When Jack Sugden and Rachel Hughes drive home from Sheffield, they stop off at a service station so Jack can call his wife Sarah. Jack's son Robert points out that Alice Bates has been missing since the previous night and by a quirk of fate, Jack spots the youngster being led from the services by Karen Johnson. Jack hangs up, races outside and literally risks his life to stop them getting away. During the confrontation, the passer-by tries to defuse the situation by siding with Karen. Eventually, Alice says that she wants to be taken home and Karen is arrested.