The day after Vivian's family called the police, they arrived at the house to search the premises and talk to them.
In the kitchen, Maria fidgeted in her seat as she waited for the policeman to finish talking to her five-year-old son.
Where are you, Vivian?
She looked around and waited a little longer. About five minutes later, he came in and finished writing the boy's responses. He sat down in the chair across from her. He put the pad of paper on the table and began.
"What was the time you saw your daughter last?"
"It was about an hour before she went out. I was up on the computer and did not see her leave the house. She told me, though, where she was going."
"Do you know of any of her friends who might have invited her over and she went without your knowledge?"
"No! She would never do a thing like that!" Maria cried, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Calm down. I'm just doing my job." She stared at him with a harsh glare but finally settled back down. "Ok. Does your daughter, to your knowledge, do any sort of drugs including alcohol or smoking?"
"No. Not to my knowledge. She always tells me what she is doing."
"Okay." He jotted her responses on the pad of paper and continued. "Is your daughter on good relations with you, your husband and your son?"
"Yes! We get into fights sometimes but, you know how kids are. We are on very good relations."
"So, your daughter had no reason to run away?"
"Even if she did, how does that explain the disappearance of the tracks?"
"We don't know M'am. We are looking into it."
He got up and nodded to her.
"We'll let you know when we find something." And with that, he left.
Maria could see the camera flashes outside. They were taking pictures of the footprints and the area of struggle. Not to mention the area of the disappearance of the tracks. A couple of tears streaked down Maria's cheeks. She was so worried and afraid. She knew her daughter was strong but, if she had been kidnapped, which was looking to be the number one possibility, could she handle it? Would she be all right?
Would they get her back in one piece?
That was worried her the most. Would Vivian be the same? Maria had heard stories of children getting kidnapped and then coming home empty. They were shells of their former selves. She loved her daughter's personality, her spunk, her resourcefulness, and her kindness.
Her thoughts were dissipated when her son came into the room.
"Where is sissy mommy? Where did she go? Why are there strange men all over?" Dillan asked, looking up at his mother with big eyes. Maria picked him up and placed him in her lap.
"I don't know baby. I don't know where your sister is but the men outside are going to help find her. Just you watch. She'll be back soon." Maria didn't like lying to her son but what could she do? She didn't know where her daughter was and couldn't possibly tell him where she had gone.
George entered the room and put a hand on Maria's shoulder.
"Maria, Dillan. Why don't we go out while the police do their business? Let's go to the park. The fresh air will do us good."
Maria nodded. She knew she would still worry but being inside would drive her stir crazy eventually; sitting by the phone, waiting for the police to tell them they had found her daughter. "Come on Dillan. Why don't you get your coat?" She put her son down but he didn't move. He shook his head vigorously and pumped his hands up and down as if throwing a tantrum.
"No! I don't wanna get my coat! I want Vivy! I want my sister!" He cried, tears dribbling down his cheeks, his face screwed up into a serious frown. Maria and George looked at each other then picked up their son and held him close, letting their own tears go.
"We know sweetie but she's not here. We don't know where she is. We can't do anything…" Maria said softly, trying to comfort her son.
There stood the family, broken and crying, all worried for their daughter.
And their daughter?
Let's just say she wasn't acting like the brightest bulb.