The woman was fixing her with a huge grin, her head cocked to one side – the kind of grin that Mormons turn on like a switch when you open the door. The aquamarine eyes were crinkled in that smile but her smooth skin was devoid of wrinkles. Lucky gal, thought Katie. Try raising two kids and see if you’ve still got time for a moisturizing routine.

‘Fabulous! I’m Marlene Sitconski by the way. Pleased to meet you.’ She held out a pale hand.

Katie felt somehow that she didn’t want to touch that hand. But manners always overcame inhibition with her and she took it and shook it lightly. Cold. Really cold. Get some gloves, lady.

‘Right. Pleased to meet you too. Katie Hunting Wolf.’

Marlene Sitconski’s eyes flashed with some enigmatic emotion for a second and then the light in them was gone. Katie stared at her. What on earth did she say that for, for Christ’s sake?

Hunting Wolf? Who did she think she was? Kevin Costner? But it was her name, really, wasn’t it? Whether Sam wanted her to know or not, it was her name. She felt lightheaded and a little sick. This whole afternoon was becoming too weird to handle. Maybe she was getting ill too. That’s all they needed. Katie wanted to go and sit down quietly somewhere and stop seeing shadows and feeling draughts and telling strangers she was someone she wasn’t.

‘That’s a very romantic name.’

‘Yes. I think so,’ said Katie weakly. There was a buzzing in her head, and she put out a hand to lean on the case.

‘You know, it’s amazing how these people’s dignity and nobility has survived. We owe these people a debt we can’t repay.’

Katie was feeling giddy now, and her hand was leaving a cloudy greasemark where it was pushing against the glass. Was that her father who just said that? It sounded like him. No. No, don’t be stupid. It was this Marlene woman who’d said it. This visitor she was talking to. That was her job. Talking to visitors. How they sucked you dry, these visitors. Sucked and sucked, like hungry, black, pulsating leeches, until they had everything inside you, and still they sucked until your core was bone-dry and you crumbled like dust.

What? What the fuck was she thinking about?

Katie put her free hand to her hot head. ‘I’m sorry. You’re going to have to excuse me. I’m feeling a bit faint.’

Marlene Sitconski looked concerned, said Oh, and put a hand out to Katie’s elbow. Katie stepped back before the hand could touch her sleeve.

‘I’m sorry.’