running away

David ran away because he was in a state of disgrace. He had reached a point in his life when he was at rock-bottom. He also has no reason to stay in Cape Town now that he had no job there, had alienated himself from his colleagues and had no family there. He also had a negative in Cape Town because of the coverage of the scandal by the media. It was only logical for him to move elsewhere, and the only person that would likely be glad to see him, even in his current state, was his daughter, Lucy.