"Beth" screamed Mark, minutes after the event of her fall had taken place. He hadn't known what to do but now he found himself running down the stairs, his actions hurried as he reached the bottom and stood over body. She didn't appear to be breathing. Kneeling at her side Mark picked her body up from the floor even though he shouldn't have moved her at all in case he did further harm. He knew he needed some help, scrambling up onto his feet he left her and ran to the living room frantically searching for the telephone handset that had been absent from its stand in the hall. He was desperate as he threw objects from where they rested as he hunted. Pushing a stack of magazines from the coffee table the handset went tumbling to the floor with them and he snatched it up.

He stared at it his finger hovering over the keypad shaking uncontrollably as he moved it to push the buttons to dial. He put the phone to his ear and listened to it ring as he stared down the hall, his eyes fixed on his wife heaped upon the floor at the foot of their stairs. He didn't blink once until his eyes closed at the sound of a voice as the call was answered.

"Hello"

In the back of the van Chloe was holding onto the side for dear life trying not to be thrown about as it covered a very uneven ground. The journey hadn't exactly been smooth but she knew now they were definitely off road. She longed to see where they were headed and what stupid scheme Dean had gotten involved in now. She had understood the drugs, assisted and even revelled in the rebellious nature of it as some sort of outlet for her emotions but she had a bad feeling about all of this. Call it intuition but she sensed whatever she was about to discover she wasn't going to be able treat it the same way. She was beginning to feel sick as the van suddenly came to a halt and she heard the engine cut out and the slamming of the doors as Nigel and Dean exited the vehicle.

Her heart began to beat painfully in her chest as she looked around the dark caucus of the van wondering if there was anything she could hide behind. As quietly as she could she pulled out her phone and pushed a button to light the screen. Using it as a very dim torch she shone it around the van only to notice to her left a stack of boxes and lying just in front on them what looked like a crossbow contraption, with heaps of sheets and some other useless junk which meant nothing to her. Slowly she allowed herself to stand and trying to be as quiet as she could, tiptoed over to crouch down behind the boxes. She closed her phone immediately the second she was settled and tried to listen to the goings on outside to see if she could determine what was happening.

Dean waited patiently at the rear of the van, clasping his hands together and breathing warm air into them to keep them warm. It was not a particularly warm night up on the cliffs and the sky was clear as anything, showing every twinkling star available in sight. He was so nervous and gotten himself too involved in all this vendetta and revenge stuff with Nigel that he was now beginning to regret it. Lost in deep thought of how he could get out of this, or trying to work out what he could do or who he could tell before it was too late for detective Miller he was startled when Nigel's hand touched his shoulder and jumped in reaction when his voice whispered that the coast was clear.

"Get a grip" hissed Nigel.

Alec had been at the bed and breakfast most of the evening. He was alone in this and needed a plan of action. He knew Miller should be able to take care of herself, for a while at least he hoped. He needed time to think and it was driving him crazy trying. It was Tom he was more concerned for. Earlier that day he and Olly had gone for a look round but had no clue where Tom may have headed. It was almost as if the second he had left Lucy house he had vanished and it was most mysterious indeed. The frustration of not knowing was driving him crazy and he could not go through the details any more. He was a the type of man who preferred to be in action, working hard in the field not cooped in a room trying to piece it all together from notes. Especially when a young boy of similar age had died not weeks before and suspicious goings on suggest that the actual murder was still lurking and praying on victims in the area.

When Tom had run out of his Aunts house he hadn't a plan in mind. He had just headed where his feet had taken him, running as fast as he could until he had no choice to stop. Breathlessly he rested his hands on his knees and squatted on the pavement trying desperately to catch his breath so he could continue on. He had made it out of the housing estate and closer towards the town centre. He had almost been heading in the direction of the beach but for no particular reason. It was his mum he was on the hunt for but he wasn't quite sure where he was.

As he straightened up he was aware of a van slowly stopping by his side. Nigel Carter was driving and he knew of the man but not much about him or who he really was. He looked as the van stopped and Nigel wound down the window.

"Hey there pal, you alright?" he enquired with a smile.

Tom nodded but then contradicted the action by shaking his head. He needed someone to help him, just figure out what was going on and perhaps help him locate the whereabouts of his mum Ellie. Danny had told him once or twice that Nigel was a family friend of theirs and that sometimes he spent time with Nigel and Dean up at a farm just outside of town. He had invited Tom a few times but he'd never gone along, frightened that his mother would catch him and they would all be in trouble.

"Well hop in mate. I'll see if I can help" offered Nigel in what seemed a kind gesture.

At first Tom was hesitant but when he heard Danny's voice in his head telling him again that Nigel was an all right guy and nice to everyone he reconsidered. Smiling and nodding he hurried round to the passenger side of the van and climbed in. He was careful to put on his belt and then he looked to Nigel with an appreciative smile in way of saying thanks for his kindness.

"So pal what's the matter then?" asked Nigel kindly as he rolled the van away from the curb.

"I was looking for mum, no one has seen her for a whole day" announced Tom innocently with sadness in his voice.

Nigel tried to act shocked as if he hadn't heard anything as he slowly began to accelerate. After a short pause and as they headed out of town to where Nigel was secretly holding the boy's mother he cleared his throat and said something to try and ease the tension he felt was building between him and his unfamiliar guest.

"So where do you think she is pal?" he asked as his skin developed a thin layer of nervous sweat.

Tom turned to face him his eyes wide and his expression said. "I don't know, but I wish she would come back. I miss her," he declared sadly.

"Where are we going?" he asked as they turned off onto a little dirt track.

Nigel swallowed down the lump in his throat, "I just have to make a quick stop and pick up something for a job" he lied. Tom was going to be a problem and he would have to solve it. Stopping just outside the lock up he shut off the van and warned Tom to stay there and he'd only be a minute. He didn't want to do what he was about to but it was the only way to stop her son from discovering the truth. Heading to the back of the van he opened up the back doors and pulled forward his toolbox. From it he pulled out a small bottle and a rag. Tipping some of the contents of the bottle onto it he could instantly smell the aroma of the smelling salts and felt light headed at its prominence. Taking it he quickly crept round to the passenger side and opened the door grabbing Tom, who gave a struggle best he could but Nigel obviously the stronger party overpowered him and pressed the rag to his face until he passed out.

"Mark, Hello…is something wrong?" came Becca's voice through the handset as Mark held it in his shaking hand. He stayed silent just listening to her repeat the question a few times before he finally answered her.

"I think it's my fault. I don't think she is breathing" he stated slowly in a calm voice.

"Who Mark? What are you talking about?" came Becca's voice in a distinctive panicked tone.

"Beth…" he stated slowly, a coldness present in his tone that made her gasp.

"Don't do a thing Mark. I am coming over" she stated before the line cut dead.

Mark continued to stare at Beth as he dropped the handset from the height at which he'd held it and slowly started to walk back out to where she lay. She hadn't moved, crouching down he placed his index and middle finger to her neck and gentle searched for a pulse but was unsuccessful. He was an emotionless shell, he did love Beth dearly but lately she hadn't been the Beth he knew at all and so he didn't really know how he felt about all of this. His attitude had certainly changed from earlier and he knew he should have called an ambulance but his brain refused to engage the actions of his conscious.