28 hours missing

Jess ran her fingers through her hair and buried her face in her hands. Her elbows rested on the table. Jack's team sat around it, doing the same thing.

"Okay," Jack stood up, "We're getting nowhere." He look round the table at his fatigued team, "Go home, get washed up and get back here a.s.a.p. and that includes you too, Jess."

"I think I'd rather stay here, Jack." Jess looked up at him.

"Don't argue."

Jess didn't bother to push any further; she was too tired. She stood and grabbed her phone to call a taxi, having no car as Danny had driven her in the night before.

"I'll drive you back to your place," Danny said.

"Thanks."

Viv opted to stay as she had only come in at seven so Jess, Danny, Sam and Martin were left to walk to the elevator.

"And guys," Viv's voice caught them before they got on, "Hurry back."


Jess sighed as soon as the hot water hit her. It coursed over her hair and down her aching body. It felt like forever since she's had a shower. In truth it was; the last time was the morning of Lizzy's disappearance and she desperately needed it.

After her normal 20 minutes she pulled herself out and walked to her bedroom, naked, in search of a towel. Finding one over her radiator, she sniffed it, deemed it useable and dried herself off. She grabbed another one and wrapped it over her hair.

God, she needed to do some washing. She pulled on a fresh shirt and clean trousers. Sitting in front of her mirror she reapplied her make-up slowly.

Her minded drifted to thoughts of one person, and surprisingly it wasn't Lizzy. It was Danny. He was quite cute when she thought about it. Not obviously gorgeous, although she was sure he had no trouble pulling when he wanted to. His eyes were the first thing that attracted her; their dark mocha, almost chocolate colour. She could easily fall in love with those eyes. And he was sweet, checking up on her to see how she was.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the post. Great; more bills. She shook herself. 'Stop thinking that,' she told herself, 'he's a colleague.'

She pulled her towel off her head, gave her hair a quick rub and brush, and went to check the post before she dried it.

There was a quite a lot lying on the mat. Phone bill, electricity bill, rent bill… and an A4 envelope she didn't recognise. Her name and address was scrawled across the front in a handwriting she recognised, if somewhat shaky. Her mother perhaps? Or maybe her brother. She slid her finger in the opening and ripped it open. She tipped it up and let the contents slide out.

Her heart froze. Her eyes widened and her hands shook as she looked at the two photographs in front of her. The first was of her body, lying unconscious on the ground; the second was a close-up of her tear-streaked face. Jess tried to choke back tears. She grabbed her phone and dialled the first number she could think of.

"D… Danny? It's Jess." her voice shook, "Could you come over here, quick?"

She listened to his reply and hung up. She backed against the wall and slid down it into a sitting position, staring fearfully at the photographs lying on the floor.