Amanda dropped Sophia at school at 8:15 AM like always… But the principal called her back by 8:17.
Amanda dropped Sophia at school at 8:15 AM like always. The morning routine had been the same for three months since they’d moved to Riverside Elementary.
Sophia grabbed her purple backpack and lunch box, waved goodbye, and walked toward the main entrance with the other kids.
Amanda was still pulling out of the parking lot when her phone rang.
Amanda: Hello?
Roberts: Mrs. Chen, this is Principal Roberts. Is Sophia feeling well today?
Amanda stopped at the red light, confused.
Amanda: She’s fine. I just dropped her off two minutes ago.
Roberts: I’m showing her as absent from first period. Her teacher marked her missing.
The light turned green. Amanda pulled over.
Amanda: That’s impossible. I watched her walk into the building.
Roberts: Can you hold for just a moment?
The line went quiet. Amanda stared at the school building in her rearview mirror.
Other parents were still dropping off kids. Everything looked normal.
Roberts came back on the line.
Roberts: Mrs. Chen, I need you to come back to the school. We need to talk.
Amanda made a U-turn and drove back to the visitor parking.
The main office felt different this time. More serious.
Roberts led her to his private office and closed the door.
Roberts: Sophia was marked present when she entered the building. But she never made it to her classroom.
Amanda: What do you mean she never made it?
Roberts: Ms. Wilson took attendance at 8:25. Sophia wasn’t there.
Wilson appeared in the doorway, holding a clipboard.
Wilson: I called her name twice. Her desk is empty.
Amanda’s hands started shaking.
Amanda: Where is she?
Roberts: We’re checking the building now. But I need to ask you some questions first.
He pulled out a form and a pen.
Roberts: Has Sophia mentioned feeling unsafe at school? Any problems with other students?
Amanda: No, never. She likes it here.
Wilson: She’s been doing well in class. No behavioral issues.
Roberts made a note on the form.
Roberts: Any family situations I should know about? Custody disputes? Recent changes at home?
Amanda: Her father and I divorced last year, but there’s no custody dispute. He lives in Oregon.
Roberts: When did you last speak with him?
Amanda: Three weeks ago. Maybe a month.
The school secretary knocked on the door.
Roberts: Come in.
Secretary: We checked the bathrooms, the library, and the cafeteria. No sign of her.
Amanda stood up.
Amanda: I want to see the security cameras.
Roberts: We’re already pulling that footage.
Wilson: The substitute in room 204 said she saw a girl matching Sophia’s description in the hallway around 8:20.
Amanda: What substitute?
Wilson: Mrs. Garcia was covering for the art teacher today.
Roberts picked up his phone and dialed an extension.
Roberts: Can you send Mrs. Garcia to my office please?
Within minutes, an older woman with gray hair appeared.
Roberts: Mrs. Garcia, this is Sophia Chen’s mother. You mentioned seeing a girl in the hallway?
Garcia: Yes, around 8:20. She was walking toward the side exit by the gymnasium.
Amanda: The side exit?
Roberts: That door leads to the faculty parking lot.
Wilson: Students aren’t supposed to use that exit during school hours.
Garcia: She had a purple backpack. That’s why I noticed her.
Amanda felt her stomach drop.
Amanda: Sophia has a purple backpack.
Roberts stood up.
Roberts: I’m calling the police.
Amanda: Wait, maybe she just got confused. Maybe she’s hiding somewhere.
Roberts: We’ve searched the building twice.
Wilson: And that exit has an alarm. If she went through it, we would have heard it.
Roberts: Unless someone propped it open.
The room went quiet.
Roberts picked up his phone again.
Roberts: This is Principal Roberts at Riverside Elementary. I need to report a missing student.
Amanda listened to him give Sophia’s description to the dispatcher.
Roberts: Eleven years old, Asian-American, about four feet eight inches, wearing a pink sweater and blue jeans.
Wilson: She had her hair in braids this morning.
Roberts: Long black hair in braids. Purple backpack.
Amanda: Her lunch box is purple too.
Roberts: Purple lunch box as well.
The dispatcher asked questions Amanda couldn’t hear.
Roberts: Last seen at approximately 8:15 AM in the main hallway. Mother dropped her off at normal time.
