Ruth sat on her sofa, in her cottage. She was considering the meaning of the broach Harry had given her. Was it just an item of jewellery? Was it something more than that? It felt like it had been a consolation prize, but she couldn't be sure of Harry's thoughts and motivations.

Perhaps, she thought to herself, marriage was only something that she thought about. He was in a position of high authority; could he really afford a social or personal life?

She looked up suddenly, her thoughts broken by a sound coming from the kitchen. She knew it would just be her cat getting up to mischief but she went to check anyway.

The hallway was dark, she hadn't bothered to put on the light when she came in. She needed the dark to make it cosy and safe, but now she was regretting it.

Ruth arrived at the kitchen door, as a hand was roughly shoved against her face. She felt cloth and smelled the distinctive odour of chloroform. The world went dark, slowly, as she wasted precious energy struggling in vain.

Light fell on the garden wall, where Ruth's cat was sat, looking in at the disturbing scene. It could do nothing to help, even if it understood what was going on, and later, when her disappearance was noticed, it could do nothing to aid the search. The cat licked itself, and then fell asleep.