Very slowly, Steph moved off the bed then stood up and crept across the room. She put her ear close to the door, trying to hear any other sounds. Carefully she turned the lock and, squeezing the handle, took a deep breath and then snatched the door open, hoping to catch the eavesdropper.

There was no one there. She looked up and down the hallway. Empty. As she looked down to the end of the hall again, she could see a light on in the communal bathroom. She gave a sigh of relief. She’d probably just heard another member of staff getting up to use the bathroom.

Steph closed the door. She was about to lock it, when something made her change her mind. Patiently she waited, listening for the sound of the bathroom being vacated. She didn’t have to wait long before she heard the door open and then close, followed by footsteps coming down the hall.

Steph opened the door and looked out.

‘Oh!’ She let out a small cry of surprise at the last person she’d expected to be there.

‘Everything all right, Steph?’ asked Pru Sinclair.

‘Yes. Sorry. I … wasn’t …’ she faltered.

‘Wasn’t expecting to see me?’ Pru smiled. ‘No, I don’t suppose you were. I was just checking the bathroom. Someone reported the tap to be dripping. I thought I’d have a look before sending Maintenance on a wild-goose chase. Looks like it just needed turning off properly.’

‘Oh, I see,’ said Steph, not really sure what to say.

‘Anyway, I’ll be off now. Bye.’

Steph closed her bedroom door after watching Pru head off down the stairs. How odd that she should come up here herself.

She didn’t dwell on it any further, the lure of the remaining documents on the SpyCloud being much greater. Steph made sure the door was locked and this time she plugged her earphones in and settled down to watch the next clip.

‘I’ve done something very stupid tonight, very stupid indeed.

This time the Elizabeth sounded more concerned. She was speaking quietly with a nervousness that hadn’t been there before.