Lizzie Maddox dropped her phone on the desk with a grunt of frustration; no answer again! She was beginning to get seriously worried about her DI. She'd called numerous times and been round to his flat twice but despite the lights being on, he hadn't come to the door.

It had taken a while for her to bond with DI Hathaway but now, thanks in large part to DI Lewis, they worked well together and she'd become quite fond of the sarcastic, overly intellectual, introverted so and so.

Frowning, Lizzie tried to decide what to do. Hathaway's father had died two weeks ago. It had been expected and whilst DI Hathaway had been subdued, he'd been fine. He'd taken some time off but had been expected back at work the day after the funeral. Yesterday, in fact. But DI Hathaway wasn't here and hadn't been in touch with Lizzie, Moody or anyone else at the station.

Lizzie had automatically covered for him with Moody, saying that James had food poisoning, but now she was beginning to regret that. Hathaway didn't particularly like Moody so he wouldn't welcome the chief super's interference in his life so a confession to Moody was going to be Lizzie's last resort however, Hathaway was so reliable that Lizzie was getting really worried.

Lizzie considered going round to Hathaway's flat again but Tone was on one of his rare trips home and she really didn't want to be late home. Perhaps she could call someone? Lizzie's hand hovered over her phone indecisively, almost pressing the button that would speed dial DI Lewis but he was still in New Zealand so what would that achieve? She'd just ruin his holiday.

Taking a deep breath, Lizzie dialled a different number.

James woke abruptly, recoiling as cold water hit his face. Completely befuddled, he dried his face with the bottom of his shirt and looked blearily at his attacker. It took a moment for him to focus and then he was gaping stupidly at Jean Innocent,

'Ma'am? What? Why?'

Jean Innocent looked grimly at him and said,

'Get up.'

Trying to think what he could have done to offend her, James levered himself upright, grabbing hold of the sofa to avoid falling over.

'When did you last eat?'

'I… I don't know,' admitted James, wishing that his brain would start to work even a little bit. Why was Innocent in his flat? Did she have a key? Was he late for work? Even as he thought, something niggled at the back of his mind, suggesting that there was something wrong with that suggestion, but it wouldn't come into focus.

As his brain tried to work, he became aware of just how hungry and thirsty he was. James decided to get a drink of water so pushed off from the sofa to go to the kitchen. Instead he pitched forwards, ending up half on the sofa and half on Jean Innocent. Not sure whether to be relieved or disappointed that he'd missed her chest, James mumbled apologies as he tried to extricate himself. Sighing, Jean gave him a firm shove on to the sofa and said,

'For God's sake, James! Sit there and don't move.'

James managed to get himself into a sitting position and sat there, bemused, as Jean Innocent went into his kitchen and started rummaging through the cupboards.