I take a deep breath and begin to climb.

My first day in my first job and the elevator, or 'lift' as they call them here, is out of service - I'm hoping this isn't a bad omen.

Thankfully it's only two floors up. But still, when I reach the door my heart races against nerves and exertion.

Pausing at the door, I wait a while to allow my heart rate to resume to some kinda normal.

Ready, I push open and walk into my brand new world - I'm a working girl!

......

A woman rushes towards me: arm outstretched in greeting, wide smile, long, glossy brown hair, "Hiya. You must be Tanya. Oh My God, I love your top, where's it from? Please say it's Primark."

I don't know where my shirt is from, and I flounder a little at the unexpected greeting, "I'm sorry, my husband bought me my top, and I don't know what Primark is, is it like a clothing label?" I ask.

She links her arm through mine in a familiar, friendly way, "Yeah, Primark's cheap as chips, it's all I can afford on my salary." She leads me down the corridor then stops suddenly, "You're married? You only look about sixteen," she says, surprised.

It's clear she's not going to lead me forward until I answer, so I give it, "I'm nineteen, and yes, I'm married," I confirm.

She leads me onwards, "Bloody hell, I'm twenty nine and no where near married. How'd you find Mr Right so soon?"

"I guess I wasn't looking for him, and he just showed up." I say, hoping that doesn't sound too geeky. Then, wanting to steer us away from me and back to my first day, I ask, "What's your name?"

She shrieks, "I'm so sorry! I'm Jane.'' She pulls me forward, "I do apologize Tanya; it's just that I'm off on holiday after work tonight and I've slipped into holiday mode already. That was so unprofessional of me."

She leads me into a large open plan office with people sitting in small individual booths.

Heads look away from computers and stare at us as we walk in. I remember feeling like this when I started a new High School at fourteen; not long before I was abducted. "Pretty, ain't she fellas? But eyes off, someone's put a ring on it," says Jane, leading me into a booth. "Ere ya go, sit yourself down and I'll go and get yer a coffee, or would ya prefer tea?"

"Coffee's good, black, no sugar, thanks," I reply, smiling at her over familiarity with her co workers; which is making me feeling a little more relaxed.

Taking in my surroundings, well my desk, I'm impressed to see I've got an iMac. "Are you all right with Mac?" I turn round to see the familiar face of the dark guy with the topknot that greeted me at my interview. "Yes, I prefer it to PC," I say. "Great." He gives me his hand, "Nice to meet you and welcome to Darby and Associates, I'm Marko," he says.

He has a firm handshake, "Nice to meet you, too, Marko."

He points to the computer, "I look after all the I.T, here. Your email's all been set up, so just have a play around, familiarize your self with it all. It's your first day so we'll make sure it's chilled. Any questions give me a shout, my pigeon hole's over there," he says, pointing to the other end of the room. He's friendlier than when I first met him, I'm pleased to note.

......

"Gorgeous, ain't he?" Says Jane, putting a mug on my desk and taking a noisy slurp of hers. She pulls up a chair, "I ain't gunna lie, I'd pay to spend a night with Marko, he's as fit as fook, excuse me French," she says, with a cheeky chuckle.

A tall, stern looking woman marches towards us and I immediately feel a little intimidated.

"I've no doubt Jane's filling you in with all the important parts of our business," says the lady, perching her booty on the edge of my desk. She's much older than the rest of the people in the office, and dressed smartly. "Welcome Tanya, I'm Lydia, Darby's partner - as in business - not life." She offers her hand and we shake firmly. "Unfortunately Darby and I are in off-site meetings for most of the day, but I'll leave you in Jane's capable hands. We'll be back tomorrow for a work in progress meeting and a welcome tipple." She looks at Jane with a raised eyebrow, "Try to remember, you're not officially on holiday till 5.30. And make sure the lifts repaired before you leave," she says, before walking off with a confident stride.

Jane leans in to me, "She looks and sounds scary, but Lydia's a sweetie, a proper lady," she says, with a head nod and a wink.

"Thanks Jane, that's good to know." I switch on my computer and ask, "Is there anything I need to be getting on with?"

"Darby told me to just ease you in gently today. There's a word doc on your desk top which shows you all the projects that are going on and what your role in them is." She leans in again, "Other than that, let's just chill and I'll fill you in on all the fruity stuff."

"What's the fruity stuff?"

