Last weekend I got a call for an emergency. It was a missing person and to make matters worse, it was a minor. Rushing to the families home, I found the obvious, a torn up scared worried about their child. The child was 14 years old and way too young to be on her own as she brought nearly anything with her. So after gathering the facts from the family I was ready to get to investigating.
I began with the significant other. Thinking most people if they were going to run away would probably most likely run to them. Started there. Got nothing. I talked to the young adult, explained to him who I am that I'm not the police and I'm not looking to get anyone in trouble. I was playing cool, playing nice explaining the family needed answers as they are hurting. They seemed to trust me to want to tell me the truth and felt comfortable. When the conversation ended, I was far from satisfied but believed in my head that the conversation went the best way it could have at the time.
They promised they knew nothing.
After hours or making phone calls to friends, to family members, checking parks, and anything around that was open I headed home with nothing. I had leads, I had ideas, I had names and places but nothing solid. I spent all night checking social media, doing all I possibly could until my eyes closed.
I was awoken by my work phone ringing at 6:00a.m. I answer to a young voice hysterical. Saying something along of the lines as I got your number from (x) and that she just wanted to meet me, not the police or parents.
I was ecstatic, I threw on a hoodie, hopped in my car, rushed to them. I tried my best to keep the child on the phone the whole time so I wouldn't loose track, all while notifying my clients via text of the whole interaction so their hearts could finally be at ease. As the parents pulled up out of sight I went to meet the child.
I ran to her with open arms, explaining it was okay, let's talk in my car and calm down. She explained she called me after contacted her significant other and trusted calling me.
Her parents came and tears of joy followed for all.
Their child was found and my heart was happy she trusted to call me.