Alive

"Sammy boy. She's alive. Alex, my Bolly." Gene clapped both hands against Sam's shoulders. Sam smiled.

"Alex called?"

"Yes. Yes Sammy, she did." Gene was clearly relieved and ecstatic.

"What did she say?"

"Nowt."

"She didn't say anything?" Gene nodded as Sam raised an eyebrow. "Gene? How do you know it was her?"

Gene resisted the urge to punch the wall as he realised Sam was right. "I know. Ok."

"How?"

"The same way you would know if it were Annie missing." Gene slumped against the wall. "Sam. It has to be her."

Sam nodded, he understood the fear in Gene's mind. The longer Alex was missing, the greater the chance was that she was dead. He knew they were already looking for a murderer. Now that Lytton's team had been taken off the case it was up to them to clear up the mess and find Alex. Gene ran a hand across his face.

"It has to be her."

"If it is, there's a chance she'll ring again." Sam sat on the floor next to him.

"Aye Sam. That's true." Gene huffed.

Xxxxxxx

Annie walked towards her car deep in thought. She missed her friend, her heart broke for the Hunt children. It just didn't seem fair when Molly had been through so much already in her young life. Unlocking the car she subconsciously checked the back seat of her car before getting in. She jumped as her mobile phone started ringing.

"Hello?" She frowned as the caller remained silent. "DC Tyler. Who is this?" She frowned, wishing one of the lads were with her. A sob could be heard on the end of the line. "Alex? Is that you?" The call ended as Annie swore. Putting the car into gear she headed back to the police station.

Xxxxxxxx

Ray shook hands with the older woman before heading back to where Chris was leaning against the car.

"Alright?"

"No Chris. Very not alright." He got in the driver's seat. Chris sighed, climbing into the passenger side.

"Still no word from the Guv?" Chris asked. "Annie?"

"Nah. That old girl says she saw nothing. It's only her house that looks over the murder scene." Ray started the car. "How does a killer manage to select and kill his victim without him being seen by anyone? I don't get it. I just don't get it."

Chris shook his head sadly as he watched his friend drive. He knew everyone was worried about Alex. A coppers copper, a Mum and the wife of their boss. The sensible, stable one. The balm to Gene's brashness. He sighed heavily as he brought his thoughts back to the girl in the mortuary.

"We dunno where Alex is and we still dunno who the dead girl is."

"Yeah, I know."

"Well someone must be missing her the way we are all missing Alex. No one is an island, Ray."

"You've been listening to Shaz too much. Where is she anyway?" Ray frowned.

"Talking to the uniform who called in the dead girl." Chris explained. "I'll call her." He took his mobile from his pocket ready to call her. "Weird."

"What is?" Ray drove.

"Three missed calls. All from an unknown number. I never get calls from unknown numbers."

"Must be someone cold calling about PPI."

"Dunno. I'll ring Shaz." He presses the speed dial for his wife's number as Ray carried on driving. Something was going on, he just had no idea what.

Xxxxxxx