‘Keep strong,’ Hannah said, looking deep into her eyes. Now that they were standing so close to each other, Clara felt her fear return two-fold as she forced herself to meet Hannah’s gaze. Something must have shown in her face because Hannah tilted her head, her eyes quizzical. ‘Are you OK?’ she said.

‘I—’ Clara stammered.

‘What, Clara? What is it?’

As Hannah’s hands tightened on hers, she had the overwhelming sense of suffocation, an instinctive compulsion to run. Her mouth dried. ‘Nothing,’ she whispered, ‘nothing at all.’

Hannah nodded. ‘This must all be so hard on you.’ She smiled compassionately again and the moment stretched until, all at once, she released Clara’s hands, pulled her hood up around her face and with a final, brief look of sympathy she turned and left, leaving Clara standing alone, her heart pounding, as she watched her walk off down the street.

Relief surged through her at the knowledge that her part was over, at least for now. But when she looked across the street and saw Zoe emerge from the pub opposite then set off slowly after Hannah, Clara’s fear returned. What the hell was she doing, letting Zoe get caught up in this? She wanted to run after her and drag her friend back, but, terrified that Hannah would turn and see her, she made herself set off up the street the way she’d come. She’d barely reached the corner, however, when anxiety got the better of her and she stopped and turned, hoping to catch one last glimpse of Zoe before she disappeared from view. And then she gasped. Because there Hannah was. Not walking away from her as she’d expected, but standing stock-still not far from where they’d parted, her eyes fastened upon her.

Clara felt a jolt of shock. Unable to help herself, she glanced across the road, seeking out Zoe and, sure enough, she spotted her friend standing by a bus stop a few yards further on, pretending to look at her phone. Panicked, she looked back at Hannah. Had she seen her eyes dart across the road? Had she given Zoe away? What on earth was Hannah doing, anyway? Uncertainly she raised her hand to wave, shooting her a questioning smile. Hannah’s face remained expressionless for a beat or two, then abruptly she nodded and turned, continuing on her way.

Across the road, Zoe met Clara’s frightened gaze and shrugged. Clara scrabbled for her phone. ‘Zoe,’ she said when her friend picked up. ‘She’s on to us, I’m sure of it. Let’s give up, it’s too dangerous. Don’t follow her, I’m sure she knows what’s going on.’