She could hear him get louder, closer, his feet thudding on the tarmac, the pump of his arms brushing against his jacket. Gasping, she knew he’d be on her in seconds. A few people were walking about, paying her no attention. The odd car passed by. City living. Everybody minding their own business. Greg would silence her scream in seconds. She’d fight him, though, she’d fight him like a tiger—

Kate suddenly felt a vast swoosh of air and, losing her balance, she stumbled onto the ground, stupefied with fear as a red bus mounted the pavement and came to a stop between her and Greg, taking out the wall of the adjacent building as it did so.

The driver jumped out.

Tim. Oh my God, it’s Tim.

‘Go! Go!’ he shouted, gesturing blindly up the road. She saw Greg come around the side of the bus and she ran, sweating, lungs rasping for breath, until she reached Jill’s building, then thundered up the steps and barged through the door.

‘I need . . . to see . . . Jill Pattinson,’ she gasped at a man sitting at a desk in the reception area.

‘She’s in a meeting right now,’ said the young man, taken aback at Kate’s appearance.

Kate shook her head in defiance, and, seeing him stand protectively in front of a door ahead of her marked with Jill’s name, barrelled across the room to open it.

‘Hey!’ interjected the man but she was already in. Jill was sitting behind a large, sweeping wooden desk, examining some papers in front of her.

‘Do not send me away,’ gasped Kate. ‘As I won’t go.’

Jill looked up, astonished, and then slowly pushed her glasses onto the top of her head.

‘Aren’t you that student from—’

‘Yes,’ said Kate. ‘Gloria Chapman’s class.’ She held out a sweaty hand. ‘Kate Ellis.’

Jill looked at her proffered hand and smiled politely. ‘Anil, could you please get Miss Ellis a glass of water?’ she said to the young man and he nodded and disappeared out of the room.

‘Well, this is a surprise,’ said Jill. Kate held her gaze and the two women stared at each other for a moment. Kate stood her ground, her eyes burning.

Then Jill indicated a chair on the other side of the desk. ‘You had better take a seat.’

SIXTY-THREE

Kate lowered herself into the chair. Placed her bag carefully at her feet.

‘You look . . . hot,’ said Jill.

‘I ran.’

Jill nodded. Waited for Kate to speak. ‘How can I help?’ she prompted.

Kate was about to open her mouth when there was a short rap on the door and Anil appeared with a glass of water, which he placed on the desk, on a smooth marble coaster, before disappearing again. Kate downed the lot. Then she placed the glass back on the desk while Jill waited patiently.

‘I need your help,’ said Kate.

‘I see,’ said Jill.

Suddenly Kate was nervous. Nervous of Jill saying ‘no’. Nervous of having to step back out of this cool office into – what? She was no longer safe.