The sound of Naomi's scream drew Alexis out of her room.
"Naomi what is wrong?" She asked while standing in her doorway.
"Alexis? Have you seen Erica or Card lately?" Naomi said being worried.
"No Naomi, I have not seen them but I heard them a few hours ago. They could be here somewhere. I need to alert my Father." Alexis said grabbing her phone.
Rick was in the midst of a conversation with Kate after he led Kate back to the couch.
He frowned as he looked at the text.
"Rick what is wrong?" Kate asked.
"It is Alexis…Card and Erica…They are not in Card's room." Rick read.
"What? Rick we need to search for them immediately. Alert your Father…" Kate said.
"Good idea Kate." Rick dialed his Father.
"What is wrong Son?" Jackson asked.
"Dad have you seen Card or Erica? It seems they are missing." Rick said.
"No Son I'll get on it." Jackson said.
"Dad I'll do a systematic search of the loft." Rick said.
"Ok Son you know this place much more than I you go do that." Jackson said.
"What is going on Rick?" Kate asked.
"Kate I need to search the loft…I'll be back soon." Rick said kissing her then left the Living Room.
\\\\\
Rick met up with Alexis and Naomi on the 2nd floor.
"There you are Rick any news?" Naomi asked anxiously.
"Alexis you keep Naomi with you…I'm going to conduct a search. I think I know where they might be." Rick said.
"Wait Dad maybe Card kept her phone on her?" Alexis inquired.
"Yes Pumpkin that is a good idea. Please try it?" Rick said.
The group heard the phone ring emanating from Card's room.
"So sorry Dad she must not have thought of taking it." Alexis said.
"That is ok, Pumpkin… just go and find it… I'm off to the 3rd floor." Rick said.
/
Sophie sat in the car after Jackson left and she saw a black Van pull up to the curb. It was just under the fire escape. She was curious. She shut off the car and crept out of the car quietly. She moved quickly to the side. She took pics of the driver and passenger.
She dropped to the side as the passenger door opened and the Man walked to the back of the van climbed up the Ladder to stand on the top of the icy van.
"Watch it up there I don't need you to be taken to the hospital because of your negligence." The Driver growled.
"I'm fine just do your part!" The man on the roof yelled at the driver.
Sophie watched as man on the roof picture came back.
She smirked it was a small time hood named Oscar Houdle. She looked at his rap sheet it was mostly for breaking and entering…She noticed he was involved in shutting off high end alarms before entering. The Driver looked her direction as she saw Oscar climb up on to the Fire Escape. Sophie ducked.
The id of second pic was now shown, the Driver was a small time hood named Alan Griffert. He was a wheel man. The two were together in Sing Sing doing a nickel a piece. They were just released.
Sophie watched as Griffert got nervous.
/
Rick climbed up to the third floor and noticed the roof access had been opened. At this point Jackson came out of the weight room armed.
Rick motioned to the floor with his eyes. Jackson nodded his head.
Rick through open the door only to be crashing into Erica,
"Erica what is Wrong?" Rick said holding on to the child.
"Oh Rick a bad man came and took Card…We just came up on the roof to build a snowman. The door closed behind us and we were locked out. But we figured someone would come and find us. Then this man appeared and placed a rag over Card's mouth. He did not see me." Erica explained.
"Erica this is important did the man look like this?" Jackson asked showing her a pic of her Uncle.
"No that is Uncle Jason. Why do you have his picture?" Erica asked.
"Wait you have been in contact with your Uncle?" Rick asked.
"Yeah when Mom's at work we hang out together at the ice cream shop on 3rd. He comes by every Wednesday." Erica said. "Please don't tell Mom…She doesn't know…He told me not to tell her either."
Jackson was stunned when a crackling came from his earwig.
"Sophie where are you?" Jackson asked. "I tried contacting you…Card is missing."
Jackson listened as Sophie informed him Card was shaken up but fine.
"Sophie has her." Jackson said to the relief of everyone crowded on the top step. "She is bringing her up."
Everyone was very relieved as Erica was reunited with her Mother. Naomi was so relieved and hugged then kissed her.
