“We found him. He was near the bus terminal. They’re bringing him in as we speak.”
A wave of relief crashed over me. “And the girl who was with him?”
“He was alone.”
They brought Daniel into a small interview room.
I didn’t realize I was crying until I felt it on my face. “You’re alive. Do you have any idea how worried I’ve been? And when I finally found you… Why did you run from me?”
He looked down at the table. “I didn’t run from you.”
“And the girl who was with him?”
“Then what—”
“I ran because of Maya.”
And then he told me everything.
In the weeks before Daniel disappeared, Maya had confided in him. She told him that her stepfather had been getting increasingly quick-tempered and unpredictable. He yelled and broke things nearly every evening.
“She said she couldn’t stay there anymore,” Daniel said. “She was scared.”
And then he told me everything.
“I met him, I think. I went to her house to ask if she knew what had happened to you, and a man answered the door. He told me Maya was staying with her grandparents.”
Daniel shook his head. “He lied.”
I slumped back in my chair. “All this time… but why didn’t she tell a teacher? And what’s this got to do with you running away?”
“He lied.”
“She didn’t think anyone would believe her, and I… I didn’t know what else to do.” Daniel’s face crumpled. “She came to school that day with a bag already packed. She told me she was going that afternoon. I tried talking her out of it, but she wouldn’t listen.”
“So you went with her.”
