Mystery: After the Child Disappeared

"Check the surveillance! See where the child was last seen!"

The onlookers were anxious and helped with suggestions.

"The school's surveillance has been broken for three days!" Daniel's Mom explained, the corners of her eyes looking even redder against the gold earrings.

It was just such bad luck!

Our school installed a face recognition system as requested by the higher-ups. The construction company accidentally dug up the buried wires underground, and the surveillance had been down for three days.

On Monday, the principal emphasized at the school meeting that the surveillance had been broken for the past two days. Students should pay attention to safety. After being sent to the school by their parents, they should go directly into the school and not linger at the school gate. I also repeatedly emphasized at the class meeting that the children should line up at the school gate after school and wait for their parents to pick them up, and not run around!

I was still thinking about where the child might have gone while Daniel's Mom couldn't hold it anymore. She handed the child to his father, then threw herself on the ground and started rolling!

"The school lost my child. Give my child back to me! If you can't, I will sue you at the Education Bureau! You even have a broken surveillance camera!"

"Daniel's Mom, don't worry. We are looking for him and will definitely give you an explanation!"

The principal's voice was drowned in Daniel's Mom's crying without a doubt.

Daniel's Dad's chest heaved violently. He scanned around, and then lifted the chair at the entrance of the security room and smashed it heavily. The chair shattered into pieces in front of the teachers!

"Let me tell you, if you don't give me back my son, none of you will get away with it!"

The security guard who went to inquire nearby hurried back, wanting to pull Daniel's Dad away, but ultimately lacking the courage to do so.

To be honest, I was really scared for that minute!

I was afraid that Daniel's Dad would lose his mind, and that I, as a teacher who was in charge of both security and homeroom, would be the first to suffer.

I was even more afraid that we wouldn't find the child. We were in the southwestern, not far from the border. I couldn't imagine what would happen to the child!

Taking a deep breath, I met Mr. Klein's gaze and said, "Call the police!"

Mr. Klein nodded, "I'll call the Education Bureau. Contact the Vice Principal in charge of legal affairs."

The other teachers, with stony faces, squatted down to try and persuade Daniel's Mom, whose face was covered in tears and crying louder and louder.

"Ms. Winston. I remember now. Daniel asked for leave this afternoon!"

Ms. Lopez threw the shared bicycle to the side and shouted under her breath.

The crowd immediately quieted down.

"When? Where's the leave note? Who picked him up?"

I was so overjoyed that my tears were about to burst out.

Ms. Lopez wiped the sweat off her forehead and walked while reminiscing.

"Before the first class this afternoon, a little boy came to me and said he had a stomachache. I asked if he could hold on. He shook his head, tears streaming down his face, saying he was too uncomfortable."

Everyone didn't even dare to breathe too loudly for fear of disturbing her memories.

Daniel's Mom also calmed down and sat on the ground, listening in a daze.

"I asked him for his parents' phone number so that I could contact them. But he said his parents were waiting for him right outside the school. So I asked him to pack his book bag and go to the doctor!"

"Why didn't you say it earlier?"

I was a little angry about this false alarm.

"He came in crying and wasn't wearing his glasses at all. I just called a few classmates to confirm that he was the one who took the leave in the afternoon!"

Ms. Lopez's face turned red, showing that she was also very anxious.

But Daniel's Dad jumped up and said, "Nonsense!"

"My son didn't take any leave at all!"

"I was working at the construction site all afternoon and never received a call from my son, let alone picking up him!"

"Your school wants to shirk the responsibility, so she's making up a random excuse to fool people!"

Daniel's Dad arched his back, with a look of determination that it was a big deal.

Who picked up the child?

Everyone's heart sank to the bottom in an instant.