Chapter Seven

One day later...

"Thank God it's the weekend." Colt was saying as he opened his eyes. He was always good at waking up in the morning. Unlike Tum Tum, who usually woke up but preferred to stay in bed rolling around until it was nine o'clock. He hated being up early in the morning. Rocky was a different story, he was usually up even before the sun, exercising or putting away dishes from the night before that still remained in the dishwasher and no one ever heard a sound of it.

Rocky... Colt couldn't get that call out of his head. His brother sounded so different somehow. I mean sure, he never really listened that hard to most of the things his older brother said to him, because most of it was just reprimands of the fun things he did that Rocky thought he shouldn't do. Who'd wanna hear that every day? But last week, his brother was just too strange to let go. Rocky had been to a party with him once, and he had gotten a little loose- hey, he danced with people, and that was as loose as his brother would get.

But not this time, it sounded as though Rocky had plans for more than just dancing that night. He sounded- well, truthfully he sounded a lot like himself. Maybe he was putting too much thought into it. It wasn't a big deal, and Rocky did say some friends invited him to go. He probably was just tired of being a stick in the mud.

With that settled, Colt slipped his legs over the side of his bed and walked to the door. He had to use the bathroom really bad. Going downstairs wasn't an option this early in the morning, so he just hoped his little brother hadn't gotten up yet so he could use his. Their mother finished the room at the end of the hall and as soon as Rocky moved out, the room was then given to Colt. He loved having his own room, to decorate it his own way.

Metallica posters here and there, a couple System of a Down. A funky little lamp that was shaped like a guitar at the base that had little guitar picks lining the rim- it was a present. There was also a very large stereo- which there mother was so glad she made the walls sound proof, to prevent them from hearing their sons latest purchased CD.

The color scheme was blue with black all over. The only part that remained white was the ceiling. But he didn't mind.

Crrrreeeeak. The wooden door announced his arrival. Looking around the room, he smiled seeing that his little brother was still plastered to the bed. 16 or not, Tum Tum still acted like a little kid. Sleeping with one arm thrown carelessly over his forehead like a helpless damsel. Colt had to laugh to his self. He was gonna miss the little guy when he got out of the Douglas house to attend college next year. He didn't think he'd go but eventually, and with a long sturdy talk from his father, Colt decided it was the best plan to just go.

He wondered if he would be room mates with Rocky. That might be kind of fun, if college were having any kind of effect on his personality. But then again, maybe not. He didn't wanna always be crowded by family, it was time he was his own person. Yeah, he would make sure he was close enough to his brother, but definitely not rooming with him. Besides, Rocky told him that they had already given him a room mate, some kid named Ivan. He wondered how well that was going, the poor guy, Rocky probably already gave him a thousand word long list of things to do.

Yanking up his pajama pants after relieving himself, Colt washed his hands at the sink. Glancing in the mirror, he frowned at the little pale streak of drool that marked his face. Lathering his hands, he gives his face a thorough washing then turns of the water. Smiling at his new face, he turns off the light exiting the bathroom.

"Breakfast." Leaving the room, the sounds of his brother stirring from sleep filled the air. With Tum Tum, it could be four in the morning, at even the word of 'food' he will wake up. "Go back to sleep Tum, I'm having cereal."

His little brother groaned, rolling over, falling back to sleep.

Colt smiled confirming that he would definitely miss the little guy. Traveling downstairs, he pressed the 'on' on the television to get some life in the background. Eating in silence made him think of a nut house. He wasn't sure why, but it does. News... News... Spongebob... Ed, Edd, and Eddy... Noooo. He had his fill of that show, his little brother was ruthless watching those damned marathons they showed every Thursday evening. Settling on MTV's Morning music, he strolled into the kitchen to scrap up some food.

Gathering the needed items: A bowl, spoon, milk and a box of cereal Colt sits down at the table and helps himself to some Cookie Crisps. It was the only other cereal in the house aside from the flakes that their father buys. Munching on the little chocolate chip cookies, Colt watched the television from where he sat at the table. Seeing that he was on a terrible angle he picked up his bowl and moved into the living room. Why not, he's the only one awake and who would know?

No sooner had he made his self comfortable, did the front door open and his father walks in.

"Dad!" He stands. "I was just..." He began to explain but his father waved a hand.

"I don't have time for that... I'm swamped with this case of a missing little girl."

"I thought that was the police's job." He sits back on the couch.

"Not always," Sam dropped his briefcase onto the kitchen counter, then he loosened his tie. He had a rough night. Everything kept coming up blank for him. One minute he thought he might have some idea of where this child might be, then he was sent in another direction entirely. The Commissioner told him that he had some breaking evidence in the case but so far he hasn't contacted him about it yet... It had something to do with hair, was the word of mouth around the station.

Colt regarded what his father was saying, the guy always got so high strung whenever a case was- how can he explain it... Out of his hands. A case his father knew he couldn't solve and probably never would. "What does she look like? Maybe I've seen her around and didn't notice..." Colt really wanted to be helpful, and there was a chance he could see missing kids, he was always out and about in the city. Only he never really paid much attention to his surroundings.

"I doubt it, this little girl was taken in another town but there's a chance that the kidnapper brought her through here. That's why they opened the case with us." The man was busy searching through his briefcase for something he obviously wasn't going to find, so he closed it then returned to the living room.

"So, I could still look. Maybe Tum's seen her? How old is she?"

"Seven." He put his hand up in defiance. "And I'm not going to discuss cases with you anymore."

"Well Dad, remember when Synder was out and he kidnapped us?"

"Please, you're mother still treats you like children because of that."

