I didn’t but ironically, he did approach me – all three of us – wanting to apologize. We didn’t accept, didn’t care if he’d ‘turned over a new leaf’. Not long after, he was arrested again. Boomeranged back to his cell.

Now, my drifting thoughts are interrupted by Francesca’s voice.

‘Feeling real doesn’t mean it is real. You know that, Leah.’

‘I know but the timing… Me seeing him the day after he was released – and I didn’t know at the time he had been released. The twenty-year anniversary.’

‘Where did you see him?’

‘I was coming out of the BP garage.’

‘Walk me through it. Where were you coming from? Going to?’

‘I’d come from home. Marie had texted and asked me to go round. I was cross because George had promised he’d fill the car up but he hadn’t. You remember the smell of petrol always reminds me of being in the back of the van?’

‘I do.’

‘I filled up my car and I was paying and there was a white van,’ I pause, trying to decide whether to tell her I thought the van had someone trapped inside. That I made the driver open the doors, but I don’t want to appear any more paranoid than I probably do already.

‘And he was driving the van?’ Francesca prompts.

‘No. He was in a black car. He passed me as I came out of the garage.’

‘So you were already in an emotionally heightened state because you were on your way to see Marie. You’d seen a white van, which of course is distressing for you, as is the smell of petrol. On a scale of one to ten, how certain are you it was him?’

‘I wasn’t,’ I admit. ‘I thought he was still in prison but I saw him again the next day, outside Marie’s flat.’

‘Did he approach you?’

‘No. I was in the car with Carly and it was raining. He was on the street.’

‘Did Carly see him too?’

‘No.’

‘But you saw him clearly? Through the rain?’ She studies me.

‘Well, no but I had a really strong feeling.’ I reach to tuck my hair behind my ears. My hands are trembling.

‘It’s okay, Leah. You’re doing great.’ She gives me a second. ‘Have you seen him anywhere else?’

‘Today, at work. He was the photocopier repair man. He chased me.’

‘He chased you?’

‘Yes.’ But had he run after me? ‘Well, I ran away from him. I think he came after me. I don’t know. That’s it anyway. Just three times. So far.’

‘If your Fregoli has returned, there will likely be many more instances of you spotting him.’

‘I know. I don’t want to go through it again. I can’t put George through it again. Thinking he’s everywhere I turn. Not knowing what is real and what isn’t. Please. Will you help me again? I have to know if this is all in my head. I’ve been getting letters. Hand delivered. If it’s him he knows where I live. Where Archie lives.’