Abstract: A method and apparatus for holding a line busy from which a party has disconnected and providing an indication to the other party that the first party has hung up. The invention operates by receiving a call in a telephone switching office from a first subscriber on an incoming line destined for a second subscriber, storing an indication signal signifying that the call has been received; in case the first subscriber has hung up, accessing the indication signal, and as a result sending a signal to the second subscriber which is indicative that the first subscriber has hung up. Such systems are useful in emergency call handling systems, such as 911 emergency call systems.