"That, young sir, will be a pleasure", said Sarah with a smile.

Shopping was a pleasure too with Ralph. He just followed her tall and strong wherever she went and there were plenty of small shops to visit and all were stocked up with local produce. Sarah had to remind herself that she was only buying for herself when she automatically went into family shopping mode.

The thought made her sad. When would she be able to go back to a normal life again. With Sam's disk firmly under their control, surely, she must be in the end game. She hoped so.

They arrived back at the house to the sound of the telephone ringing. It was Peter. He sounded annoyed.

"I'm on my way down to see how you're looking after my house. Do you mind?"

"It's your house", said Sarah flatly.

Somehow the thought of having him around dampened her spirits. She didn't know how to relate to him. On one hand he had probably been instrumental in the destruction of her investment and employment.

On the other, he'd provided her with a hearth and home and seemed to genuinely care for her. Perhaps he deserved the benefit of the doubt and any additional ally in the face of the incoming Ferret Face and the youth from hell could do no harm.

An hour later Sarah and Ralph had just finished the trout and new potatoes when there was the sound of a large car outside. It was Peter's BMW. He eased himself out of the car stiffly after the long drive from London and casually laid an arm over Sarah's shoulders as they walked back up the drive to the house. He raised his eyebrows when he saw Ralph's 12 bore rifle in the corner of the room.

"Just been doing a bit of conservation", smiled Ralph.

"It looks a bit permanent, does that. Perhaps I should be charging you rent!" Peter didn't seem to want him around.

He leaned against the sink, cutting off the light from the window and making the room suddenly darker.

"Ralph's a friend and I'd be happier if he stayed a while", said Sarah.

Peter turned around, paced about a bit and now towered above Ralph.

"It's his funeral."

Ralph looked up in surprise at the comment, just in time to see the stock of the rifle descend towards his face. The blow caught him on the forehead and he slumped to the floor without a sound.

Sarah was not so silent and it was not until Peter backhanded her across her face that her screaming came to an abrupt end. She too slumped to the floor dazed.

From that moment, for Sarah events went into fast forward. She heard another car arrive outside and then stared in disbelief as Ferret Face, Terry and Sam entered the kitchen.

"There's a cellar downstairs. Put the boyfriend down there for now", said Peter authoritatively to Ferret Face and Terry. Ferret face and Terry dragged Ralph's body across the floor and unceremoniously dumped him down the stairs and locked the door.

Sam looked very much the worse for wear. He stood slightly behind Peter and pointed querulously at Sarah.

"You were right, it is the same person. She's the thief that took my computer equipment with all my work on it and drugged me".

"And you're now going to hand it back, aren't you dear", interposed Ferret face nastily. This was his sort of terrain and he felt at home now.

"She's also the bitch that knocked me out of the window", added Terry.