~ 20 miles East from Springfield, Missouri ~
Later that afternoon, in the Heine family residence…
Mr. Heine just finished talking to the police.
They came looking for Julia. He expected them, and he told the sheriff that Julia left him.
The sheriff explained why they are looking for Julia, and Mr. Heine was visibly disturbed.
"I don't know how is that possible. I am not at home often but still… it is difficult to imagine something like that. And it was under my own roof. I feel that I am guilty as well. By not being home, I enabled her…"
"Don't be too hard on yourself, Mr. Heine…" The sheriff comforted him. "Living with someone does not guarantee that we know them. The most important thing is that we find her and investigate this. The district prosecutor called, and he wants to press charges. Number of parents from the kids mentioned in the online articles already spoke to him and agreed to collaborate."