I grab the proffered sandwich bag gratefully, pay up and rush out of the door. At the end of the street, I see her turning the corner and sprint to catch up with her. She has such a commanding presence that she stands out in a crowd and it’s easy to follow her down the narrow, cobbled lane. At the end she opens a door and goes into one of the shops. Keeping up my pursuit, I see she’s gone into a ritzy-looking hair-dressing salon.

I keep on walking and then lean against the wall just past the door and, still clutching my sandwich bag, catch my breath. Grief, I’m really not as fit as I think I am. TV detectives never get out of puff so quickly.

Once the blood has stopped pounding in my head, I risk a peep inside the salon. Inside looks even more chi-chi and probably has chi-chi prices to match. I have no idea what I’m doing, my body is on autopilot as I push open the door and walk in. A loud ding! announces my arrival. My love rival is sitting at one of the cutting stations chatting to an unspeakably trendy stylist. The stylist takes her to the back of the salon to get her hair washed. I wonder what she’s having done, because, quite frankly, I’ve never seen anyone with more immaculate hair and I thought I was fussy about mine.

‘Can I help you?’ a tiny person all dressed in black asks me. ‘Do you have an appointment?’

‘No,’ I say. ‘Do you mind if I wait for my friend?’

She glances into the salon. ‘Who’s your friend?’

‘She’s over there,’ I say. ‘Getting her hair washed.’

‘Oh, Neve!’

Neve.

‘She’s great, isn’t she?’ she breathes, admiration in her voice.

I know that certain people would agree with her. ‘Yes.’ I’m amazed that women like her too and it makes me think if I’ve ever heard anyone speak about me with admiration.

‘Have you known her long?’

‘Not really.’

‘She’ll be about half an hour,’ the impressionable young girl says. ‘Do you want to sit over there?’ She points to a hard, black leather sofa.

‘That’s fine.’

‘Tea? Coffee? Can I get you a magazine?’

‘No. No. Nothing, thanks.’

‘What’s your name?’

‘Lyssa.’

She swings away from me. ‘I’ll tell her you’re here.’

‘No,’ I say. ‘Don’t do that. Don’t disturb her. I’ll just wait.’

‘Okay.’