A short time later, Dennis was making his way back to his office when the phone rang.

"Ventress!" After waiting and hearing no reply from the man who was supposed to be cleaning the cells, Dennis sighed and picked up the phone. "Ashfordly Police Station."

"Sarge? It's Mike. I didn't want to speak on the radio, because it's…Tricia just got a call from someone to go to Jenny's house. The caller said there has been a death."

Dennis went cold and only just managed to get the next words out. "A death? Did they say who?"

"They didn't even say who they were, Sarge."

"…Right, I'll meet you there." As Dennis hung up the phone, he was unable to stop his hand shaking.

…

Mike was already waiting outside Jenny's flat when his Sergeant arrived and grabbed his arm to stop him going in.

"Is it-"

"It's Jenny's neighbour, Mrs Parker. The locum has taken Jenny next door to try and calm her down. You go and see to her, I can sort things out here."

Dennis let out a shaky sigh of relief, then nodded. "Thanks, Bradley."

…

The locum Will held out a drink to Jenny but she pushed it away. "I just don't understand why she was in my flat in the first place. Can…can you tell how long she's been there?"

Will sat down and put a hand to Jenny's back, rubbing it gently. "You don't need to upset yourself with information like that right now. Have a drink, it will steady your nerves."

"I'm fine."

"You're shaking like a leaf, as anyone would if they'd come home from holiday to find that. Drink."

Jenny sighed and took the glass from him, taking a small sip.

...

Outside, Dennis hesitated, unsure if he should knock, but too impatient to wait for someone to come to the door he rushed in. "Jenny?"

At the sound of Dennis' voice, Jenny was on her feet and almost knocked the scot from his with the force of the hug she gave him as she buried her face in his jacket. He quickly wrapped his arms tightly around her and murmured reassuring words into her hair, still unsure exactly what had happened

They'd been stood there for several minutes before Dennis noticed Will still sitting on the couch. "What happened?"

"She arrived home and found the door unlocked, but went in anyway-"

"I thought maybe it was you," Jenny mumbled.

"And found her neighbour at the bottom of the stairs."

Jenny drew back a little, her face wet with tears. "I don't understand what she was doing there."

Dennis lifted a hand to brush away some of her tears as the doctor continued.

"From the state she was in, I'd say she'd been there-"

"Aye, that's enough for now. Perhaps you're needed next door?"

...

When Will had gone, Jenny let out a soft sob. "I can't go back in there again, but all my things are in there, and I don't know wh-"

"There's no need to worry about all that at the moment. Why don't you go and sit in my car and i'll go and get your case, then I can take you back to my place?"

Jenny nodded and took Dennis' hand as he led her outside.

...

Mike looked up when Dennis entered. "I think it might have been him, Sarge. It looks like a robbery was taking place, Mrs Parker interrupted him and then was either pushed or fell down the stairs."

"Do they know how long she's been there?"

"Tricia thinks it could be as long as 10 days."

Dennis nodded and gave a sigh. "I'm just going to drop Jenny off at my place, Gina is going to meet us there, and then I'll meet you back at the station. No doubt division will want in on this."

...

"If I hadn't gone this would never have happened, Gina. If I hadn't been so focussed on myself and wanting Dennis to be someone he isn't, she wouldn't have died."

"You don't know that, Jen. You could easily have been at work when it happened, it could even have been you it happened to instead. Look, why don't you take one of the pills Tricia left for you, hey? Things always seem clearer in the morning."

Jenny nodded and reached for them, but Dennis' police hat lay forgotten on the table next the bottle and tears once more sprang to Jenny's eyes. "I didn't even tell him I missed him."

Gina reached out and opened the bottle. "I promise to tell him when he gets back all about you spending the last two weeks cooped up below deck moaning that you missed him."

Jenny gave a small smile at this. "I wasn't moaning all the time."

"Only because you were too busy getting sea sick."