Wilson: Should I check her desk for any notes or drawings?
Roberts: Yes, please do that.
Wilson left the room quickly.
Amanda: This doesn’t make sense. Sophia wouldn’t just leave.
Roberts: The police are sending a unit now. They’ll want to talk to you.
Garcia: Should I write down exactly what I saw?
Roberts: Yes, please. Every detail you can remember.
Garcia sat down at the small table and started writing.
Wilson returned with a folder.
Wilson: I found something in her desk.
She pulled out a piece of paper with crayon drawings.
Wilson: She drew this yesterday during free time.
The drawing showed stick figures. A small one labeled “ME” and a taller one labeled “DADDY.”
Amanda: She draws pictures of her father sometimes. That’s normal.
Wilson: Look at the bottom.
In purple crayon, Sophia had written “DADDY COMING TODAY.”
Amanda stared at the paper.
Amanda: That’s not possible. Her father is in Oregon.
Roberts: When did you last confirm his location?
Amanda: I… we don’t talk regularly.
Roberts: But you said you spoke to him three weeks ago?
Amanda: He called to ask about Sophia’s school schedule.
The room went silent.
Wilson: Her school schedule?
Amanda: He wanted to know her pickup time and which door I use.
Roberts and Wilson exchanged looks.
Roberts: Mrs. Chen, did you give him that information?
Amanda: He’s her father. I didn’t think…
The police officer arrived and knocked on the door.
Officer Martinez introduced himself and sat down across from Amanda.
Martinez: I need you to walk me through this morning step by step.
Amanda described the normal routine, the drop-off, the phone call.
Martinez: You said your ex-husband asked about pickup procedures?
Amanda: Three weeks ago, yes.
Martinez: Did he say why he needed that information?
Amanda: He said he might visit sometime. I told him he needed to coordinate with me first.
Martinez: And you haven’t heard from him since?
Amanda: No.
Roberts: Officer, we have a witness who saw a girl matching the description leaving through the side exit.
Martinez: I’ll need to speak with that witness.
Garcia looked up from her written statement.
Garcia: I saw her walking with someone.
Everyone turned to look at her.
Amanda: What?
Garcia: There was a man holding her hand. I thought it was a parent picking up early.
Martinez: Can you describe this man?
Garcia: Tall, maybe forty years old. Dark hair. He was wearing a blue jacket.
Amanda felt the blood drain from her face.
Amanda: David has a blue jacket.
Martinez: David is your ex-husband?
Amanda: Yes.
Martinez immediately got on his radio.
Martinez: Dispatch, I need an APB on David Chen, white male, approximately 40 years old.
Roberts: Should we lock down the school?
Martinez: No, the child is no longer on premises. But I need your security footage immediately.
Wilson: I’ll take you to the security office.
Martinez: Mrs. Chen, I need David’s phone number, his address in Oregon, and his vehicle information.
Amanda fumbled for her phone.
Amanda: His number is 503-555-0147. He drives a silver Honda Accord.
Martinez: License plate?
Amanda: I don’t remember. It’s Oregon plates.
Martinez relayed the information to dispatch.
Roberts: Mrs. Chen, is there anywhere David might take Sophia? Relatives, friends?
Amanda: His sister lives in Sacramento. But they don’t get along.
Martinez: I need that sister’s information too.
Amanda: Her name is Linda Chen-Morrison. I don’t have her number.
Martinez: We’ll find it.
The secretary returned with a security guard.
Security: We pulled the footage from camera three. It shows the girl leaving through the side exit at 8:22 AM.
Martinez: Was she alone?
Security: No sir. She was with an adult male, just like Mrs. Garcia described.
Amanda: Can I see it?
Martinez: In a moment. First, I need you to call David’s number.
Amanda dialed with shaking hands.
The phone went straight to voicemail.
Amanda: David, it’s Amanda. Call me immediately. This is about Sophia.
Martinez: Try again.
Same result.
Martinez: We’re going to trace that phone. Mrs. Chen, I need you to think. Did David seem upset during your last conversation?
Amanda: He asked about custody arrangements. Whether I’d consider letting Sophia visit him.
Roberts: What did you tell him?
