[John H K]

(Donning flame-retardant suit)

This is AWFULLY fishy.

Smells like the girl ran away and the 9 year old sister is covering for her, or something similarly odd.

[hellinahandcart]

I'm glad you said it first. Something isn't quite right here. There's no reason to continue cooperating once the man with the gun leaves.

[wheezer]

My thoughts as well....if little sis is covering for her sibling, she better come clean ASAP as serious resources are being mobilized.

[Middle Man]

If this was a young couple eloping or running away by mutual consent to start a life together, "staging" a kidnapping would guarantee they'd have more attention from law enforcement than they would probably want.

If there had been a lot of shouting matches between daughter and parents prior to this disappearance, kurfew violations and the like, then it may be a lovers' pact. I would rather it be a setup, as the other scenario is too horrible to contemplate.

[luckodeirish]

A 9 y/o child is developmentally unable to sit with this type of critical information without revealing it to someone right away. Fishy is right.

[_Jim]

BTTT

[_Jim]

Donning flame-retardant suit)

This is AWFULLY fishy.

Smells like the girl ran away and the 9 year old sister is covering for her, or something similarly odd.

You came remarkably close with this early assessment ...