Joe rushed into the room to find Nancy and Frank shaking and on the verge of losing it, "what happened?"
Frank replied in a shaky voice, "Lizzy is missing." Joe quickly looked in the crib and curse when he saw a note, Got your attention? Now think about all you have done. Nancy was in hysterical in Frank's arms. Joe quickly yelled for Biff came rushing into the room.
"Are you okay Nan?" Biff asked trying to get a handle on the situation. Nancy was double over in the floor in tears. Frank was trying desperately to console her. Biff raised an eyebrow while Bess' new boyfriend walked into the room, "the girls are downstairs Ms. Miller is in pretty bad shape. The police are in the elevator along with a medic team." He froze when Joe raised his hand to get him to shut up.
Biff and Joe were studying the crib. Everything seemed to be in place, the only thing missing was Elizabeth's blanket she slept with and her stuff teddy and her little security blanket that both stayed in her crib while she slept. The note was in the center of the crib and both Biff and Joe seemed to be in agreement on not touching it.
Michael frowned, "what can I do to help?"
Joe turned and looked at him, "Can you show the police up here as soon as they walk through the door and please watch the girls downstairs."
He nodded and quickly walked out of the room. Joe bent down in front of Nancy and Frank, "I promise you we will figure this out."
"Think of all you done?" Frank muttered in a shaky emotional voice, "It has to be someone we have sent away."
Joe bit his lip, "there was that recent parole case but that just seems too easy this soon."
"Agreed." Frank muttered and Nancy just clung to him like he was her lifeline. Joe couldn't even imagine, and he had to admit they were handling it better than he would handle it.
Joe quickly pulled out his cell phone from his back pocket as Biff was talking to the police who was just now coming in the room. Joe tried calling his dad but there was no answer. He quickly sent his dad a text
Elizabeth is missing. We need you, Dad.
Joe excused himself to check on the girls downstairs. He saw the paramedics helping Ms. Miller and he saw Anna tightly holding Kendall she gave him a questioning look, "what's going on upstairs?"
George and Bess quickly gathered around them and George raised her eyebrow, "where is Biff?"
"Why did Nan scream?" Bess questioned. Joe sighed and took a deep breath, "Elizabeth is missing."
"What," all the girls said at once and Michael walked up to them, "they are taking Ms. Miller to the hospital now. I told them we would be there in a bit to check up on her."
Joe nodded and mumbled, "thanks." He nodded and Bess started sobbing into his chest. Michael took her off to the side. Joe noticed Anna was holding a sleeping Kendall tighter and George seemed totally stunned. "There was a note left, we think someone from the past that Nancy and Frank put away is behind it. George you want to check on them." She nodded and rushed upstairs.
Joe sat down and took Kendall in his arms, "Anna, it will be okay."
"You don't know that. Poor Lizzy." Anna broke down in tears. Joe shifted Kendall in his arms and put an arm around Anna and drew her close to his body. "we will find her." Joe phone vibrated in his pocket, it was his dad.
Text between Joe and Fenton
What is going on? Missing?
We all went out for New Years, Kendall is fine, Security guard downstairs dead, Ms. Miller at hospital, Elizabeth gone with a note
I'm on my way
Dad, it's someone they put away judging by the note, bring case files from everyone that is paroled all old cases that Frank and Nan was involved in.
Got it, your mom and Aunt are coming. I will call Carson. Is Frank and Nan okay?
Handling it better than I would, Nan is hysterical. Anna is a nervous wreck, Biff in work mode, everyone else trying to console Nan. Frank is in a daze. Anna said she would have a plane waiting for you at the airport.
Damn it. Joe you have to be the level headed one right now. Keep everyone focused on something.
On it dad. Just hurry.
Be there soon.
The dawn was breaking and Fenton was in New York along with Laura, and the police had stayed for hours getting as much information, clues, evidence. Nancy had cried herself to sleep and Frank was a wreck. Anna wouldn't take her eyes off Kendall. Joe and Biff were busy looking for some clue as to what this guy looked like, looking at the security footage over and over.
Laura walked into Anna's room and noticed she was still awake with the TV playing softly and Kendall was fast asleep on what would be Joe's side of the bed. She sat down on the edge near Kendall and rubbed her back, "Are you okay?"
Anna looked up at her with tear stained eyes, "it's my fault."
"What? How?"
"I have cursed this whole family."
"Sweetie, you haven't. This has nothing to do with your parents' murder, with everything that happened last year. This is Nan and Frank's past haunting them."
Anna lay her head back down on the pillow, "how can any of us trust anyone?"
"You have to trust in the good of people. This will all work out it has to. Try to sleep. There is so many people here that nothing will happen. You are both safe."
Anna nodded and yawned and drifted off to sleep almost instantly. Laura stayed for a while but then quietly walked out of the room. She walked downstairs to the dining room that had now become more like a headquarters of sorts. Fenton looked up at her and joined her, "you okay?"
"I was just checking on the girls."
"How are they?"
"Nan was asleep in Frank's arms. Frank won't even talk. I'm worried sick."
"He is in shock. Kendall and Anna?"
"Anna finally went to sleep and Kendall has been sleep. God Fenton. I can't imagine our poor grandbabies. Lizzy is god only know where. I can only pray they are taking care of her, and Kendall alone crying for God only know how long. Anna not sleeping and Nan is heartbroken. Frank won't even speak to his own family. Joe is on a damn manhunt." Laura was in tears and Fenton pulled her out of the room and into the living room.
"Darling, we will find our granddaughter. It will be okay."
Laura nodded holding onto Fenton. Fenton took her to a guestroom to let her sleep. He was trying so hard to keep it all together and it wasn't working.