Amanda: I said we’d have to go through the courts first. He didn’t have visitation rights in the divorce.
Martinez: Why not?
Amanda: He had some problems. Drinking. He missed a lot of Sophia’s events.
Wilson: Did he seem angry when you said that?
Amanda: He hung up on me.
Martinez got another call on his radio.
Martinez: Copy that.
He turned to Amanda.
Martinez: David’s car was spotted on Highway 5 heading north. CHP is pursuing.
Amanda: Is Sophia with him?
Martinez: We don’t know yet.
Roberts: Mrs. Chen, you should call someone to be with you.
Amanda: I need to go home in case she calls.
Martinez: I’ll drive you. My partner will meet us there.
Wilson: I’ll call the district office and let them know what’s happening.
Garcia: Should I stay to talk to more officers?
Martinez: Yes, please wait here.
Amanda gathered her purse and followed Martinez to his patrol car.
The drive to her house took eight minutes that felt like hours.
Martinez: Mrs. Chen, in cases like this, the parent usually contacts the other parent within a few hours.
Amanda: Cases like this?
Martinez: Non-custodial parent abductions. David probably thinks he’s protecting Sophia somehow.
Amanda: Protecting her from what?
Martinez: That’s what we need to find out.
They pulled into Amanda’s driveway.
Her neighbor Mrs. Patterson was getting her mail.
Patterson: Amanda, is everything okay?
Amanda: Sophia’s missing.
Patterson: Oh my god. What can I do?
Martinez: Ma’am, did you see any unusual activity here this morning? Strange cars, people you didn’t recognize?
Patterson: No, nothing like that.
Amanda unlocked her front door.
The house felt exactly the same as when they’d left two hours ago.
Martinez: Does David have a key to this house?
Amanda: No. I changed the locks after the divorce.
Martinez: Show me Sophia’s room.
Amanda led him down the hallway.
Sophia’s room was neat, bed made, stuffed animals arranged on the shelf.
Martinez: Does she have a computer or tablet?
Amanda: Just for homework. It’s in the kitchen.
They walked back to the kitchen.
Amanda turned on Sophia’s tablet.
Martinez: Check her recent activity.
Amanda scrolled through the browser history.
Amanda: She was looking at pictures of Oregon last week.
Martinez: What kind of pictures?
Amanda: Portland. The zoo. Places David might have told her about.
Martinez: Did she search for anything else?
Amanda: “How long does it take to drive to Oregon.”
Martinez made a note.
Amanda: You think he planned this?
Martinez: The evidence suggests it wasn’t spontaneous.
Amanda’s phone rang.
The caller ID showed David’s number.
Martinez: Answer it, but put it on speaker.
Amanda: Hello?
David: Amanda, don’t panic.
Amanda: Where is Sophia?
David: She’s safe. She’s with me.
Martinez: Mr. Chen, this is Officer Martinez with Riverside Police. You need to bring Sophia back immediately.
David: Who is that?
Amanda: The police, David. You took her from school without permission.
David: She’s my daughter too.
Martinez: Sir, you’re in violation of custody agreements and state kidnapping laws.
David: I’m not kidnapping my own child.
Martinez: Your location, Mr. Chen.
The line went quiet for several seconds.
David: We’re going to see my sister.
Amanda: Linda? In Sacramento?
David: Sophia deserves to know her family.
Martinez: Mr. Chen, you need to turn around and bring Sophia back to Riverside.
David: I have rights.
Martinez: Not without a custody order, you don’t.
Amanda: David, please. Sophia has school tomorrow. She has a math test.
David: She can take it next week.
Martinez: Sir, every minute you continue driving makes this situation worse for you legally.
David: I’m not hurting anyone.
Amanda: You’re scaring me. And you’re scaring Sophia.
David: Sophia’s not scared. She’s excited to see Aunt Linda.
Martinez: Put Sophia on the phone.
David: No.
Martinez: Mr. Chen, I need to hear her voice to confirm she’s safe.
David: She’s asleep.
Amanda: It’s 10:30 in the morning, David.
David: The drive is long. She’s tired.
Martinez: Where exactly are you right now?
David: I don’t have to tell you that.
Martinez: Actually, sir, you do. This is a criminal investigation.