"Yeah, but if you had told me about the case back then, I wouldn't have been off on some jag that Grandpa was helping him."

Sam cocked his head, furrowing a brow. "Son what does that have to do with anything?"

"Well, Rocky told me that Grandpa was coming for us and that we should give him a hand by getting out ourselves. I thought that he was a traitor and just gave up on him..." by HIM, he meant their grandfather.

"So?" He sits down in his arm chair, massaging his temples.

Colt shrugged. "So think about it, I would be willing to give up thinking that there was no hope... Don't be the same because you think we're kids who don't know anything."

That was true. Sam did, no matter how much he denied it, treat his kids like they need super vision more often than not whenever he or their mother wasn't at home. He sometimes still had an urge to call a babysitter for Tum Tum when they were sure Color would be out at night. Maybe they could help him. "Alright, you win. Her name is Noelie Gonzolas, she's seven years old and was taken from school ten days ago... She's 4'0" tall and has long black hair, in fact I have a picture." The man slipped a hand into a hidden pocket of his coat pulling out a long school photo of the little girl.

Colt placed his bowl on the coffee table, taking the picture. "Hmm... I've never seen her, but I'll remember to keep an eye out." He hands the picture back.

"Thanks son. I'm gonna go to bed, don't let that bowl leave a ring on the coffee table, your mother will kill you." Standing, he yanks his jacket free of his body, discarding it to the chair he was once in. Then with a nod to his son, he walks upstairs.

"Night Dad." Colt picks up his bowl and walks it into the kitchen. The brunette dropped his bowl into the sink then looked out the kitchen window. It was strange, but he could have sworn he just saw someone looking in at him. Naah, it's probably just a squirrel.

"Will you get off of me!" Robbie was shoved into the commissioners office by a rookie cop, who was more than happy to, make a bust on someone. "Jackass!" He straightened his clothes out, brushing a hand down his chest.

Robbie had been in class when the cop, Officer Bailey, showed up and dragged him off to the police station on charges that he didn't know of. And the guy was none too gentle about it.

"Ivan Ballarini, you're under arrest for aiding and abetting a kidnapper." Said the Commissioner.

"What? What kidnapper?" He felt an officer grab his arm. "Get off of me..." He said to the man. "What kidnapper?"

"Your uhhh, little room mate at the college."

"Rocky? He didn't kidnap anybody."

"Mmm hmm." The man stands, walking around the side of his desk to sit on it in front of the boy. "Well, Rocky, as you call him has been under suspicion of the kidnapping of seven year old Noelie Gonzolas from school half a month ago."

Robbie furrowed his brows. "I think you've got the wrong person here. Rocky is no kidnapper."

The man cleared his throat loudly. "Are you aware that uhh, he had a sample of the girls hair stuffed into his pants around the gentle area?"

"Yeah, I was there when that happened."

"Oh so you saw him with the girl?"

"No!" Robbie yanked his arm away from the cop that held him. "Look Commissioner, Rocky is a great guy... I haven't known him for but two weeks but I know he isn't the kind of person to kidnap anyone."

"Mm hmm..." Commissioner Wayne was speaking to him as though he wouldn't believe a word he said.

The man could be standing right there beside him and some... purse thief could run by and snatch a woman's purse, but this man would look right at him and say 'Did you take that woman's purse.' It was infuriating!

"So you mean to tell me you met him just a little after the child was taken?"

"I don't know... what the hell are you talking about?"

Commissioner Wayne looked at officer Bailey, shaking his head. "Kids these days have no damn respect for the law... Mr. Ballarini, do you wanna spend the night in a holding cell?"

"I don't even know why you brought me here!" He was beginning to make an uproar. This was outrageous!

"Samuel Douglas, didn't aaahhh, come home last night." He paused for a while. "...You seen him?"

"Not since he went out last night... I called him after one of your goons came to get him." He wet his lips. "I haven't seen or heard from him after that."

"Uh huh... Well, if he's a nice as you say he is, you'll let me know when he contacts you right."

Robbie looked apprehensive. He didn't wanna rat on Rocky, he was just worried about where he was. Guy goes out and doesn't check in at all. Robbie was up all night wondering what had happened to him, mostly because he thought that it was his fault it might have happened. Stupid, stupid! Why did he kiss him! ...But, Rocky kissed him back, and he wasn't entirely sure but he knows he felt something behind it- far away, but something.

"Rich' let him go..." The commissioner returned to behind his desk, taking a seat.

Officer Bailey dropped the young boys arm and stepped aside. "Sir?"

"Now listen, the minute the very minute you get off the phone with your little room mate you call me."

"What makes you think he'll call?" Robbie retorts with his nose turned up.

"Because I have a feeling he'll call you... Call it a hunch." The man made a cocky remark that he should pay for. But Robbie knew when to back down.

"Fine." With that said, Robbie walked out of the mans office, slamming the door.

Once the boy was in the parking lot, he pulled out his cell phone then dialed Rocky's cell number. If he was out somewhere, partying or... whatever. He would have to pick up his phone, right? Listening he only heard the ringing of the phone. After a moment, his voice mail came on. The dark haired boy waited it out, then spoke.

"Rocky where are you? The cops are looking for you but, I'm sure you already know that." He paused a moment. "Listen... if you're gone because of last night, I'm sorry... I had just assumed and I guess I was wrong... Call me, okay? The cops said to let them know if you contact me, but I promise you I won't... Well, that's it, bye."

Closing his phone, Robbie looked up into the sky.

The sun blared down on him, hot and inviting. It promised good things, days like this. But somewhere in the pit of the boys stomach, he felt a sickening dread that something was terribly wrong.