Outside the entrance to the ER sat the Mobile crime lab. Alex's eyes widened when he saw the inside of the huge vehicle. It looked like the inside of a movie set, people hurrying around, looking for his mother, talking into headsets, and shouting ordered at the monitors.
Officer Douglas climbed into the back of the unit and turned around, reaching for Alex's hand to help him up. Alex took it graciously and Luka followed close behind him.
"Now when you call this number act calm and collected. We don't want him to think that we are tracing the call or anything. For all he should and will know is that you are just calling him to ask him where he is and if he has seen your mom." Douglas looked at the small boy who's eyes were scanning the room that they were standing in. "You sure you want to do this kid?" Douglas asked.
"I'm not a kid and he's my father." Alex said, very maturely. Douglas nodded and pulled a chair out for Alex to sit down in. He signaled for silence as he set up the equipment to do it's job. Luka watched, helplessly.
"Ok," Douglas said, after what seemed like a lifetime. "We're ready." Alex nodded and picked up the phone. He dialed the numbers that were delicately written on a small piece of paper. After just a few short rings the obvious voice of his father answered the phone, much to the officer's surprise.
"Hello" The muffled voice said.
"Dad? It's me! Where are you?" Alex asked. "I thought we were going to hang out today." He said, a pouting expression on his face. Luka was amazed that Alex was able to pull off the act so well.
"Hey kiddo, I'm sorry but I've had something come up. I'm not going to be able to make it. You'll have fun with Luka until I'm able to come pick you up." Luka, who was listening on his own headset, winced at the offending words.
"Where are you? Maybe I could come meet you." Alex said, hopefully.
"I'm a long way away for a little boy to walk, Alex. I need to take care of something. Wait for me ok kiddo" Without waiting for a response the line went dead. Luka was in shock.
"What does he mean he needs to take care of some things. We have to find her!" Luka exploded. Douglas ignored his outburst and turned to his other officers, demanding to know if a trace on that line was successful.
"Give me a minute! I'm working on it!" Another officer shouted. Luka ran from the truck and jumped out into the ambulance bay, Alex hot on his heels.
"Luka, are they going to find her?" Alex asked, his eyes rimmed with tears.
"Yea, buddy. They will find her." Luka said, not believing his own words.
Officer Douglas ran out to the two figures that stood quietly together, looking like two lost souls. His excitement jumping across his face.
"Dr. Kovac, we've got a location!" Luka's heart jumped as he ran back to Douglas. "They're on the city's border, close to the Kennedy Expressway. Our guess is that he is headed to I94 going west. We're sending all available units to that area." Douglas said, proud that he may have broke the case.