The line went dead.
Amanda: He hung up.
Martinez: That’s okay. We’re tracing the call.
Amanda sat down at her kitchen table.
Amanda: What happens now?
Martinez: CHP has units looking for his vehicle. We’ll find them.
Amanda: What if he doesn’t stop?
Martinez: He’ll stop.
Amanda: How do you know?
Martinez: Because he called you. He wants to negotiate.
Amanda’s phone rang again.
This time it was an unknown number.
Martinez: Answer it.
Amanda: Hello?
Linda: Amanda? This is Linda, David’s sister.
Amanda: Linda, is David there?
Linda: He just called me. He’s driving here with Sophia.
Martinez: Ms. Morrison, this is Riverside Police. We need your help.
Linda: What’s going on?
Martinez: David took Sophia from school without Amanda’s permission.
Linda: Oh no. I told him not to do anything stupid.
Amanda: You knew about this?
Linda: He called me last week. He was upset about not seeing Sophia.
Martinez: What exactly did he say?
Linda: That Amanda was keeping Sophia from him. That he might come visit.
Amanda: I never kept Sophia from him. He stopped calling.
Linda: That’s not what he told me.
Martinez: Ms. Morrison, when David arrives, you need to call us immediately.
Linda: I don’t want to get him in trouble.
Martinez: He’s already in trouble. But we can resolve this safely if everyone cooperates.
Linda: What if I refuse to let him stay here?
Martinez: That would be helpful.
Amanda: Linda, please. I’m scared.
Linda: Okay. I’ll call you when they get here.
Martinez: We’re sending Sacramento police to your address as well.
Linda: Is that necessary?
Martinez: Yes ma’am.
After Linda hung up, Amanda paced around her kitchen.
Amanda: How long until they reach Sacramento?
Martinez: About four hours from where CHP last spotted them.
Amanda: Four hours.
Martinez: Mrs. Chen, you should call someone to stay with you.
Amanda: My sister lives in San Francisco.
Martinez: Call her.
Amanda dialed her sister Jennifer.
Amanda: Jen, I need you to come down here. David took Sophia.
Jennifer: What do you mean he took her?
Amanda: He picked her up from school without telling me. They’re driving to Sacramento.
Jennifer: I’m leaving now.
Amanda: Drive carefully.
Jennifer: I’ll be there in two hours.
Martinez: Good. You shouldn’t be alone right now.
Amanda: What if David doesn’t go to Linda’s?
Martinez: He will. He needs a place to stay, and he’s not thinking clearly.
Amanda: What if he keeps driving? What if he goes to Canada or Mexico?
Martinez: He doesn’t have Sophia’s passport. And his car will run out of gas.
Amanda: He could buy gas.
Martinez: Every credit card transaction creates a trail. We’re monitoring his accounts.
Amanda’s phone buzzed with a text message.
It was from David: “Sophia wants to talk to you.”
Martinez: Don’t respond yet.
The phone rang.
Martinez: Put it on speaker.
Amanda: Hello?
Sophia: Mommy?
Amanda started crying.
Amanda: Sophia, baby, are you okay?
Sophia: I’m okay. Daddy says we’re going on an adventure.
Amanda: Are you scared?
Sophia: A little. I wanted to tell you before we left school.
Amanda: It’s okay, sweetheart. You’re not in trouble.
Martinez: Sophia, this is a police officer. Are you hurt at all?
Sophia: No sir.
Martinez: Is your daddy being nice to you?
Sophia: Yes. He bought me McDonald’s.
Amanda: Sophia, I need you to stay close to Daddy and do what he says, okay?
Sophia: When can I come home?
Amanda: Very soon, baby.
David: That’s enough.
Amanda: David, wait—
The line went dead again.
Martinez: She sounds fine.
Amanda: For now.
Martinez got a call on his radio.
Martinez: Copy.
He turned to Amanda.
Martinez: CHP has them. They’re stopped at a gas station in Stockton.
Amanda: Are they arresting him?
Martinez: They’re waiting for instructions. David’s not resisting.
Amanda: Can I talk to Sophia?
Martinez: Let me check.
He radioed back to dispatch.
Martinez: Riverside unit requesting phone contact with the child.
