Once the car is parked, I wriggle out again – ignoring the bemused looks of pedestrians – and give the police a formal statement. There isn’t much to say and they’re not desperately interested. A traffic accident with no one hurt is not a priority.

I try to impress on them the strangeness of what happened. ‘I’ve never seen anything like it,’ I keep saying. I repeat what the vanished VW lady said. ‘Almost as if he was trying to crush my car.’ I am babbling.

‘You’ve had a shock,’ the policewoman says. ‘Get some food and a hot drink inside you. Perhaps have a doctor take a look at you. In case of whiplash.’

‘I will,’ I lie.

As soon as they’ve gone, I find my phone in the passenger footwell, where I dropped it, and call Jess.

‘Where are you? I’ve been hanging around for the best part of an hour.’

‘I’ve had an accident.’

I explain what happened. ‘Jesus, Gil! I don’t know what to think.’

It’s obvious we are both having the same thought: was someone trying to silence me, eliminate me, kill me? My heart is thumping and there’s a slight pain in my chest; I know that if I don’t take a few slow, steady breaths I will hyperventilate.

‘Are you OK, Gil?’ Jess asks.

‘Give me a minute,’ I gasp. I squat, breathe in through the nose, out through the mouth, ten times. Gradually my equanimity is restored. ‘Gil?’ I hear, as a tinny squawk because I am holding the phone by my side. I put it back to my ear. ‘Hi, Jess. I’m OK now.’ She talks deliberately and calmly. ‘You had a lucky escape. We should call it a night and take stock.’

‘Absolutely not.’

‘Gil!’ She’s using her stern voice. Experience has taught me it’s wise to listen to her. But . . .

‘Don’t you see?’ I say. ‘If they’re coming after me, it proves we’re on the right track. They feel threatened. We’re getting close.’

If Clare refused to be intimidated, nor will I be. I pump myself up. It will be tomorrow or the next day when the wide-awake panic will start.

‘Look,’ I say to Jess, ‘this is my fight. You really don’t have to come if you don’t want to.’

‘Of course I don’t want to! I’m fucking terrified.’

I have no right to put her in harm’s way. But it’s hard to hide my disappointment.

‘I understand,’ I say.

‘No you don’t.’ Fear makes her voice sharp. ‘I’m shit-scared but obviously I’m coming. This is our fight.’

The relief I feel is a physical sensation. ‘Oh my God, Jess. Thank you!’

‘Shut up. Pathetic gratitude doesn’t suit you. What’s the plan?’

The adrenaline is flowing again. I am determined to bulldoze forward.