Disclaimer: Sam, Phil and Abi aren't mine.

Chapter 23:

"I thought I could trust him Phil. I really did. I went round there thinking it was him. And he didn't yell or scream, he just told me it was okay."

"What did he do to you Sam? Did he hurt you?"

Sam was lying on her bed, the lights out, on her phone to Phil, knowing that, failing Jo; he was the one person she could talk to.

"No, no not exactly."

"What does that mean Sam?"

"He kissed me, I told him no, but he didn't listen."

"Oh my God, he didn't rape you did he?"

"No. I punched him and ran out. But he's got her, I know he has. It's just like when Abi was taken, he's playing mind games with me, just like Hugh was."

"Look, I told you I'd find Jo for you. And if Stuart's got her, then I'll wrestle her off him myself. I'm gonna get her for you Sam."

"Thanks Phil, I think the DCI just thinks I'm going mad and trying to find someone to blame, I don't think he believes it could be Stuart."

"Well I believe you Sam. I believe you."

"Thanks Phil, you don't know how much that means to me."

"I think I do, Sam."

Look, I better go, it's late. You need sleep."

"So do you Sam, don't stay up all night worrying."

"I can't promise that Phil, you know I can't."

"Well just try to get a bit of sleep yeah? For Jo."

"Yeah, okay." Sam reluctantly hung up, knowing that now she had no one to talk to.

She lay in bed, imagining that Jo was next to her, looking after her. Knowing deep down that she wasn't.

"Mum. Mum." Abi gently shook her sleeping mother, not wanting to wake her when she had finally got some sleep after nights of staying awake.

"Abi? What is it?"

"It's Phil, he said to wake you, said it was important."

"Give it here." Sam gestured towards the phone her daughter was clutching. "Thanks. Look can I speak to him in private?"

"Yeah, sure." The young woman agreed, knowing better than to argue with her mother.

"Phil, hey, what is it?"

"They've arrested someone."

"Stuart?"

"No. Tess."

"Tess? Tess as in Jo's ex, Tess?"

"Yeah. They reckon they've got evidence against her."

"No way. It's Stuart, I know it is."

"Look, just come down the station, talk to Tess, she's frightened."

"I won't be allowed anywhere near her."

"Look, I'll find a way for you to see her. Seriously though, it looks like it was her; the evidence points to her. There was a hair of Jo's found in her car. And there were fibre's matching what you said Jo was wearing found in her living room. I think we were wrong about Stuart, I think she did it Sam."

"What about Jo? If she's got her where is she?"

"They're looking for her Sam."

"Alright, I'll come down the station, it seems I owe Stuart an apology."

"Okay, I'll wait for you at reception."

Sam ended the conversation and begun to get dressed, her heart pounding.

The blonde DI raced into the car park, leaving about half her tyres behind as she went, she pulled into the Superintendent's spot when there were no other spaces. She ran out the car and managed to get into the reception in record time, flying through the doors and causing everyone tot turn and look at her. Pulling herself together, she confidently strode over to Phil.

"Right where is she?"

"Give her a minute yeah? She's just come out of the interview room and she's very unstable, she's been charged."

"What? Charged? I guess I really do owe Stuart an apology. I wanna see her now."

"Sam, did you just hear what I said, she's unstable. You going in there all guns blazing could push her over the edge."

"Jo's still not been found, Phil, the longer Tess is here, the longer Jo is getting no food, no water, nothing. I need Jo, please, let me speak to Tess."

"Look, just give her five minutes Sam, let her calm down and then go and speak to her. We're already searching her house and the area, we'll find her."

"Well I wanna go help search."

"No way Sam."

"Yes Phil, I might find something you overlook."

"No Sam. Look, I'll level with you, Jack got me to get you to come down here and talk to Tess to keep you out of their way."

"No way. If I can't go to the search, I wanna speak to Tess now."

"Sam!"

"Don't argue with me Phil. I wanna speak to her now, please let me. Let me help find Jo. I want her back Phil, I need her."