The back of my neck prickled, and my legs came to such an abrupt stop, but momentum carried me forward and I smacked onto the pavement. My chin hit the concrete, but my hands saved the rest of my face from the same fate. Despite my collision with the ground, I kept the man in view. He glanced around, not appearing to notice me flat on the pavement.

I stood up, looking into the horizon, he was walking again. Who was that ahead of him? Was he following someone? I shuddered and shook my head, my vision blurring. Was I really seeing this? He stopped, and I flattened myself to the side of a Range Rover, watching him look up and down the street numerous times. What was he searching for? He raised his arms and slipped on a hat before stepping into the road, out of sight.

My breathing quickened. I had to move. Was it him? Palpitations rippled through my chest. Scrambling to my feet, I strained my eyes and stood on tiptoes, searching for him above the line of parked cars in the distance, sparks shooting around my legs. He’d disappeared. I ran, making strides to catch up to where I saw him cross the road. A couple of cars passed as I approached, and I slowed to a walk, creeping along the side of parked cars.

I wiped the sweat from my eyes with trembling fingers. I could see him again. He was standing in front of something crouched on the ground. Or was it someone? Cornered against a fence? Brown timber ran along the side of a driveway, a vehicle sized gap in between the houses, the grassy trail leading to the garages of the properties on the right-hand side. A perfect spot not to be noticed. I stood, frozen, yards away. He had his back to me. Not as tall as I remembered, five foot six, maybe seven, but he was stocky. Was it him? His head turned slightly. It wasn’t a hat at all, but the balaclava. Fuck! It was him. I’d found him. Who else was there?

I fought the urge to run and crouched down on the ground. I had no way to disguise myself. What if he recognised me? Another car went past. Oblivious to what was going on just out of sight of the road. I didn’t have my cap, but I was wearing a hoody. I pulled it over my head, tucking in my hair.