She chuckles, "Goss, as in gossip."

I'd rather get to grips with my job first before any gossip, but I keep that thought to myself, smile and open the word document.

"Oh, one important thing!" Exclaims Jane, with a sudden professional tone that makes me turn to her. "Don't use the unisex toilet on the first floor, the locks dodgy. I was in there yesterday, and guess who comes storming in while I'm sat on the throne with me knickers round me ankles?" She asks.

I shake me head, "I have no clue," I answer.

She slaps my knee hard, "Bleeding Marko. I was mortified! Thank god I wasn't doing a tom-tit," she says, throwing her head back and laughing uproariously.

Taking another noisy slurp of coffee, she sighs, "I so need this holiday Tanya, I've been planning it for months," she says, in her thick cockney accent.

A text wakes up my cell phone and Jane's eyes flit to my screen saver which depicts Kade with little Kelvin, "Is that your husband?"

"Yes, it is."

"Let me see." She grabs my cell, "He's well lush, who's the kid with him?" She asks. I'm so flustered by her that I speak before I think, "That's his father," I say.

She looks at me, "You avin a laugh, the kids your husbands father? Are you on drugs, Tanya?"

I try not to show that she's beginning to irritate me. I politely take back my cell. "So who's the kid?" She asks again. Persistent is Jane.

"I meant to say, my husband is his father," I lie, pissed off that our past life is already intruding on my first day of work and muddling me up.

"Blimey, well you can't be the mother, means you would have had him when you were about twelve," she says. "Mind you, yer fella don't look much older than eighteen."

My shackles rise a little, "Look Jane, I really appreciate you settling me in, but I should get on with reading this document," I assert.

She's immediately responsive, "You're so right. You'll get used to me, I'm a right nosey old cow, cos I don't have a life of me own," she says, laughing in a self-deprecating way.

As she walks back to her desk, I feel kinda bad for being curt with her.

......

My first email pings in, it's from Marko: Hi Tanya. Hope you're not too overwhelmed by Jane, she's a sweet girl, just a little lonely. Can you confirm receipt of this mail?

Regards

Marko.

I reply: Hi Marko. This confirms receipt of email. And Jane's been very welcoming.

Regards

Tanya.

His reply: Great, You're up and running. Catch you later.

Regards

Marko.

......

Ooh - I'm off - my first work email convo as a working girl in London: awesome.

I settle into my booth and check all the programmes on my computer. I'm fairly conversant in most of them, thanks to a crash course from Kade; and I'm sure I'll get proficient in them on the job.

I think I'm going to like it at Darby & Associates.

......

As I'm perusing my computer I listen in to the low level conversations of my co-workers. They're mostly discussing their weekends and the working week ahead.

But it doesn't take long before I hear the first murmurings of what Kade has christened The Sinister.

A guy's voice, "Did you see those new toys, I think they're called imps, in Tesco's on Friday, they were brilliant."

A girl replies, "Yeah, those puppet things. I thought they were a bit creepy."

"I suppose they were, but you know every kid's gonna be wanting one for Christmas," says the guy.

Jane stand up and joins in, excited, "They're amazing, I'm getting a girl one for me niece. You can only get em in store yer know. Not available online and ebay's done a deal that yer can't sell or buy on there, either. Such a clever piece of marketing it is," she shouts over the office.

"Thanks for that Jane, now button it, some of us have got work to do and aren't in the holiday zone. Oh, and make sure you get the lift fixed before you disappear," says the guy.

......

Once I'm sure all talk of The Sinister is over, I stop recording on my cell and send the sound file onto my brother, Tony.

Sadly, I have two jobs to do at Darby & Associates: the legitimate one, and the covert information gathering that may help uncover The Sinister and locate Lucinda.

......

I feel quite elated as we approach 5.30. My first day has been real regular and apart from the short 'imp' conversation I'm happy to say it's been uneventful.

Lunch was great, I've met most of the staff and they all seem nice. I got no downers from anyone, no suspicions, nothing to report or send to Tony for analysis (except for the recording.)

......

Kade has texted me and is coming to the office to meet me after work. He's so cute; I know he's coming to check out the guys, what he calls his competition. He's so open about his jealous streak.

Because I felt a little bad about being curt with Jane earlier in the day, I've asked her to come and meet Kade and we'll go for coffee before she goes off on holiday. She really is a sweet lady.

