She repeats the warning and I lower the phone, my heart pounding. Anorak Man starts walking, his eyes bloodshot and his forehead beading with sweat. He’s coming straight for me.

3

I swallow hard, my mouth dry. Even if I run, I can’t reach the exit or even the staffroom without going past him. Maybe I should shout for help. But then what am I going to tell people – I didn’t like the way a customer looked at me without blinking? A family with young children appear at the end of the walkway, but no one pays the man any attention. But why would they? He’s not moving his head back and forth now.

No one is out to get you, Ivy. Take it easy.

Forcing my shoulders to relax, I remind myself that I’m at work surrounded by people – perfectly safe. The guy’s been acting oddly all morning. He obviously has some kind of problem, but that doesn’t mean he wants to hurt me. He’s probably just going to ask me a question or bore me with some random fact about grubs.

He’s moving quickly, just twenty paces away. I slide my phone into my pocket and flash him my best customer-service smile.

‘Hi, can I help you?’

He doesn’t answer – just keeps heading towards me, his face fixed in a grimace. It has to be a coincidence. My mother couldn’t have known about him.

My mother.

I should be jumping for joy that I’ve found her, but I don’t know how to feel. The things she said were so strange. And then I remember the note. I tried to keep you safe, but I see now that I can’t. I always presumed she was protecting me from someone in my family, or maybe she was unwell. Whether the threat was real or imagined, surely that’s all in the past now.

Ten paces away. I try to read his expression, but there’s no anger there. There’s no emotion at all. His gaze is vacant; it’s as if he’s looking through me.

Six paces.

Why isn’t he slowing down?

Three.

He lunges for me and my stomach clenches with sickening realisation. He’s going for my throat. It happens so fast I barely have time to think. I block his hand with my right arm, the movement automatic, and then steady my weight on my back leg. He reaches for me again and this time I’m ready for him. He’s big, maybe twice my weight, but I’m fast. I grab his wrist and twist sharply, tripping him with my front leg and using his weight to propel him forward. He lands on his knees with a thud, sprawling face down on the floor.

A toddler cries out in alarm and I glance up to see her mum grab her and shield her face. The woman looks at me, her eyes wide with shock, and I stare back. We’re trained in first aid and what to do in case of fire and missing children, but the staff handbook didn’t cover this. Before I can think what to say, my boss hurries over. He takes one look at the man at my feet and glares at me like I’m a poacher who’s brought down a majestic beast.