Page 79 of The Cannon
He lifts a hand in acknowledgment of the family.
“Wait! I’m coming too!” I say leaving no room for disagreements.
“Us too,” Brick says standing and grabbing his cell from the buffet. He taps Atticus on the arm. “Come on.”
“Text me the address. I just have to use the bathroom then I’ll head that way,” Atticus adds.
This family. They never fail in their compassion. “Thanks, guys. The help’s appreciated. I’ll send you both the details in case we get separated.”
“Let us know what’s happening,” my father calls.
* * *
The streetsof East Memphis are infamous for crime and other misdeeds. The thought of a ten-year-old boy wandering unsupervised is frightening. The fact he’s going to be trying to go undetected makes things one thousand times worse.
We’ve gathered at Jude’s house to organize our search. Atticus, Brick, Jude’s parents and Sawyer and I all around the kitchen table looking at an old map the family kept. It’s easier than looking on our phones. The three other children are sitting quietly on the couch in the living room. Their world tossed and tumbled in every way.
“What do you two think? You want us to each take a section of an eight or ten mile radius say?” Sawyer asks. I know he’s trying to let the foster parents lead. But their faces say they wish he’d tell them what to do. This is just one drama too much. They’re almost broken.
“Yeah, that’s good,” Julie answers softly.
The husband can barely raise his voice. He’s weaker than imagined and his illness is so apparent. But Sawyer is showing him the respect he deserves. Jude is still his charge.
“Alright. Atticus you take this section. Brick you’ll have the north and Bristol and I will take the Elm Street side.”
“Okay. We all have Julie’s cell number. Text if you find him,” Brick says.
“Yes, please. Keep us posted. We’ll have our phones in our hands,” she says.
“Here’s the police now,” Atticus says looking out the little window over the sink.
I turn to see three black and whites approaching.
“Thank God,” Julie adds.
Her face is haggard at probably forty years old. The past few months have sucked the life out of her. My heart aches for what they’ve been through and what’s still to come.
“Let’s talk outside,” she says. “Kids, you stay here with Dad.”
There’s no argument as we all make our way out of the house. Two policemen approach.
“I’m Officer Calhoun and this is Lieutenant Breyer. Let me tell you what’s occurred so far. A BOL has been issued across the county, stating your child is missing. Is there any indication someone may have kidnapped or taken him without your knowledge?”
“No. Absolutely not. He left a note saying he was leaving and not to try to find…”
Julie starts crying and I put an arm around her. The policeman sizes up the situation and takes charge.
“Let’s move inside where we can sit.”
A look of gratitude passes over her face.
“There’s four other officers here and they’re going to begin to canvas the neighborhood. I’ll need Jude’s description and what he was wearing when he went missing.”
The cop leads the way back toward the front door. We follow like cattle.
“Do you have cameras on your residence?”
“No.”
