"Blasted Germans are at it again" Mrs Evans spat.

"I don't think they're doing it with the intention of killing people, Mrs Evans" Alice replied.

"No but they are killing people aren't they?"

Alice had to agree with her on that point. They were killing people. Hundreds of them every day. Alice was constantly being reminded of her parents' house being bombed at the start of the war. She could still remember it as though it had happened yesterday. The reports of the street her parents house being bombed were reported on the radio.

The Lord of the Manor Lord Thornby had permitted Alice the afternoon off to go and check on her parents. When she arrived a police officer reported that the residents of number 19 were indeed dead. Alice thanked him and almost broke down before returning to the manor.

Upon her return Mrs Evans had comforted her and given her some sweet tea to help with the shock. Ever since Mrs Evans had become like a mother to Alice. That was exactly how she was acting now whilst reading the morning paper.

"Those Suffrageti's have chained themselves to the gates of Buckingham Palace '' Mrs Evans said.

Alice tried not to laugh "Suffragettes, Mrs Evans and they have every right to be angry. Women still can't vote."

"Too right too. A woman's place is in the kitchen or in service. Women shouldn't get involved in political things."

"I was in the Suffragettes before the war, Mrs Evans."

"I know you were Alice dear, but you're young. When you're my age you'll realise that a woman's place always stays the same no matter how old she gets."

Mrs Evans looked at the old grandfather clock "oh my goodness" she said "the Lord will be wanting his tea." Mrs Evans stood up and began making a tray of tea. She opened the tin of sugar and looked at Alice. "Alice dear go and fetch some sugar from the storage shed there's a good girl."

"Yes Mrs Evans," Alice replied and she rushed for the back door. She found her way blocked by George. George was the footman at Thornby Manor. He was also in charge of the house since the butler Mr Stephens had gone off to war. George was almost old enough to go with him. But his 18th birthday wasn't until November. "Watch where you're going George!" Alice reproached sharply.

"Why?" George replied "you're not off to the shed again are you? That's the seventh time this week and it's only Wednesday."

"That's her job George," Mrs Evans called from the kitchen "now move and let Alice get on with her work." George reluctantly stepped aside and went into the kitchen. Alice continued out into the garden.

"I don't know what Mr Stephens would make of you wasting Alice's time George" Mrs Evans explained.

"I'm sure he wouldn't care," George replied. "After all, the old man must have fallen in love at some point during his sad existence."

"I've already told you a hundred times George, Alice isn't interested in you. Find someone else. There must be thousands of girls in London for you to go along with."

"Aye there is but there isn't one of them who's a bit like Alice. She's different, Mrs Evans. The cream of the crop she is."

"Well, see what happens after this blasted war's over. Maybe there'll be time to tell her how you feel then."

"I hope so Mrs Evans, but I'm not sure how much longer my heart can wait."

Meanwhile, Alice was looking for the sugar. She had searched through all the bags and could find none. She was also certain that some other bits and pieces were missing.

Most of the cheese was gone, and so were some of the rolls Mrs Evans had showed Alice how to make yesterday. Alice was also certain that the bottles of beer in the shed were far fewer than yesterday. George couldn't have drunk that much.

Finally Alice found the sugar. She grabbed it and made a list in her head of all the things that had gone missing. Then she locked the shed door and went back into the house.

"Mrs Evans, I think some food is missing from the shed" Alice explained as she came in.

"What?" Mrs Evans replied " how can there be anything missing?"

"I don't know but there is."

"Maybe we've got rats" George teased.

Mrs Evans slapped him on the arm. "GEORGE HOW DARE YOU?" She scolded "Thornby Manor has never had rats in all the 30 years I've been here."

"Well it's not that unlikely," George replied "the rats must be feeling the effects of the food shortages too."

"Well we don't have the money to be feeding rats as well as ourselves. We'll have to find some rat poison. I'm sure Mr Stephens used to have some in his personal storage cupboard. George, he left you the key didn't he?"

"He certainly did."

"Well go and see if there's anything to get rid of the blighters in there."

"Yes Mrs Evans" George replied and ran off.

"Walk boy don't run" Mrs Evans called after him.

Alice wasn't sure if rats could reach the third shelf in the shed. She also didn't think that rats could open bottles of beer. But it was better that Mrs Evans and George thought rats were to blame. Otherwise, the only other alternative was that Mrs Evans or George were stealing. Alice had known Mrs Evans for years and although George was a pain, she knew he would never steal anything. But the food and beer had to have gone somewhere and Alice was determined to find out where.

She would start by checking up on the storage shed every few hours. Keeping track of what went missing. Then she could work out who was stealing all these things.

8pm. Alice took a candle down to the shed to check if anything else was missing. She stopped suddenly. She was sure she just heard...rustling. Maybe she would catch one of the rats in there. Or if there were no rats maybe she would catch the culprit. Alice knew she shouldn't go alone, but she didn't want to worry Mrs Evans and George would love to have an opportunity to tease her for being sheepish. No. She would investigate alone.

Alice gently unlocked the shed and opened the door. There were now no beer bottles at all, there had been 5 that morning. George wouldn't dare to drink when he was working. Now Alice was frightened. Someone was definitely stealing from the shed. She also noticed more of the bread rolls missing, and most of the wheel of cheese had been hacked away at. Most of it was gone. Alice didn't know whether to call for help, phone the police or simply run back to the house and forget all about it.

Eventually she decided on the third option. She ran as fast as her legs would carry her, back to the house.

She reported it all to George and Mrs Evans who swore that she was just imagining it, that she was working too hard and she should go to bed early. Mrs Evans insisted that her and George could finish everything.

Alice took the offer. She went up to her room and got ready for bed.

But she could not sleep. No matter how much she tossed and turned she could not fall asleep.

Her room was located at the back of the house, overlooking the shed. Alice was certain she could hear someone moving. Suddenly she heard voices.

"Good night George."

"Good night Mrs Evans."

Alice now knew that whoever had made that noise she'd just heard it wasn't George or Mrs Evans.

Alice knew she needed to catch the thief in the act. She grabbed a gas lamp and headed for the stairs. She was still in her night clothes.

She briefly considered going back for George but she didn't want to wake Mrs Evans in the process. She also didn't want George to see her in her night clothes.

She pushed open the back door and gazed into the night. She could hear a scuffling sound. A fox perhaps, or a rat. Then Alice stopped. She thought she heard snoring. She listened....yes, snoring. It was coming from the shed. She crept towards the door and saw that the latch was slid back, the door to the shed was open. A small light flickered in the dark. Was the shed on fire?

Alice took a deep breath and opened the door. The sound of the quiet night was interrupted by a scream.