My mouth was completely dry, like I’d sucked up a desert. I parked the car badly behind a metallic BMW that I thought might have been Seb’s, narrowly avoiding crashing into the back, and fumbled for a cigarette, my fingers trembling with adrenaline. The girl was truly the stuff of nightmares.

I didn’t know what to do – but I was going to have to do something. My mobile made me jump as it rang in my pocket.

‘Maggie.’ It was DI Fox.

‘What a coincidence.’ My voice was as tinny and bright as a new copper penny. ‘I was about to ring you.’

‘Really? Why?’

‘About that girl, Fay Carter.’

‘What about her?’

‘I’ve just got this feeling –’ I paused, and then it plopped out, like a big dollop of cream that had been stuck for ages on a spoon. ‘I think she might be the one stalking me. She keeps turning up everywhere and she’s been slashing photos of me –’

‘I don’t think it’s her, Maggie,’ the policeman interrupted, annoyingly calm.

‘With all respect, DI Fox, I do,’ I said urgently. ‘I mean, at first I thought she was just mad, but now I’m seriously starting to think she’s bad too.’

‘She might well be both – but I don’t think she’s your stalker. ’Fraid I’ve got some bad news.’

‘You do surprise me, DI Fox.’ I took a drag so deep my cigarette practically withered.

‘We finally traced that mobile number you gave me. I’m sorry it took so long; I’d given it to my DS and she was off sick, so it got buried. Shoddy, that. I apologise.’

‘Go on, please.’ An Alsatian lolloped down the narrow pavement beside the car and Digby growled. I checked the doors were locked and pulled my coat closer, craving warmth.

‘It’s a contract phone; belongs to someone called –’ there was a slight pause, ‘Steven I. Sweeger, fictitious address. Ring any bells?’

‘Um, sort of. I mean, I don’t know him but I think he sent me some flowers.’

‘Charming.’

‘Not really. They were funereal.’

‘Right. Well, the name’s an anagram. I rang the number about half an hour ago. Did you – had you thought of doing that?’

‘Well, obviously.’ I was insulted. ‘It was the first thing I did. But no one ever answered. What does the anagram spell?’

‘It’s not very complicated. It spells, I’m afraid, Revenge is Sweet.’

I felt foolish for not working it out. ‘And did someone answer the phone?’ I whispered.

‘Yes. Someone did answer. You’re not going to like this, Maggie.’

Why did I get the feeling he was almost enjoying this?

‘Someone you know rather well. Your mate Alex Bailey.’

My gut rolled over. ‘I don’t believe it,’ I mumbled eventually. ‘I’m sure it’s that girl. She’s definitely after me.’