Chapter 7

The next day, Alfred, Vash and Arthur were talking to their captain about what they were thinking of doing.

"Really?" said the captain. "You really think that going undercover will save this child?"

"Yes!" said Alfred. "I do! It's the only way!"

"He's right, sir," said Arthur. "We only have one day left now until Gilbert's sold off to someone and never seen again."

"Right," said Alfred. "What Arthur said! And I won't let that happen! It happened to Mattie!"

"But you and your parents got your brother back," said the captain. "And wasn't that 12 years ago?"

"Yeah, but it took a whole year to get him back! I won't let Gilbert's family go through the same stuff we went through," said Alfred.

Vash stepped in. "Captain, we have to do this. It's the only way to save the kid."

The captain sighed. Since Alfred was on this case, it was no use in talking him, or Vash and Arthur, out of this. "Okay. Tomorrow, go to the old auction house. One of you will go as a mob member, looking for someone to traffic drugs for you. And remember to win the bid!"

"Right," the three detectives said. They walked off.

Alfred walked to his car. Vash and Arthur followed him.

"So, who's it gonna be?" asked Arthur.

"I'll do it," Alfred said immediately.

"Al, no," said Vash. "Let me. I have the most guns."

"No!" said Alfred. "I have to do this. I have to. I dunno why, but I know that it has to be me."

"Okay," said Arthur.

"You and Vash…well, you two can just stay outside, and I'll let you know when I've got the boy," said Alfred.

"Right," said Vash.

The three detectives parted ways, each heading to their own places.

Alfred walked into the door to the apartment he shared with his younger brother, Matthew.

"Al," Matthew said happily. He looked up from a book and notebook.

"Hey, Mattie," said Alfred. He sighed tiredly as he hung his coat up. Alfred sat down on the couch next to Matthew.

"What's up?" asked Matthew. "You look tired."

"Oh, it's nothing," said Alfred. "You finish your homework?"

"Almost done," said Matthew.

"So, what's for dinner?" asked Alfred as he went to go to the kitchen.

"I dunno," said Matthew. "When I got home from school today, I found the pot I usually cook with was gone."

"Hm," Alfred said. "Maybe tonight could be a pizza night. Hey, so, did you call the cops about the missing pot?"

"Yeah," said Matthew. "They said that they can't do anything about it. Can you believe that?"

"What?" Alfred asked disbelievingly. "Oh my God." He took out his cell and dialed the number to the nearest pizza place. "I'll talk to my captain tomorrow about the pot."

"Thanks," said Matthew. He got back to his homework.

Half an hour later, the pizza arrived. Alfred brought the pizza in, and he and Matthew sat down in front of the TV and ate.

"Al, you're going undercover again, aren't you?" asked Matthew.

Alfred nearly choked on his pepperoni pizza. "Wh-what?"

"It's about that missing kid, right?" Matthew asked.

Alfred sighed. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm going undercover. But it's to save the boy."

"What's gonna happen to him?" asked Matthew.

"I'm gonna have to buy him to save him," said Alfred. "I wish it didn't have to come to that, but the auction's going on tomorrow. And if I don't win the bid, the kid's gonna be gone forever."

Matthew took a bite of pizza and drank from a can of Pepsi. "Just like me."

"Yeah," said Alfred. "Only Mom and Dad actually got you back."

"I miss them," said Matthew.

"I know," said Alfred. "Me, too."

Arthur walked through the door to the apartment he shared with his younger brother, Peter.

"Aaaaaaarrrrrrrthuuuuuuurrrrr!" a 12-year-old boy shouted as he jumped on top of Arthur's shoulders. This was Peter.

"Bloody hell!" Arthur exclaimed in surprise. "Peter, get off!"

"Notice me, for I am the almighty ruler of the mightiest country in the world! Sealand!" Peter screamed in poor Arthur's ear.

Arthur pried Peter off him. "Pete, Sealand's not a nation; it's an old sea fort. And I notice you every day, wanker."

Peter pouted. "Sealand is too a country!"

"No, it's not," said Arthur. He sighed tiredly and sat down on the couch.

Peter noticed something was off about his brother: Arthur wasn't lecturing him about anything. He sat down next to Arthur. "What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," said Arthur. "I just had a long day."

"It's about that missing kid, right?" asked Peter.

"Yeah," Arthur replied. Then he tried to brighten the mood a little. "Uh, why don't you watch anime or something, and I'll make dinner?"

"Bloody hell no!" said Peter. "Your cooking sucks!" He stuck his tongue out.

One of Arthur's eyebrows twitched. "Alright...I'll order Chinese instead, okay?"

"Yay!" Peter said happily as he ran off to watch anime. Arthur got out his cell and dialed the number to the nearest Chinese food place.

"I'm home," Vash called as he stepped inside his house.

"Hey, Brother," Vash's younger sister, 14-year-old Lili, said with a smile. Her smile faded as she saw Vash plop himself down on the couch. "What's the matter?"

"I'm just tired," said Vash.

Lili knew what was on her brother's mind. "Don't worry, you'll find that kid."

"Thanks, Lili," Vash replied.

"Guess what?" Lili said excitedly to try and cheer Vash up.

"What?" asked Vash.

"I got the lead in..." Lili started to say, but was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"I'll get it," said Vash. He went to the door. "Oh, it's you, Roderich." Vash and Lili's neighbor, Roderich Edelstein, stood outside.

"Hello, Vash," Roderich said. "I just wanted to point out that your grass looks unkempt."

Vash rolled his eyes. "Uh, yeah. So?"

"SO!" said Roderich. "It makes my lawn look bad."

Vash sighed irritably. This was not the time to deal with Roderich's complaints about his lawn. "Roderich, can we talk about this some other time?"

"No," said Roderich. "You need to cut your grass so that it doesn't look bad."

"I. Don't. Have. The. Time. Right. Now," Vash said through gritted teeth. "Listen, I'm working on a really important case. I promise, I'll take care of my grass later so that your oh-so-precious lawn doesn't look bad, okay?"

"Thank you," said Roderich. "Goodbye." He left and went back to his place.

Vash closed the door, sighed in frustration and sat back down on the couch. "Man, he's annoying!" Then he smelled something good in the kitchen. "Hey, that smells good, Lili."

"Thanks," said Lili. "We're having stir-fry tonight."

"Great," Vash said and smiled.