

"What?"

"I called Professor Frink today," she told Alan. "He said he would do something to help you avoid trouble with your family and the police. I guess that's what he was talking about."

"You mean…Frink paid the police chief to not arrest me?"

Lisa nodded.

"But why?" said Alan, semi-stunned. "Does he really want me around that badly?"

"Well, you are the first person he's encountered with weird mental powers."

Try as he might, Alan could make no sense of Lisa's suggestion. Finally he gave up. "I'm going to bed," he told the girl.

"Good night, Alan," said Lisa sweetly. "Next time you run away, let me come with you."

Alan went back to Bart's bed and spent the remainder of the night lying awake.

to be continued