Within moments, the twisting darkness of the lane swallows her. She can’t even use her phone to light the way.

Heavy, fast footsteps approach from behind, splashing in puddles, and a beam of light stretches across the tarmac. She picks up speed, heart pounding as she dashes along the uneven surface, glancing back just once to see a man almost upon her.

‘Evening,’ he says as he passes – a runner – a torch band around his head. He’s at the end of the road and disappears from view before her heart returns to an even beat.

She’s never liked Sparrow Lane at night, with its overhanging trees and solid darkness, hated walking down here in her teens. And since her father was found dead against the old oak tree with its gnarled branches, she’s liked it even less.

She hurries on, wet leaves squelching under her feet. Two-thirds in, a car pulls into the lane behind her. She glances back, squints, dazzled by its headlights on full beam. She picks up speed, something about the slow pace of the car making her uneasy, making her grip her umbrella like a weapon. The car continues, keeping its distance, the hum of its engine menacing. It pulls into a lay-by, headlights highlighting the reds, yellows and greens of autumn, the scattered shiny conkers – some free, some gripped in their spiky shells.

Alice squints once more, before turning the corner onto Bury Road. Detached bungalows, windows ablaze with light, reassure her as she runs along the pavement, ears tuning in to the sound of a car turning out of Sparrow Lane, moving towards her.

Should she stop?

Confront the driver?

Knock on one the bungalow’s doors?

Within moments the car pulls up beside her. The window buzzes down. Her heart thuds like crazy.

‘Alice.’ A familiar voice. ‘I thought it was you.’

Chapter 7

Late October 2019

Alice

‘Leon!’ Alice’s heart gallops, the rapid beat pulsing against her fingers as she grips her chest. ‘You scared the crap out of me.’

Leon leans across the passenger seat, blue eyes glinting as he looks up at her. ‘It’s good to see you too, Alice.’

‘Seriously, Leon, what the hell were you doing back there? You freaked me out.’

‘Back where? I wasn’t a hundred per cent sure it was you, if that’s what you mean.’

‘So that makes it OK?’

‘Makes what OK?’ He shakes his head. ‘Faith mentioned you left the pub to walk home, and—’

‘And … what? You followed me like some creepy stalker?’ She wasn’t sure why she was so upset. But he’d scared her. He pulled into the lay-by, watched her from a distance. Why had he done that?

He looks bewildered. ‘I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.’

‘Back there.’ She points towards Sparrow Lane. ‘You dazzled me with your headlights.’