"NYPD has been called." Jackson said.
Everyone filled down to the Living Room where there was a knock on the door. A sheepish Card and a standing tall Sophie behind her was at the door.
Card ran and hugged Rick tight.
Sophie came in then another person entered.
"Det. Schlemming" Rick muttered while holding Card.
"Tom what are you doing here?" Kate said seeing her old boyfriend.
"Well Kate fancy seeing you…In your condition…I caught your book…Not a bad read." Det. Demming said.
"I'm on call for a robbery in the building. Your neighbor got robbed of many valuable items. It seems the burglar first shut off the alarm then entered from the fire escape. I got the call to take a statement. I was in the building when the call to your apt came in." Tom explained.
"Really you are not stalking me?" Kate coyly said.
"I would not you're…" Tom fumbled for the word.
"Married?" Rick inserted.
"Yeah that is the word…Thanks Writer Monkey. Married" Tom said.
"Yeah that is me always there with the correct word." Rick quipped.
Det. took statements from Sophie, Card and Erica. Then tipped his hat and left.
"Well that was exciting…Card did it not seem unusual that the door to the roof had the alarm off?" Rick asked.
"Honestly Dad I did not think anything about it. Erica and I just wanted to play in the snow." Card said sadly.
"I know Card but you need to inform one of us, Alexis, Me, Jackson, Kate or Grams…Even Sophie here your whereabouts at all times…I want you to be safe." Rick said.
"Yes Dad…Can I go to my room?" Card asked.
"Yes Alexis go with her I'm sure you two have much to discuss." Rick said.
Once they were gone. Rick called the car service for Naomi and Erica.
Before Erica left Jackson whispered something in her ear and she nodded.
"Well Rick, Kate, and Jackson thank you for the enjoyable afternoon. I need to go and hug my Daughter." Naomi said ".., Jackson come by tomorrow…We will see about those upgrades to security you mentioned."
"You won't be sorry." Jackson said. "Bye Naomi I'll see you then."
Everyone said good bye then Erica and Naomi left when Martha reappeared.
"So what is everyone doing?" She asked. "Is there anything for dinner?"
"Dinner…Right Kate…Chinese?" Rick asked.
Yes Rick invite Sophie to stay please. Kate said.
Sophie…You want to stay for Chinese? Rick asked.
Sophie was taken back…She had not been invited to anything in a family way in a long time. She looked to her boss.
"Well Dad what do you think?" She asked Jackson.
"That is up to you…the invitation was given…I doubt it will happen again if you don't accept." Jackson pointed out.
"Oh nonsense Sophie is Family Come along Sophie…" Martha said dragging her away from the door.
"I guess that settles that" Rick said as he closed the door.
Kate had ordered once everything had returned to normal. Rick was so glad Sophie was so observant. Together they ate until the door bell rang.
Card got up to answer Rick cringed but was held in place by Kate's soft hand.
"Merry Christmas everyone" the voice boomed out.
"Dad…? What brought you home? I thought you were still out of town." Kate cried.
Jim rushed to his Daughter's side as Card closed the door and went to Gramps Jim's side.
"I got an earlier flight…It is a good thing too they are closing airports…There is a bad Nor'easter coming." Jim said. "So what has been happening here in my absence?"
Everyone started talking at once explaining how Card got a new friend. The burglar and kidnapping of Card and how Sophie saved the day,
"Sophie huh…?" Jim said to Card.
Jim stood up.
"I don't think we have ever been properly introduced I'm Gramps Jim to Card. I want to thank you for saving my Grand Daughter". Jim said.
"I know who you are Mr. Beckett you are welcome." Sophie politely said.
Jim moved in and gave the ex spy a hug.
"We are family just call me Jim!" He said.
Sophie not knowing what to do just stood there while Jim hugged her.
"Say Dad I did not know you were such a hugger?" Kate said after witnessing the exchange.
"Well I used to not be until you joined this wonderful expanding family. What can I say it's Christmas." Jim smiled and then hugged his Daughter.
With that they all broke into song singing 'Hark the Angels Sing.'