‘No thank you,’ Becks said primly as she turned her back on Andy and reached up to a shelf to get a glass. As she did so, she couldn’t help but marvel to herself. Her explanation that she was there to get some water had arrived in her brain unbidden. She’d had no idea that she could lie so effortlessly.

But then, she’d been giving men like Andy Bishop the brush-off since she was a teenager, so she kept her back to him as she ran the tap until the water became cold. She could feel Andy appraising her as she stood there, her finger under the tap, and her body tightened in anger. Who was this man to think he could look at her like this?

She heard him stir his drink with a teaspoon, and then, before she knew it, he was at her side.

‘See you around,’ he said as he dropped his teaspoon in the sink and left the kitchenette.

Becks let out a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding. She was cross to see that the glass of water in her hand was shaking. But she knew her encounter with Andy had upset her because of how he’d behaved towards her, not because she was in his building for nefarious reasons. In fact, she realised, Andy’s manner might have shaken her, but it had also stiffened her resolve.

She moved over to the toaster that Suzie had predicted would be there, got out the two thick slices of sourdough bread from her pockets and jammed them into the machine, yanking the lever down and making sure that the heating elements inside lit up red. The bread was too thick for the slot. There was no way it was popping back up when the machine finished. For good measure, Becks twisted the dial on the side of the toaster up to its maximum setting, and with a quick glance up at the ceiling where the fire alarm was placed, a little green LED lit up to show it was working, she left at speed. Her job now was to put as much distance between herself and the jammed toaster as possible.

‘I wondered if we’d lost you,’ the receptionist said as Becks finally returned to the lobby.

‘Sorry,’ Becks said. ‘I had to wait to use the facilities.’

Again, she was surprised at how easily the lie tripped off her tongue.

‘Anyway,’ the receptionist said, already moving on. ‘Mr Bishop just came past, and I had a quick word with him. He’s finishing up some work, and he’ll be able to see you in a few minutes.’

‘Thank you,’ Becks said with a smile, and sat down. She knew that if all went well, she’d be leaving the building before then.