Page 80 of The Cannon
“We’re going to be talking with your neighbors. Maybe someone has video of the direction the boy took off in.”
Walking into the house is the scene from a police drama. The children are huddled together in silence. It’s a pathetic sight. They sit close to their father. He barely acknowledges the policemen.
“Let’s sit at the dining table,” Julie says.
“First of all, we’ll need a current picture. Do you have one?” Officer Calhoun says.
“Christopher, bring me the album.”
“I’ve got one on my cell. Would that do?”
“I’ll take both. I’d like to see the note.”
She reaches into her pocket and brings out a folded piece of paper. Handing it to Officer Calhoun who gives it a look.
Thank you for taking care of me. Jude
There are tears in Sawyer’s eyes. The words get me misty too.
“What’s he talking about? What precipitated his leaving?”
“My husband is very sick. We told the children this morning. It’s been rough here. Jude is our foster child. We had to tell him about the financial situation going forward.”
There’s a complete breakdown now. She lays her head on the table and gives in to the horror of the new reality. I come around the table and cradle her in my arms. What else is there to do?
“We will need names of Jude’s friends, where he’s stayed before, if he has a phone or a wallet.”
“I’ll get that written down for you. No phone, but he does have a wallet with a twenty-dollar bill inside. He always has it with him.”
“Officer Breyer will search the house. Bus lines, Uber and taxi companies have already been alerted. I’ll be sending this photograph so they know who to look for.”
“Thank you. He’s a little guy for his age and he won’t know where to go. I’m so afraid for him.”
“We’re going to do our best to locate him quickly, but sometimes these children are pretty creative as to where they’ll hide. Just stay here in case he decides to come home.”
“We’re going to look for him on our own. If we see anything we’ll call you,” Sawyer says.
“Okay. Let me give you the number.”
He hands Sawyer a card with the information.
* * *
I opted to drive,being that I know the city better than Sawyer. He’s watching every street we drive or pass. It’s been an hour looking already. Sawyer wanted to look in the dodgiest section of this part of Memphis.
The cruisers are out tonight. Racing the street. I don’t see a sign of the police.
“Shit, this traffic is crazy. You’d think the police would shut it down.”
“They probably do every once in a while. It all starts again the next night. That’s how it was in Fort Worth.”
He’s worried. And I know why. He understands the desperation of loneliness and how things can fall apart quickly.
“Are you more worried because he’s alone? Or that he’s vulnerable to the streets?” I say.
“Both. But what’s bothering me most is that I know what a dangerous mindset Jude could be in. People have no idea how vulnerable a kid can be. When you feel lost and unloved it can lead to dangerous thoughts. I know. I felt the same way at one time.”
I reach across and take his hand.