......

Just as I'm clearing my desk an email pings in from Jane, she's copied in Marko: Hi both. Come to reception, I'm waiting.

......

"You've probably noticed how needy and clingy Jane is," says Marko, as he accompanies me toward reception. "So how's your first day been?" He asks, with a sincere interest. "Real good, I didn't do much, just a couple a picture searches for the creative department," I reply. He smiles, "They're easing you in gently, enjoy the honeymoon period while it lasts," he says.

......

"I knew she'd swan off on holidays without getting the lift fixed." says Marko. He looks around impatiently, "Where is she?" He asks.

Just as I observe Marko getting irritated by her no show, her voice rings out from somewhere above us, loud and perky, "Hiya. Orrr, thanks for coming to say goodbye, I know yer gonna miss me loads. But I so need this holiday. Goodbye - I'm off to heaven!"

Marko shakes his head and smirks, "She's a complete nutter."

The elevator door pings open, "She did get it fixed, I feel bad for dissing her now," says Marko, guiltily.

But the elevator's empty.

A sudden whooshing sound alerts us toward the open lift shaft, and then a loud dull thud is preceded by silence.

Shocked silence.

Marko reels from the sight, spins around and plunges his face into my shoulder.

The sudden sound of the alarm screeches through the building, causing Marko to burrow into me, child like. Feeling instinctively maternal, and aware he's un-used to sights like this, I hold him tight in a protective embrace.

I stare in front of me, with wide unblinking eyes. Ordinary is over,

Jane's corpse sways in the lift space as her legs violently smack the sides of the elevator, dancing to their deathly throes. The noose bites tight into her snapped neck and her head hangs alarmingly to the side, while her engorged tongue emerges from her mouth like a giant, purple slug.

I hold Marko into me as his body heaves and undulates with acute shock.

A sudden thumping over rides the sound of Jane's swaying corpse. I look to my right and see Kade peering through a glass panel of the automatically locked door. Confusion, disappointment and hurt cloud his face as he mouths, "What's going on here?"

I point to the lift shaft, but realize the horror that hangs there is not in his field of vision. I watch as Kade speed types into his cell and realize I've made an error: my cell, I've left it unattended on my desk.

Leading Marko back into the office and placing him on a chair while trying to appear nonchalant, I race to my desk - my cell isn't there!

Sprinting back to reception - Kade isn't there. He's left. I know he's misread what he saw, of course he would, why wouldn't he?

My frustration flourishes. I know how, and what Kade will feel when I don't reply to my cell. Shoot - my head's spinning.

But I take a deep breath; he'll be fine when I explain to him later. I just need to get away from this situation. I want back home.

......

We are in lock down.

The place is sealed off.

I'm not allowed speak with my colleagues.

......

A Policeman and Policewoman walk towards my booth. "Are you Mrs Tanya Kendal, previously Miss Tanya Lebowski?" Asks the male officer. "Yes, I am," I reply. He hands me a pen and paper, "Can you write your signature on this, please?" He asks.

"Why?"

His response is firm, "Just do as I ask, Mrs Kendal!"

Aware everyone in the office is watching and listening, I scribble my signature and hand it to him. He in turn hands it to his colleague who promptly walks away with it.

......

When the female officer returns, she nods her head at her colleague and says, "Affirmative."

She takes my arm and lifts me up off my chair, "Can you come with us Mrs Kendal.

......

As I'm led through the office, I see every face stare at me with questions and suspicion in their eyes. My face burns up and I avert my stare from theirs, knowing my aversion will be perceived as some kind of guilt, but I can't look at them.

As we pass an ashen looking Marko, I catch his eye and he says, "She didn't even flinch when it happened. She even stared, like she'd seen it all before," he says, with incredulity and a hint of accusation in his soft tone

......

Once in the quiet of the reception area the male officer speaks, "Miss Kendal, I'm afraid we need to take you into custody as we have evidence that links you to the death of the recently deceased, Jane Bruton," he says, with authority.

I'm incredulous, "Evidence, what evidence? I don't know her, I only met her today."

The female officer looks distressed and says, "It's the suicide letter that's been recovered from her corpse."

I can't help but jump in, "She mentioned me, in her suicide letter?"

The male officer is blunt, "No. It wasn't her suicide letter. It was your suicide letter, written to your husband: Kade Kendal..."