The police promised that they would be keeping an eye on the flat all night but if it wasn’t for Al, sleeping in Tom’s tiny room at the end of the corridor, Sarah’s dreams would have turned into nightmares. Al had checked the laptop over for her, and agreed with the police theory that Marta had dumped the laptop because she couldn’t get into it. Nothing seemed to have been tampered with and it worked perfectly when she set it up on the table. There was a long email from Millie. She said that she was fine, and that she would be home by the end of the week – and that she was bringing a surprise, but more than that she could not say at the moment – just that Sarah was to stop worrying, and to tell Oliver not to be such an arse. Al roared with laughter when Sarah read out the email.

There were more flat details from Roseanne, but Sarah found that she wasn’t really interested in looking at them now. Once she was satisfied that the laptop was fine, she made some coffee, dug out her random-buy biscuits of the day before, and sat down to watch some TV with Al. He was happier watching programmes on the comedy channel that she loved, rather than insisting on anything more essentially macho, or the exceptionally right-on nature programmes that Andy had been obsessed with. In fact, she thought, as she got into bed that night, she was enjoying Al’s company at least as much as she enjoyed the company of Millie or Jude, and maybe even a little bit more? She fell asleep smiling for the second night on the trot.

She slept too soundly in the end, and it was a good job that Al had set his alarm, because Sarah never heard hers go off. The smell of toast and coffee from the kitchen catapulted her out of bed and into the bathroom. It was nice though, sitting there having breakfast with Al, her hair up in a towel, and her voluminous dressing gown wrapped around her. By the time she’d fed a purring Buster and got dressed, Al was out of the shower too, ready and waiting. Although they were going in his car, he insisted on checking Sarah’s just in case Marta was hanging around the car park. There was no sign of her at the studio and as there was no filming that morning, Al felt sure that if she did turn up, she would be spotted by security straight away.

When Sarah got to her office there was a huge bouquet of flowers propped up against her desk. ‘To Sarah, with gratitude from Oliver and Elena’ was written on the card and although she had pushed Friday’s events to the back of her mind, she felt reassured that it was one less thing to worry about. Word about Marta had spread through the building – not because Al had gossiped but due to the higher than usual level of security required. Marta’s appearance was also the main topic of the Monday morning meeting, together with a stern warning to all the staff about giving out personal details to anyone. Natasha’s friends were particularly apologetic, but also curious about what Marta had done. Oliver waited until they had finished giving Sarah the third degree, then he sat down beside her.

“Sorry.” he said. “I was a total arse on Friday. It’s a good job you were being professional. From what I heard your weekend didn’t exactly improve from then on.”

“It’s okay. Elena explained. How is your mum doing?”

“Better, much better thanks. I suppose I ought to stop lecturing everyone on the importance of good communication, shouldn’t I?”

Sarah looked at Oliver and grinned.

“I wouldn’t want to do your job for love nor money, Oliver, and I would never dream of telling you how to do it.  I see my job as providing the support and advice required after people have been on the show.  I’m not as experienced as Millie in this line of work, but I’m learning!”

“You’re doing fine Sarah.  We all miss Millie, and yes, she knows how to handle my temper tantrums almost as well as Elena does.  Any news about when she’ll be back?”

“End of the week according to her most recent email – and she’s bringing a surprise but won’t give any other details.  I have a feeling that Tom may be on the verge of meeting his father at last.  Of course, she could just be bringing a suitcase full of weird and wonderful clothes and ornaments that she’s fallen in love with.”

Oliver looked serious for a moment.

“This Marta woman.  Did we do all we could to get rid of her?”

“We did, unfortunately Natasha undid all the good work by giving out my address when Marta called the studio. I know that her actions were motivated by spite, and a desire to get her own back on me, but it does rather confirm that Natasha has neither common sense nor the ability to predict the outcomes of her own actions.  Daryl tells me that Natasha wants to apologise to me in person, but I don’t really want to go down that route until Marta is found and back in Holland. I asked the police to notify Peter and his friends about Marta; if she can’t get to me, then she is likely to start on them.  The police already had Peter and Ali’s details on file from the previous incidents, so I didn’t have to breach confidence.”

“Natasha is just a typical example of how the children of well-to-do families are endowed with the belief that they are entitled to advantages denied to other people.  She will not be coming back, and this latest incident underlines the fact that, whatever her mother thinks, Natasha does not have the knowledge or maturity to work in this kind of setting.  More ammo for the legal department anyway, and I hear from the Chief Execs department that they are glad to see the back of Mummy.  She spent more time out of the office on holidays, and weekends in the country than actually doing her job.”

“Shame.  Natasha’s Dad seemed a really nice man; with a more realistic appreciation of his daughter’s abilities than his wife.”

There was a tap on the door and Oliver got up to answer it.  Al was there, and looked a little abashed to find Oliver there as well.

“Sorry to interrupt, but the police have been on the phone, and want to have a word with Sarah.”

“Of course, and thank you for going above and beyond the call of duty to rescue Sarah this weekend, Al.  See you both later.”

Sarah waited until the door was closed and gently punched Al in the arm.

“I’m hoping that your actions this weekend had nothing to do with our professional roles, and more to do with a friendship that I am growing to value more each day.”

