ok, suppose Danielle ran away. Being only seven years old, would she stop to pack a bag, write a note? Most kids I know are afraid of the dark, especially being out alone at night. Heck, it's creepy to a lot of adults! Go back to when you were 7. Ok, let's suppose Danielle was "tough". She packs a bag, leaves a note, changes out of her PJs into her chinos and sparkly shirt. She opens the door, steps out in the yard. There's the gate. The latch is too high for her to reach. She heaves her pack back over the 6 ft. fence (um, she's tough) and shinnies over the fence. She's in the drive now. Picks up the pack and walks down the street. It's between 10:30 and 1:30. And it's cold. And she's getting scared. DW comes home from Dad's, sees Danielle walking along the street, and stops. Rolls down his window and offers her a ride. She accepts.
Ok. Wheres the pack? Where are her clothes? Same scenario, but stop where DW drives up. Instead DW is miles away. Danielle walks down the street. Heck, I grew up in S. Cal. and I remember February can be miserable during the day. And if this neighborhood is up in the hills, there's canyons and ravines, and coyotes and rattlers, possums, fox, you name it.
Maybe she rode her bike. But no one has said her bike is missing.
I just don't think Danielle was gutsy enough to run away.