"Since when has she been gone?" he asked, trying to take the rising panic in his own voice.
"Since afternoon recess. I don't know what to do Michael," she admitted painfully. “Take a deep breathe Trinity, we'll find her," he replied.
"What if…What if—" she choked on the words, but he knew what she was about to say, how dangerous it was to think them — never mind saying it out loud.
"No, you can't think like that, keep your hopes up. I'll bring our daughter home," he promised without even noticing his words.
He dropped the call and pushed out of his chair, his phone already out to call all available contacts in law enforcement. He couldn't allow himself to succumb to the doubts, he had to be strong for the two of them.
He was almost at the door when the phone on his desk buzzed. He returned, pressing the call button.
"Sir, this is security," a gruff voice explained.
"Spit it out, I have somewhere I need to be," he demanded, impatient at the person stalling him. His daughter was missing, and he needed to bring her home.
"There is a little girl in the lobby who says she's your daughter, sir."
He drew out a breath of relief. “Keep her there, I’m on my way down.”
Slamming the phone to the ground, he’d never ran so fast in his life. As the elevator took it’s time riding down, he cursed the slow movement and wondered if he should have taken the stairs.
He burst into the lobby, adrenaline running high as he walked to the security booth.
"Where is she?"
"She is right—"
The man never got a chance to finish
"Daddy!"
He barely turned around in time to brace himself before the small body launched at him.
"Miranda, oh God, Miranda," he murmured as he embraced her in a fierce hug.
"Daddy!" she called again as he pulled her back to her feet, crouching in front of her.
"I’m so glad to see that you’re alright. How did you get here?" he asked.
"My friend Chloe told her chauffeur to drop me here if he didn't want to get in trouble," she said in a conspiratorial tone.
"Really," he responded, his tone easier as the panic began to leave his body. He would have a talk with Chloe’s family and the driver.
"He didn't want to, but he was afraid Chloe’s daddy would free him," she divulged with a small smile.
"Miranda, you know better than to ever leave the school without your mom, Celia or me. You had us severely worried!"
Her lips trembled, and tears shivered in her eyes "I am sorry, Daddy."
"Why, Miranda?"
"I wanted to see you. I have not seen you in forever and my mommy wants to make me go, and I don't want to go," she replied.
"Oh honey, I am sorry that you’re stuck in between your mom and I, and I am sorry for not being around much these past few days, but you can’t leave school and go into a stranger’s car without your mom’s consent or mine," he replied.
"But I don’t wanna move to Seattle!" she shouted back.
"Miranda," he tried again.