Al rubbed his arm in mock pain.

“We are friends, aren’t we Sarah? I understand if that’s all it can ever be, but…”

“Al.  After ten years in a safe but extremely sterile partnership, I am something of a beginner at relationships. Despite the threat of Marauding Marta hanging over us this weekend, I’ve had a wonderful time with you and your family, and I look forward to more – if that’s okay with you?”

“Do you mean what I think you mean?” he asked, blushing again.

Sarah stood up on tiptoes, put her hands on Al’s shoulders, and kissed him.  No friendly peck on the cheek this time, but a full-blown kiss that was returned with just as much enthusiasm. He pulled her close to him, and even to Sarah’s rather naïve experience of kissing and all that went with it, she could tell that Al was extremely interested in taking their relationship on to the next step.

“I’d like to continue this,” said Sarah breaking free. “But I am well aware that there will be runners and researchers needing this room at any moment.   Do the police really want to talk to me?”

Looking stunned, speechless, but rather pleased, Al nodded his head and opened the door. Sarah, feeling a strange and rather wonderful sensation in the pit of her stomach, followed him down the corridor to the empty lift. As the doors closed, Al took Sarah in his arms, and gave her another kiss that sent shivers down her spine. The recorded voice warned them that they were about to be on the ground floor, and they broke apart reluctantly, trying not to look too guilty and flushed when the lift doors opened.  There was no one to see them anyway, but Sarah still smiled broadly all the way to the security office.

Al phoned the police, and put Sarah on the phone once he’d found the detective who was dealing with the case.  Marta was still at large, but hadn’t been seen near Peter’s address nor home of his friends.

“She seems to have fixated on you, Sarah,” he said. “which means that there is a real risk that she may try again.  We are recommending that you either go to another address, or that Al continues to stay at the flat with you.  Whichever you decide, let us know where you are.  Al can give us any details.  He’s a good bloke – too good to be babysitting that Standish fool.”

“Not Oliver’s greatest fan then?” said Sarah.

“Trash TV.  Don’t get me wrong, the work that you do helps some of those people afterwards, but doing dirty laundry on live TV causes more harm than Standish realises.  Can’t say much at the moment, but there’s something brewing that might put an end to the show anyway.  That’s a need to know right now, okay?  Just stay safe and keep an eye out for large Dutch women! Good job you’ve got Al to rely on.”

Sarah put the phone down and mulled over what the detective had said.  She repeated it for Al’s benefit, and whilst he smiled at the prospect of keeping Sarah safe, his expression changed when he heard the second part of their conversation.

He nodded his head.

“Rumour has it that one of the people who was on the show last year committed suicide recently.  He failed the lie detector test about cheating on his wife.  I’ve never seen someone so adamant that the test was wrong.  Oliver gave him short shrift, and said that the guy would just have to man up, and admit that he’d been lying.  This was before you started, and I have a feeling that Millie was away with Tom for a couple of days while he went through the admission procedure at Cambridge. None of us felt that happy about it. Lie detectors aren’t fool proof, and the guy was pretty nervous throughout.”

“Let me guess.  Natasha was involved in this somewhere?”

“She shouldn’t have been, but Oliver and Jenny were under pressure from Mummy, and said that Natasha needed to get as much experience as possible.  It depends on what the Coroner says; he or she may feel that the guy had other problems that contributed to his taking his own life, on the other hand, Oliver has made enemies in many areas.  There is a possibility that they might shut down the show if there is too much adverse publicity.  In which case…”

“We could be looking for other jobs.  If that happens, can I come and help you renovate the cottage?”

Al looked stunned.

“Are you serious?”

Sarah punched him in the arm again.

“I have a great deal to learn about life outside social work and needy clients.  It’s time that I discovered what I want, and what suits me.  Talking of which, tonight?  Your place or mine?  Don’t look so shocked Al, the detective said I shouldn’t be alone in case Marta turns up.”

“Yes.  Of course.  Your choice?”

Al was blushing again, and Sarah decided that it was an endearing trait, but some straight-talking was needed.

“I worried about you in Tom’s little bed last night, so can I come and stay at yours?  You said that you had a spare bedroom that was decorated; we could pop into the flat first, feed Buster, and get me some clothes and stuff for tomorrow.  I know that I’m intruding on your space, but I felt so comfortable there yesterday.”

Al nodded vigorously.  Sarah got to her feet, had a quick look out into the corridor, and kissed him again.  He bent his knees and pulled her even closer this time, which only increased Sarah’s goosebumps.

“I’ll leave you to let the police know then,” she said reluctantly.  “I’d better get upstairs or the runners will start spreading rumours.”

“I wouldn’t want to embarrass you, Sarah.”

Sensing that this was one of the hurdles that needed to be overcome, Sarah stroked the side of Al’s face very gently.

“You could never embarrass me.  I am proud to have you as my friend, and I will be even more proud if our friendship continues to progress.  I may even generate a few rumours of my own in fact.  That way we take control of what people think and say.”

Another swift kiss, and she was gone. 

Al sat down at his desk, still feeling the warmth of her kiss and embrace.  It took a few moments before he could rally his thoughts and let the police know where he and Sarah would be spending the night.