Mama Baracus stared at him. "Baby did you say you were from Texas?"
"Yes Ma'am", answered HM matter of factly. But I'm here with my Grandpa on important business."
She smiled at him. "Where's your Grandpa at now, baby?"
HM looked at her. "I don't know a big hotel. I don't know the name of it or how to get back to it."
"What does it look like Baby?" asked Mrs. Baracus.
HM shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know that either Miss Baracus."
She nodded her head. Then she turned to her son Scooter take HM with you while I make some calls."
"All right Mama, let's go Kid", Bosco said, pulling on the younger boy's sleeve. Mary Baracus watched as the two boys headed out, and she picked up the phone and started dialing. She knew she had to call the police.
"Hi Mike this is Mary. Can you come over? I have a lost child here."
"Sure Mary", Mike replied. I'll come right over as soon as my shift's done", affirmed Mike.
Mary paced, until Mike came to her door. "What's the child's name Mary?" Mike asked. Getting right to the point.
"His name is HM Murdock, Has anyone reported a missing child?"
Mike shook his head. "Not yet but I'll take him to the station."
"Oh no you don't Michael Tanner. That boy is staying right here."
"Mary, be reasonable, if he's lost he's got to come to the police station", answered Mike.
"Michael you don't know the first thing about children, and I'm not about to let a baby like that go into a scary place such as police station. He'd get scared even more", protested Mary.
Mike shook his head; he knew there was no reasoning with Mary Baracus. "I'll see what I can do Mary. But in the mean time I got to take him in."
"Michael can't you please wait. I'd hate for you to have to hunt them down, even if they are a couple blocks away", said Mary. Mike smiled at her. "You know, Mary, Bosco is never that far from his home you can always yell for him."
"Well I'm not going to if you want that child get him yourself." she reply with her arms folded.
Mary smiled; she was trying to stall. HM seemed so young and vulnerable. She faked a smile and tried to tempt him with some pie. "Would you like some pie Michael?" She asked in a coaxing tone.
Michael shook his head. "Mary please stop trying to bribe me. I have to take him in but you can come with me. Maybe the Captain will let the boy stay here."
Mary sighed. She nodded her head, and stepped out onto the porch. She put her fingers to her lips, and she gave a shrill whistle. Soon, two boys came running. Bosco was in front, and HM was desperately trying to catch up to the other boy's long strides.
"We're here Mama", announced Bosco. He then noticed Officer Tanner.
"What's wrong?. Mama?"
Mama smiled at her son then turn to face HM.
"HM this nice man would like to have a little talk with you", said Mama
HM looked up at the police officer. "Yes sir? Did I do something wrong?"
Michael looked at him. "No son but I have to take you down to the station."
HM stared at Mike he suddenly took off running. Mary turned and looked at Michael.
"Well now what?" asked Michael?
"We go after him", answered Mama.
Michael shook his head. "No Mary. I will. This is police duty. "
"Hey mama, Officer Tanner. Let me go get him .He will probably come to me and I think I know where he went."
"Where baby?"
Bosco only said, "Please let me go get him..."
Mama and the police officer looked at each other holding a conference. "Go Baby and bring him back", said Mama.
"Okay", answered Bosco, as he jogged off to where they'd played stickball, Stinky's backyard.
He found his best friend, Stinky sitting in the yard with HM. Bosco ran into the yard. "Hey man why you runaway?"
"HM looked up tears running down his face, "He was going to throw me in jail."
"Naw man, Officer Tanner ain't like that. If he said he wanted ya to come wit' him, he probably had a good reason", said Bosco. Trying to reasons with the ten-year-old.
"But he was looked scary, and mean" whimpered HM.
"I know, but he's not." Please come back with me", reasoned Bosco again. HM nodded, and started to go with Bosco.
Stinky called back at Bosco. "Hey I hope everything's works out."
"Thanks Stinky."
Soon they were back but HM stay close to Bosco his brown eye wide with fear. When Mama and Officer Tanner saw the young boy, Officer Tanner started to speak.
"HM may I ask you a few questions?"
HM nodded, but he was still unsure of the police officer. He glanced at Mama Baracus and she smiled her encouragement.
"Go ahead Baby, it's okay", she said.
"Well how you know my name? Are you magician?"
Michael laughed. "No Mary told me your name."
"Oh. Well I'm from Texas and me and my Grandpa are staying here at this big hotel. "
"There are a lot of hotel here," said Mike. "Mary I will call the station and see if HM can stay here. The boy been though enough today."
Mama nodded, and turned to HM, "How would you like to stay with Scooter and I, until they find your grandfather?"
"We haven't decided anything Mary," answered Officer Tanner. "But I will call." He went inside, called the station, and the captain gave his permission. When all was settled, Mama settled HM in for the night.
HM looked over to Bosco. "Do you think they will find my Grandpa?"
Bosco looked back at him. "Hey go to sleep."
HM laid in the bed trying hard not to cry. He wanted to go home. He hated this big city.
Meanwhile, Jesper was in desperate search for his grandson. It had been a whole day, and he still was no closer to finding him. If he didn't find his grandson by the next day, he felt resigned to call the police. With that in mind, Jesper reluctantly fell asleep, dreaming of finding HM.
End of Part 3
