She was just about to unlock her bike when the shadow appeared in her peripheral vision. The shadow that meant her harm. If she hadn’t received the letter the previous day, she wouldn’t have reacted, but now everything happened very fast, in spite of the fact that she was very tired after lying awake for most of the night. She didn’t even raise her head to confirm her suspicions, she simply trusted her instinct that danger was close by. The lock came off, releasing the bike. People were passing by on the pavement, all preoccupied with their own affairs.

I’ll scream if he tries to hurt me.

She got on her bike, pedalled down onto the road. There was a bump from the parcel shelf as the wheels hit the tarmac. Then, and only then, did she turn her head. She had to see who the shadow was, but he’d backed away, was partly hidden behind a bus shelter. Her heart was pounding, the adrenaline surging through her body.

Who the hell was he?

She cycled down the street, not caring whether she took a right or a left at the traffic lights, she just had to get away. A red light forced her to stop.

‘Hey!’ someone shouted behind her.

Red, amber, it would be green in a second.

I don’t care if I get run over, I’m just going to go for it.

As she got ready to push down, someone came up alongside her – not the shadow, but a shorter, skinnier guy. He smiled at her.

‘Sorry, I didn’t meant to scare you. I just wanted to tell you that you’re in danger of losing the book on your parcel shelf.’

She looked over her shoulder in confusion. She didn’t have a book on her . . . She blinked several times. What the . . . ?

Someone had attached a book to the shelf. A green book with no pictures on the cover. The traffic began to move. She reached for the book, glanced over at the bus shelter.

The shadow was gone.

And the book was one she’d never heard of.

She read the strange title, trying to process what was going on:

I Am Putting Everything Right

Chapter 9

Those who are grieving must be left in peace. Noah Johansson’s parents had made that very clear when they were training their son, preparing him to take over the business.

‘There’s no payback,’ his mother used to say. ‘We’re here to serve, and we do that with generosity.’