Typically, the piece I was looking for was found in the last paper. Page five featured a half-page spread with a large e-fit, dominated by the balaclava. She hadn’t got the lips right, his were thinner and his mouth smaller. The eyes were similar, but Ian’s were remarkable by their lack of depth. Their topaz blue colour, although attractive, was flat and lifeless. It didn’t look like Ian. I imagined him cutting out the article and adding it to a scrapbook, sneering at the police incompetence. Was he the sort to take mementos? Ian hadn’t taken anything of mine. Not yet anyway.

I hoped I would see him at the gym later, I needed to start moving things along. Although I’d promised to be home for seven so my workout would be shorter today. Perhaps I should invite him? We could double-date: ‘Hi Ben, Amy – this is Ian, my rapist boyfriend I’ve just started seeing.’ It would be amusing if it wasn’t true.

When I arrived at the gym, Ian was already there, deep in conversation with Ahmed by the weights. I smiled and waved, and he grinned back, giving me a wink. I saw a playful nudge from Ahmed and could almost hear him being pumped for information. I ignored them and got on the treadmill to run, choosing the one nearest to them so I could keep them in sight. I never ran with headphones, but the noise from the treadmill drowned out everything. The rhythmic beat was soothing. Dinner with Amy and Ben was fast approaching, and I was sulking about the whole thing. I hated doing things I didn’t want to do, but I owed it to Ben to try. Ian walking past, winking, broke my concentration. I almost tripped over my own feet. He got on beside me and seconds later we were jogging in time.

‘You’re early today,’ he shouted over the hum of the machines.

‘I have dinner plans.’ I was jogging too fast to talk but pride stopped me from slowing. If he could do it then so could I.

‘Oh?’ he said, raising an eyebrow, a playful smirk on his lips.

‘My flatmate and his new girlfriend.’ Although she wasn’t new any more.

‘Want rescuing?’

‘I wouldn’t put you through it. Actually, you never did tell me where you got my address?’ It was a safe environment to ask again. He didn’t intimidate me here.

‘I couldn’t possibly reveal my source.’