The response came back quickly.
Martinez: They’re going to have the CHP officer call you.
Within minutes, Amanda’s phone rang.
Officer: Mrs. Chen, this is Officer Williams with California Highway Patrol. I have your daughter here.
Amanda: Is she okay?
Officer: She’s fine. A little confused, but not hurt.
Amanda: Can I talk to her?
Officer: Just for a minute.
Sophia: Mommy?
Amanda: Hi baby. Are you coming home now?
Sophia: The police officer says yes.
Amanda: Good. I love you.
Sophia: I love you too. Daddy’s crying.
Amanda: It’s going to be okay.
Officer: Mrs. Chen, we’re transporting your daughter back to Riverside. We should arrive in about two hours.
Amanda: What about David?
Officer: He’s being arrested and will be processed in Stockton.
Martinez: Mrs. Chen, you’ll need to pick up Sophia at the police station.
Amanda: Of course.
Martinez: And you’ll need to file a formal complaint for the custody violation.
Amanda: Will David go to jail?
Martinez: That depends on several factors. But he’ll face charges.
Amanda: I just want Sophia home safe.
Martinez: She will be.
Two hours later, Amanda was waiting in the lobby of the Riverside Police Station when Officer Williams arrived with Sophia.
Sophia ran to her mother and hugged her tightly.
Sophia: Mommy, I was scared.
Amanda: I know, baby. You’re safe now.
Officer Williams: She was very brave. And your ex-husband didn’t harm her in any way.
Amanda: Thank you for bringing her home.
Officer Williams: David wanted me to give you this.
He handed Amanda a folded piece of paper.
Amanda opened it and read David’s handwritten note: “I’m sorry. I just missed her so much. Please don’t keep her from me forever.”
Amanda: What happens next?
Martinez: You’ll need to appear in court for the custody violation hearing. But for now, just take Sophia home.
Amanda: Can we stop for ice cream on the way?
Sophia: Can we, Mommy?
Amanda: Yes, we can.
They walked out of the police station together, hand in hand.
The sun was setting, and the parking lot was quiet.
Amanda: Sophia, are you okay? Really okay?
Sophia: I think so. Daddy said he just wanted to spend time with me.
Amanda: I know, sweetheart. But he should have asked me first.
Sophia: Will I see him again?
Amanda: Maybe. But we’ll talk about it first next time.
Sophia: Promise?
Amanda: Promise.
They got in the car and drove to the ice cream shop on Main Street.
Sophia ordered chocolate chip cookie dough.
Amanda ordered vanilla.
They sat at a small table by the window and ate their ice cream in comfortable silence.
Amanda: Tomorrow is a school day.
Sophia: I know. I have that math test.
Amanda: Are you ready for it?
Sophia: I think so. Ms. Wilson helped me study yesterday.
Amanda: Good.
Sophia: Mommy?
Amanda: Yes?
Sophia: I love Daddy, but I want to live with you.
Amanda: I love you too, baby. And you’re staying with me.
They finished their ice cream and drove home.
The house felt warm and safe again.
Amanda helped Sophia with her bath and read her two bedtime stories.
Sophia: Will the police officers be okay?
Amanda: Yes, they were just doing their job.
Sophia: And Daddy?
Amanda: Daddy will be okay too. He just made a mistake.
Sophia: A big mistake.
Amanda: Yes, a big mistake.
Sophia fell asleep holding her favorite stuffed rabbit.
Amanda sat in the living room and called her sister Jennifer.
Amanda: We’re home. Sophia’s safe.
Jennifer: Thank God. How is she?
Amanda: Shaken up, but okay. She’s resilient.
Jennifer: And how are you?
Amanda: Exhausted. But relieved.
Jennifer: Do you want me to stay the night?
Amanda: No, we’ll be fine. The police are doing extra patrols.
Jennifer: Call me if you need anything.
Amanda: I will.
Amanda double-checked all the locks and set the security alarm.
She looked in on Sophia one more time before going to bed.
Her daughter was sleeping peacefully, safe in her own room.
Amanda finally allowed herself to cry.
But they were tears of relief, not fear.
Tomorrow would be a normal day again.
School, homework, dinner, bedtime stories.
The way it was supposed to be.
