Chapter 2

Annie walked towards the forensic science lab unsure how she should be feeling. A young woman was dead. Left to rot in a ditch. She shook her head, heartbroken at the thought of the young woman and her family, yet knowing it wasn't Alex in that ditch had been a relief. That made her feel incredibly guilty.

"DC Tyler?" She nodded as she realised the older woman was watching her.

"Hi."

"Come in out of the night air, you'll catch your death. Irony not intended." The older woman ushered her in to the foyer of the building. "Tea? Coffee?"

"Tea. Please." Annie smiled, glad to have something to drag her thoughts away from her friend. "DCI Hunt is running the investigation. Any news?"

"I'm running a toxicology screen on her now. Oh and she was pregnant."

"Oh my God." Annie sat down. "Cath, how far along was she?"

"Not sure. Early days. We have the blood tests back but that's all." Cath looked at her tea. "Any news on your friend?" Annie shook her head.

"No. This Jane Doe fitted her description." She looked up. Cath nodded, understanding that the team she had come to know were suffering. Alex was a big part of Fenchurch CID, not just as Gene's wife and Annie's best friend but to the others to. She silently prayed her friends wouldn't be in limbo for much longer.

"You drink your tea. I'll see if the bloods are back."

She headed out of the foyer as Annie bit her lip.

Xxxxxxxx

"Right. Ethel." Gene marched from the car towards the station as Sam followed him. "Annie is at the lab, Shaz and the lads are doing the donkey work."

"I know." Sam nodded. "Gene."

"It wasn't her." Gene stated as he turned to face his friend. "She's been gone over two months."

"Yes."

"It's my fault."

"And how do you work that out?" Sam followed him up the stairs to the CID office. Gene swore under his breath.

"I'm the Guv. I shouldn't av let her go. I should av told Lytton to get stuffed. Risk his own team, not mine." Gene slammed the door open. "Sammy, I should have kept that prat out of my department."

"You tried. The Chief Super overruled you."

"Since when did that stop me?" Gene headed towards his inner office, avoiding looking at Alex's desk. His heart clenched as he thought of her, knowing they had argued the last time they had been together. He hoped he would get the chance to make up with her. He ignored Sam as the phone on his desk began to ring. He froze as he listened to the caller as he watched Sam approach.

"Where are you?" Gene felt his stomach lurch. "Bolly? Bolly? Talk to me luv." He heard a gasp as the line went dead.

"Gene?"

"She's alive Sam!" Gene snapped as he grabbed his car keys. "She's alive."

Xxxxxx

A/N please review