We met at the company five years earlier and dated for two years before getting married, and we had a two year old daughter at the time. Stacy had jus... recently stopped taking her birth-control pills because we were trying to get her pregnant with our second child. Stacy was an architect in the design group, and I was a civil engineer in the construction group, so we did not have a direct reporting relationship that would be in conflict with our human resources policies. I was out of the office. ‘It’s a long walk, do you need a lift?’ ‘That would be nice thank you.’ I climbed into the car. ‘I’m Natalie Parish, I’m a Social Worker.’ She said as I clicked the seat belt into its buckle. ‘And I’m Tom Cowley, hardened criminal. I’m pleased to meet you Natalie, I think.’ ‘How long were you inside?’ ‘Five years, give or take a week or two.’ ‘What were you in for? If you don’t mind me asking.’ ‘I don’t mind, it makes no difference now anyway. I was charged with Manslaughter.’ ‘But you. " And, pray, how do you know that?" It ought to do so, at least." Well, let us be sure of that." Bertuccio sighed, and went on first; the stairs did, indeed, lead to the garden. At the outer door the steward paused. "Go on, Monsieur Bertuccio," said the count. But he who was addressed stood there, stupefied, bewildered, stunned; his haggard eyes glanced around, as if in search of the traces of some terrible event, and with his clinched hands he seemed striving to shut out horrible. You did some work for me nearly a year ago and... ' She glanced at the paper on which she had written her notes.Before she could start again, he spoke, 'But I do remember you, Mrs. Grayson. I put up a shelf for you. And I remember you paying me. I do indeed.'As his meaning registered, she could almost feel again the smack she had given him.She fought down the panic and said as calmly as she could, ' I think there was a misunderstanding, Mr. Alexander. I realise now that I should have taken time.