Chapter Three: This Could Get Bad

Summary

• The protagonist is hesitant to open the door, not out of fear regarding evidence related to their father's blood, but due to worrying about potential misunderstandings with the police about their autistic brother, Eugene.
• They discover that the commonly held belief that one must wait 24 hours to file a missing person report is false but is concerned that police showing up could be related to receiving notification of a death.
• The protagonist had a gut feeling that Dad’s absence and police arrival were connected, and feared the worst because they had not checked the morgues yet.
• With the protagonist's mother and sibling John arriving, they muster courage and open the door to policemen discussing a car accident rather than a death, leading to immense relief.
• The officers want to discuss the accident caused by Eugene and mention child welfare, which alarms the family because of the serious implications for Eugene and the stress of potentially having him taken away.
• The protagonist's mother, Dr. Hannah Park, speaks with unexpected authority and eloquently explains Eugene's condition and events leading to the current situation, asking the police to prioritize finding her missing husband over the car accident issue.
• The police agree to initiate an interjurisdictional search for the missing father and instruct the family to leave the matter in their hands, which provides a sense of relief for the usually control-oriented protagonist.
• Feeling guilty for previously not wanting to involve the police, the protagonist is grateful for their help and feels comforted by the officers' expertise.
• Mom prepares Eugene for the detective's visit while the protagonist notices that Eugene's nails are clean, suggesting he wasn't involved in any harm to their father.
• As the detective arrives, the protagonist’s mother reassures them with a smile, implying that despite the challenges, things will be okay.