I arrived home from work late, although still quite early on the Thursday evening and was already really looking forward to the weekend. Tomorrow was Easter Friday and I was off for the whole Bank Holiday long weekend until Tuesday. I was not even on call as I'd swapped with colleagues to make me free so that I could pay a surprise visit back home. My dad and sister were still living together and I knew they had no real plans and would be delighted to see me when I arrived in the morning.

 

My social activities in the area were pretty scarce as I was so new to the region and the demands of the new job had taken a lot out of me. I planned on doing something about that at some point, I'd taken a look online at book groups meeting in the area for instance, but had not actually done anything solid about it as yet.

 

I was feeling a bit tight after sitting in the consulting room all day and quite fancied going out for a run to loosen up. Maybe to be followed by a glass of wine to help the process on. I'd not have too much though, as I wasn't a heavy drinker and I was planning to set off fairly early in the morning in the car to my dad's home.

 

I swapped my smart trouser suit and blouse for a pair of joggers and a long sleeved exercise top. I might not have had a lot on top but still didn't want it bouncing around, and so had also switched from a regular to a sports bra. My hair was already plaited so I just left it as it was. It usually stayed like that or was put it into a pony-tail when running. The weather outside was just the way I like it when I run. Not cold exactly but not too warm either - cool enough that I wouldn't be sweating too much as I moved along. I grabbed a water bottle, stuffed my spare key into my zip trouser pocket so that it wouldn't bounce out and get lost, and was off.

 

The circuit that was becoming my usual one was just over 5 miles long. I'd do some stretches on leaving the entrance of the flat, or just inside if it was raining outside - although I would only continue outdoors if the rain was light. To start I'd have a nice light jog heading down to the local park. Once there I could go off road and, depending on my mood, would either go around the edge of the park on the grass a few times or maybe switch onto the schools running track and do laps.

 

Once off-road I'd pick up my pace and push myself a little until I could feel it on my legs and in my lungs. The whole circuit and then back up the road home took me close to an hour each time and left me feeling nicely tired. Ready for a bath with candles, maybe even some bubbles, and that glass of wine before a light meal a little later in the evening.

 

As I got back to the block entrance I could see a man there who seemed to be struggling with the door. He was wearing a dark suit and standing next to a big suitcase on wheels. I guessed that he was probably a lawyer or something similar as he was carrying a long thin brown envelope that I associated with that profession having only recently had a will drawn up, as a freebie on my legal fees when buying the house, and it being handed to me in a similar piece of stationery.

 

"Can I help at all?" I said as I came to a halt. I couldn't exactly get into the building with him in the way in any case and might as well be polite.

 

He was startled a little by me coming up behind him and half-turned to see who it was. "Hi, yeah thanks. I'm having trouble, with the door. I buzzed up to the Mitchell's on the top floor and they hit the release button for this door but nothing happened." He smiled nicely at me, just seeming to notice that I was an attractive woman even if a bit dishevelled at the moment. "I rang again and they released again, but no joy. Seems that the mechanism is stuck or something."

 

I looked up at him and smiled back. Tall, dark-haired and handsome. Pleasant attitude, nice smile, well dressed, early 30s? " I can get you in," I said, "I live opposite them on the top floor". I unzipped my pocket and removed the key as he stepped back out of the way and picked up his suitcase.

 

We chatted pleasantly about nothing as we went up the stairs, him following me slowly as the case seemed to be quite heavy. I couldn't help wondering if he was looking at my backside as was climbed, hopefully looking good in my joggers. We got to the top and I pointed out the Mitchell's door to him, then flushed a little feeling silly as it was quite obvious and he could hardly have missed it if he'd tried.

 

"Have a good evening" I said warmly, then crossed the hallway and unlocked my door. As I did so I felt a huge weight hit me from behind that caused me to stumble through the door, landing in my hallway on all fours.

 

He must have jumped straight after me and hit me as I was about to go through. He quickly entered my flat, closing the door firmly behind him and turning the Yale lock. He slotted the security chain into place and then turned back to me as I was just standing back up. I was grabbed by the throat and shoved off balance against the wall to the right.