Chapter 1
Sarah hated mornings. More specifically, she hated that very first moment when she opened her eyes, and realised she was alone in the bed. After twelve months, she felt as though she should be used to it by now. She wasn't.
They had been so right together; everyone had said so. Even Sarah's father had liked David, and her father didn't like anyone. They had met at university. Sarah had taken Psychology; David had read Mathematics. After university, David had walked straight into a high paid job with a software company. They had moved into a small apartment a few miles from David's offices. Sarah's job search had met with less success; it didn't help that she'd had no idea what she wanted to do. One day, purely on a whim, she had applied for a job in the admin office at 'Milners', a local company which made fittings for the plumbing trade. Three years later, she was still working there. The job was pretty mundane, but the people made up for it.
Milners was one of the town's oldest businesses, and had at one time been its biggest employer. Times had changed. At its peak the company had employed almost six hundred people; the majority on the shop floor. Today, the company employed a quarter of that number, and there were constant rumours the business was in serious financial trouble.
There were four people in the admin office; Sarah, Jody, Kathy and Geoff. The work was mundane, and not in the least demanding. Sarah knew she should look for something better, but inertia had set in.
“Morning Sarah.” At thirty one, Jody was five years older than Sarah. Their desks faced one another. Jody had shown Sarah the ropes when she first started at Milners'.
“Morning. How are the kids?”
“Andy's got another cold.”
“Didn't he just have one?”
“He's always got one. And when he hasn't, you can bet Sally has. I reckon I'm keeping the tissue industry in business single-handedly. How was your weekend?”
“Okay thanks.” Sarah managed an unconvincing smile.
“Did you go out?”
Sarah hesitated.
“You didn't, did you? You promised you would. You can't keep yourself locked away.”
“Maybe next weekend.”
*******
“Something's going on,” Geoff was the supervisor in the admin office. At least, that was his job title. The three women ran rings around him most of the time. He didn't seem to mind, and the work always got done on time.
“You're paranoid.” Jody was making tea for everyone. The vending machine had been on the blink for over a week, so it was back to tea bags and a kettle. “You said the same last week when you saw the man in the blue suit. He turned out to be the local Health & Safety officer.”
“This time, I'm sure. There's been a stream of managers in and out of Leeroy's office. Something's going on – mark my words.”
Arthur Leeroy was the latest in a string of CEOs who had been tasked with turning the company around. So far, he'd had no more success than his predecessors.
“Thanks.” Sarah took the cup of tea from Jody.
“Hey Kathy,” Jody called across the office. “Guess who stayed in again this weekend?”
“Sarah! You promised you were going to go out.” Kathy was the oldest of the three women. When Sarah had first joined Milners, she hadn't known what to make of Kathy. She was fifty if she was a day, but she dressed more like a teenager - short skirts, tight tops and gaudy make-up. For her age, Kathy had a great figure, but even so she couldn't get away with the clothes she wore. Kathy didn't give a rat's arse about what anyone thought or said. Sarah had never met anyone more comfortable in their own skin.
“You will have to come out with me.” Kathy dunked a biscuit into her tea. She had gone for lime green lipstick today.
“I don't think I could keep up with you Kath,” Sarah said. She wasn't joking.
*******
“What did I tell you?” Geoff pushed in between Jody and Kathy. “Something's happening – I
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