‘Great.’ Karene smiled. She felt irritated by Caroline’s assumption that she would look after the children. She took her phone from her bag and checked if their mother had texted her to ask her, but there were no messages.

They disembarked in St Albans and reached the bus stop just as the bus arrived. It was almost empty so they were able to get three seats together at the front. Jake and Sophie talked about a film. Karene checked the text message with the details of the journey. They had eight stops to go. And there was a family pub around the corner from Caroline’s so they could eat there.

She was pleased that she’d taken the kids to see Harry. She could tell he’d really enjoyed seeing them. He loved being a father. She’d never wanted children but when she saw Harry with Sophie and Jake part of her wished they were her children too. She imagined she would have enjoyed family life with Harry.

‘There’s Katy and Poppy,’ said Sophie rising a little from her seat and craning to look out of the side window of the bus. Two girls walked along the pavement deep in conversation. They didn’t notice Sophie waving.

‘Are they friends from school?’ Karene said but she didn’t hear Sophie’s answer. She had twisted in her seat to see Sophie’s friends and was now facing the people sitting at the back of the bus.

Which included the man from the train.

Karene fumbled in her bag while trying to look calm. When she found her phone, she dialled Jameson’s number. It went to voicemail. She turned her head a little and cupped her hand around her mouth so she couldn’t be heard. ‘Marcus, it’s Karene. Can you call me back as soon as you get this.’ He’d asked if she wanted him to arrange for one of his associates to accompany them, but Karene had worried it might spook the kids. Maybe he’d done that anyway.

But what if he hadn’t?

They were still six stops away from Caroline’s and even then, there would be no one in. She kept checking her phone but it was black and silent. She called Jameson again as the bus stopped next to a large group of people who snaked onboard. Karene listened to Jameson’s voicemail for a second time and then a third time. She needed to call the police. But she couldn’t risk this guy overhearing. She glanced back again. He stared straight ahead as though he had no idea she was there. He was seven rows back and between them were half a dozen people standing.

‘Get off the bus,’ she said, placing one hand on Sophie’s arm and her other on Jake’s back. ‘Now,’ she said when they hesitated. ‘Get off the bus now.’