Dorothy Smith knocked on Leonora’s door as usual. They travelled to work together. Her fat face, under a dark brown wig, was homely and friendly. When her knock was not answered, she frowned. She banged on the door again, harder this time. Still no answer.

Surely Leonora had not gone already? They had travelled to work together for over two years and they were on the ten till six shift. She looked at her watch. Nine thirty-five. She was early, so where was Leonora? Maybe she’d popped up to the shops. She sat on the flight of stairs that led down to the first floor and ground level, her heavy bag on her knees. She smoked a cigarette and checked her watch again. Nearly ten to ten. Leonora was cutting it a bit fine, they’d be late. She ground the cigarette stub with her boot. Then she heard footsteps coming up the stairs. She stood up, a half smile on her face to greet her friend, but it was Leonora’s next-door neighbour.

‘Hello, love. Have you seen Leonora this morning?’

The other woman shrugged. ‘No.’

‘I wonder what could have happened to her? I’ve been waiting here for ages.’

‘Maybe she overslept?’

The woman was opening her front door.

‘No. I banged the door down.’

‘Sure it’s not her day off?’

‘We always have the same days off. I don’t like it. If Leonora was called away sudden like, she would have rung me. She knows I come out of me way to walk to work with her.’

The neighbour put her shopping bags down heavily in her hall and pulled the keys from the door.

‘I’ve got a key. She gave it to me when she got locked out that time. Just in case it happened again. Cost her over forty quid to get all new locks. Bloody scandalous, I say.’

Dorothy nodded in agreement.

‘Do you think we should let ourselves in like? In case she’s had an accident or she’s ill or something.’

‘I’ll knock one more time.’

Neither woman liked the thought of letting themselves into Leonora’s house unless they had to.

Dorothy banged on the front door again, the sound echoing through the block of flats.

Nothing.

She opened the letter box and called through it. Then listened in case Leonora was in bed ill or something.

She straightened up.

‘The telly’s on.’

The neighbour slowly opened the front door. Inside, the hall was quite dark. All the doors in the flat led off it and as they were closed there was no light from the windows. Dorothy switched on the light. Both sniffed and stared at one another. There was a slightly pungent smell beneath the heavier smell of lavender polish. The two women felt uneasy as they walked to Leonora’s bedroom. Dorothy opened the door.

‘The bed’s made.’ Her voice was puzzled.

Leonora’s neighbour stood by the front door. She had a terrible feeling.