Yeah. Another update. Whoo-hoo. Get some info on the search for Sarah in this and what everyone is doing. Hope you all like it. Thanks for all the reviews. Keep the coming, please.
Chapter 4
The search disbanded at four in the morning. There was no trace of Sarah anywhere near the auditorium. It was now clear to most people that Sarah had been taken away in a car. An Amber alert had been issued and Sarah was going to be registered as a missing child across the nation. The search radius would expand later that day. But people needed to sleep. IF they worked themselves too hard, they'd be no help in the future.
Charlie, Nora, and Lorraine walked slowly and grimly to their cars.
"Want to come stay at the house since it's so late?" asked Charlie. Nora shrugged.
"I don't want to impose," replied Nora. Lorraine waved her off.
"It's no big deal. We can make room," assured Lorraine. Nora nodded and smiled. Sarah's dance coach, Dawn Loren, came walking up at that moment with her husband Daryl behind her.
"Search party is resuming at seven tomorrow at city hall," explained Dawn. Everyone nodded.
"We'll be there," assured Charlie. Dawn nodded.
"Pray for her tonight. She needs our prayers," explained Dawn. Charlie nodded.
"Of course," he replied. Dawn sighed.
"Have a good night. Try to get some sleep," she urged. She gave everyone a smile and then followed Daryl to their car. Charlie sighed.
"She blames herself," he moaned.
"She asked Sarah to go put her bag away. If she hadn't, maybe-" Nora trailed off and put a hand over her mouth. She had been starting to blame Dawn. Pointing fingers wouldn't help right now. Sarah needed everyone to be working together.
"Come on. Let's head home. I think we could all use some sleep," exclaimed Lorraine.
"Good idea," replied Charlie as he unlocked his car. Everyone piled in and Charlie drove to the house. No one said anything. They were all too busy thinking about Sarah and wondering if she was already dead.
………….
Emma Morgan opened her eyes to find her father sitting the edge of her bed and rubbing her back. Emma smiled.
"Hi, dad," she greeted.
"Hey, sweetie. I'm sorry to wake you," apologized Jim. Emma smiled and shrugged.
"No big deal. I was having a nightmare anyway," replied Emma. Jim sighed.
"About Sarah?" Emma nodded.
"I'm so worried about her, dad. What if she's already dead?"
"Don't think like that, sweetie. You got to stay positive. Don't torture yourself with thoughts like that."
"I can't help it. I'm scared for her."
"I'm going to find her, Emma. I promise." Emma smiled. Her dad always kept his promises. Always.
"We have a volunteer center being set up. A lot of people are going to help in making missing posters, making phone calls, reaching out into the community. Everyone wants to bring Sarah home." Emma frowned.
"Except the person who took her." Jim had nothing to say to that. Nothing at all. So he simply took Emma into her arms and rocked her back to sleep. He suddenly felt the need to hold her close and never let go. And by God, did he hope that Sarah was alive. By God did he hope that.
………….
Jake and Miles woke up to an eerily quiet house and the smell of pancakes. They had pulled out sleeping bags and crashed on the floor of Jake's room. Jake found it rude if he slept on his bed while his guest got the floor.
"That smells so good," mumbled Miles sleepily. Jake yawned and stretched.
"My mom's secret recipe. Let's go before Henry beats us to it," urged Jake as he stood up. Miles slowly got up and followed Jake downstairs. Miles was not a morning person. Mike and Mark were the only ones eating.
"Where is everyone?" asked Jake as he sat down.
"Charlie took a load of people to the volunteer center about twenty minutes ago," replied Kate as she put a plate of pancakes down in front of each boy. Jake was aghast.
"You didn't wake us?" asked Jake.
"I'm going down later. You can come with me then," assured Kate. Jake nodded as he drenched his pancakes in syrup.
"Do you want to come, Miles?" asked Jake. Miles nodded.
"I'll do anything to help bring Sarah back home," replied Miles. Kim came in at that moment.
"Uncle Dave is here," she announced. David Baker came in at that moment. He walked over and gave Kate a big hug.
"Oh, Kate. I'm so sorry," exclaimed David. Kate nodded.
"Thank you. I just got to stay positive," replied Kate.
"Dad, can I go to the volunteer center today?" asked Miles as he turned around in his chair. David nodded.
"Of course. I'll come with you," replied David.
"Do you want some coffee, Dave?" asked Kate as she went back to making another batch of pancakes.
"I'll get it," answered David. He helped himself to some coffee as Mike and Mark finished up and put their plates in the dishwasher. David sat down next to Miles.
"You Ok?" asked David. Miles nodded. David rubbed his head and took a sip of coffee.
"Have there been any calls?" asked David. Kate shook her head.
"The phones have been tapped and there's a police officer hear round the clock. You didn't see Dwayne?" asked Kate,
"I smelled cigarette smoke so I figured that was someone other then a Baker," replied David. Kate nodded.
"That's Dwayne. Nice guy. He's been really helpful," explained Kate. David nodded.
"So do you want to help at the volunteer center today. Dad?" asked Miles. David nodded.
"Of course I do," he replied. I'll give you a ride over there when you're ready." Kate turned around.
"That's a good idea. I won't be able to go for another hour or so," exclaimed Kate.
"Problem is I can only fit two people in the backseat," explained David.
"I think I'll be the only one going," replied Jake. Kate nodded.
………..
The volunteer center was bustling when David, Miles, and Jake arrived. They found Charlie and Lorraine printing out missing posters with Sarah's picture on the,
"What can we do?" asked Jake. Charlie gave him a stack of fliers.
"Start putting these up downtown. I'm sure all the stores will let you put the flier in their window," explained Charlie Jake nodded as both he and Miles got a stack.
"Do you want some money for gas?" asked Charlie. "Anyone who drives to put the fliers up can get gas money." David shook his head. They said goodbye to Charlie and Lorraine before returning to David's car to start their job. Tons of people were ehading out with fliers. Sarah's face would be everywhere. Everyone would have their eye open. But despite all that, the hope of finding Sarah alive died every minute that went by. And everyone knew that soon, time would run out for them and for Sarah.