Let me check…Nope! I don't own "Cheaper By the Dozen!"
Chapter Three: Game Planning the Search (Charlie POV)
The phone call had shaken me up. Well, I was already freaked out, but talking to the police made it seem so official. The officer was kind enough and promised to get police over to our home within minutes. I knew that he was taking me serious when he had told me that once he interviewed Mom and Dad, a Missing Child Alert would be issued for Mark. I don't know a whole lot about Missing Child Alerts, only that they are something issued throughout the United States that dealt with missing children. I cleared my throat and glanced at my parents. "The police should be here shortly." I stated, as if on cue, several police sirens filled the air, coming close to our home. "They want to interview you and then, well, they are issuing a Missing Child Alert." I softly said as my entire family, with the obvious exceptions of Mark and Nora, headed down the stairs and out of our front door. Thinking about Nora's absence, caused me to realize that she had no idea that her brother was missing. I glanced around and saw my father waving down the police officers. "Hey Dad, Nora needs to know about Mark, who knows, maybe he ran to her apartment." I suggested as my father pulled out his cell phone and typed in Nora's speed dial number.
I heard bits and pieces of the conversation, which did not last long, but anyone in a few yards distance probably, could have heard Nora's astonished reaction as she replied that Mark had not been to her home and that she was coming straight to our house. I wondered if Hank was going to be coming with Nora, but it seemed very unlikely. Hank probably hoped that Mark would not be found, one less "monster" between him and Nora.
By this time, the police were in front of our home, getting out of their vehicles and heading towards my father and mother. I noticed Lorraine heading towards them with Nigel and Kyle. I jogged over there, unwilling to be left out of anything that might help find Mark. By the time that I had arrived there, Dad was giving a jittery description of Mark to one of the policemen. Lorraine helped him out by giving Dad several pictures of our brother. "Thanks, Lorraine." He softly replied, then spoke to the officer, "Here's a picture of him, you can keep it and also take these, I am not sure which will be more beneficial." Dad stammered. A car drove up and parked near the police cars. Without a second to waste, Nora leaped out of the car and had jogged over to us. "Dad, I am so sorry…Hank is a looser, remind me one day to thank Sarah for coming up with soaking his underwear in meat and letting Gunner have a feast. Anyway, where are all the rest of the kids?" Nora inquired, glancing around. Mom and Dad only sighed, so I took that as my cue to answer. "They are all searching different streets of the neighborhood, but he probably will not be found around here. There is no telling of how long he has been missing. Mom cut into the conversation for Nora's and the police's benefit. "I last saw him at four pm, and Jessica discovered that he was not in his room around eight pm. We called you about ten minutes later, so that was 8:10 pm, and it is now um...nine pm, so he could have been missing for five hours" Mom summarized as she looked down at one of the pictures of Mark that she still held on to. A quick glance told me that the picture was of Mark and Mom sitting on the coach while Mark held his stuffed animal frog. Something was different about this picture, something that made this particular shot different from most of the others that Mark has been in. Then it hit me, unlike other pictures, in this photo, Mark was smiling.
The head officer spoke up, "We are in the process of sending police over to the train and bus stations. I am going to begin the Missing Child Alert process now." Another vehicle could be heard and seen stopping at our house. Out jumped a few more officers. To our surprise, they had brought search dogs. Seeing those dogs, made me think about Gunner and I ran inside to fetch him and snap on his leash. I realized that the dogs would probably need something to recognize Mark's scent, so I tore up his stairwell and grabbed a used tee-shirt from his laundry basket. After speeding down the stairs, I quickly met up with the officers and the few family members left at the house. "Here, I brought our dog as well…he knows Mark, so…maybe he will be of some help." I explained. Everyone nodded their thanks and the head officer, whom I had learned was named Ryan Goodman, took the shirt from me and handed it to the men in charge of the dogs. "Good job son," My father stated, giving me a small smile, "Thanks for thinking about Gunner and Mark's shirt." I briefly smile in response as I turned to listen to the police.
"Ok, the alert has been set in motion. I suggest getting a search party started for him. How many children do you have? I know that you have mentioned that some are looking in near-by streets." Ryan asked as he probably prepared to hear the news of some number like five, since Lorraine, Nigel and Kyle had long since started to search. "Well," my mother began, "there are twelve. You have met the oldest three and the two youngest." All the policemen tried to cover their shock, but it was to little avail, we could all see their disbelief.
"Ok…then…well, I am calling in some other officers, members on the community child-watch, and you are free to get whomever you want to get." Ryan stated who had done his best to recover from learning about the, well numerous children in the family. By this time, the search dogs and Gunner were combing the street, sniffing to find Mark's scent. I only hoped that wherever my little brother was that he was alright. I was still fighting the tempting urge to hate myself, as I was one member in the family who had not shown Mark that we loved him. "Mark, please, please be safe." I whispered. I decided to follow Gunner and walked wherever he would lead me.