Chapter 3

Ninety-nine walked up to the bakery section of the grocery store and rang the bell. A small white haired man with matching moustache came out of the back.

"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Smart!" said Baker Walker jovially as he proceeded out of the bakery shop carrying a large cake.

"Here's your cake. I knew you would be around to pick it up this morning."

"Thank you, Mr. Walker. With the new baby and everything else going on in my life, it is so great to have someone so efficient, " 99 said wholeheartedly. She had known Baker Walker for a few months. He supposedly had owned his own bakeshop out of state when the state he was living in decided to install a highway right through the shop. He soon moved to Washington, D.C. and reopened his store within the local grocery store.

"Oh, that's right! You and Mr. Smart were a little busy last year, huh? You have a brand new daughter, right? That makes four kids now! Oh, that's great! Congratulations!" Baker Walker said as he handed 99 the cake who put it in her cart. Baker Walker continued to shake her hand and chit chat with her.

Suddenly, 99 felt a hand come around her waist trying to pull her away from the cart. She swiftly turned and elbowed the man in the face as she simultaneously tripped him. However, as her back was turned another person swiftly put a handkerchief covered in chloroform over her mouth and nose immediately knocking her out.

What poor 99 had not noticed was that the store had been completely empty. Postpartum depression or not, 99 had definitely let her guard down. She was carried out the back of the store by the two m en with Baker Walker following closely behind.

Back at home Max was sitting on the couch murmuring baby talk to Zoe, every now and then he glanced at his watch. When he finally put Zoe down for her afternoon nap at 1:00 p.m., he became truly concerned. It was not like 99 not to check in with them if she was going to be more than an hour away. After all if she does not come back who is going to cook dinner? I guess 99's mother could he thought.

The thought of his mother-in-law whom he loved like his own mother brought back reminisces of Christmas when he was alone without anyone. He celebrated occasionally with his own mother after he grew and moved away. Although always a loving mother to Max, there were too many painful memories. He usually opted for an assignment that would take him out of the states. It was different once he and 99 were partners. When she could not get away to her mother's, 99 always spent Christmas with him. Christmas had always been his favorite time of year; however, being alone was never any good. Since 99 had come into his life, married him, and completed his life with their children, Christmas had once again felt like it did when he was very little.

Max looked at his watch again. It now read 2:00 p.m. He suddenly put down his paper which he had not had a chance to read since celebrating with the children and the tiff with 99 this morning.

"Zach, Maxine, can you handle your sister? She's due for a feeding in about an hour. If you have a problem, call your grandmother and she can be here in an instant. I'm going to out to look for your mother. It isn't like her to be away so long without checking in," Max said quickly and quietly to his two eldest children. He did not want them to panic, but he did not want them to think that it was not serious.

"Sure, Dad," Zach said. "We can handle it. I'll play with Avery and keep his mind off things."

"I can take care of Zoe, daddy," Maxine said as she kissed his cheek. "Go find mom. She needs you."

"That's my kids. I knew I could count on you. I'll call in an hour either way. If I am not back by dinner time, tell Uncle Chief what's going on. Do not worry your grandmother. Got it?"

"Yes, Dad," the twins said together.

With a swift kiss on his children's foreheads including Avery's, Max grabbed his trench coat, gun holster and swiftly left the apartment.