Luckily the shop is nicely busy this afternoon, meaning that Pippa and I can stay out of each other’s way while the dust settles over our argument. Maybe I should apologise to her for suggesting that Sebastian could have been responsible for the letters, but Pippa won’t even catch my eye, and anyway, there are too many people in the shop for us to have a proper conversation. I’ll apologise at the end of the day – if she’ll even listen.

I’m restocking the perfumes when I catch a glimpse of a black uniform heading my way. I set down the cardboard box I’m carrying, straighten up and wipe my dusty hands down the sides of my skirt. It’s Sergeant Jenny Llewellyn, without her colleague this time. I wonder if she’s already been to see Leon Whittaker, or if she’s popped in here on her way to his wine bar.

‘Hi,’ I say.

‘Hello,’ she says with a brisk smile. ‘How are you doing?’

‘Still a bit shaky, to be honest.’

‘Sorry to hear that. Hopefully I’ll be able to put your mind at rest. I’ve just had a quick word with Mr Whittaker. Asked him about the heart, and the letters.’

My shoulders tense. ‘And?’

‘He denied any knowledge of the letters, but admitted coming into the shop to give you the heart and ask you out on a date. He said he’s been trying to pluck up the courage to ask you for ages.’

‘Well, I know he asked me out on a date. And if it was him sending the letters, he’s not exactly going to admit it, especially not to a police officer.’ I know my tone is a little sharp, but really… how is that supposed to put my mind at rest?

‘True,’ she replies, unruffled by my reply. ‘I asked him if I thought his actions were wise, given his history with your boyfriend. But I did get the sense that he was telling the truth about the letters. He seemed too shaken up to be lying. I think the last thing he expected was a police visit.’

‘So you believe him then?’

‘It’s hard to say. We’ve only got his word for it. But there’s no evidence he has anything to do with the letters.’

‘You could test them for fingerprints. See if his DNA is on them.’ I realise we now have a bit of an audience. Our customers are getting more than they bargained for. I shouldn’t really be having this conversation out on the shop floor, so I guide Sergeant Llewellyn into the back room and close the door behind us.

‘First,’ she says, ‘I doubt anyone would be so stupid as to handle the letters and not wear gloves. And secondly, there’s actually no law against sending a letter. If it happens again, and they contain threatening content, we’ll test them for you and see what we come up with, okay?’

‘I suppose it will have to be.’ I shrug, annoyed they can’t do more to help me while I’m feeling so vulnerable.

‘You were absolutely right to contact us, Lizzy. Especially given Joe’s situation with his suspended sentence. And we will certainly respond if anything like this happens again. Please be assured of that. Let’s hope whoever’s behind the letters has lost interest now.’

I know she’s trying to be reassuring, and she probably sees way worse things than this every day, but I really had hoped she would try harder to find out who the culprit is. Instead, I feel a bit daft. Like I’ve caused a fuss over nothing. And yet I’m still terrified about what will come next. Somehow, I know this isn’t the end of it.

I thank her for coming and for speaking to Whittaker, and follow her back out into the shop, wishing I’d never bothered calling the police today. Llewellyn leaves and I get back to restocking the perfumes, trying to concentrate on the exotic names of each fragrance, rather than on the chaos in my head.

Pippa eyes me from across the room. I bet she’s absolutely dying to find out what’s going on, but it’s a testament to how mad she is at me that she doesn’t ask me to fill her in.

Fine. I’ll just get through the rest of the afternoon, go home and try to forget about it. Maybe Joe and I could go out for a drink tonight. Somewhere a bit further afield, like Bath or Cheltenham, where I can relax knowing my stalker isn’t nearby. But I already know what Joe’s response will be. He’ll say, what’s wrong with a local pub? Let’s go to The Crown. But I don’t want to go to The Crown. I’m sick of The Crown. I dump one of the perfume bottles down on the shelf a little too loudly and tell myself to calm down. At least Leon Whittaker now knows I won’t take any crap. If it is him, he’s been warned by the cops, so that should stop him from doing it again. And if it isn’t him… well, best not to think about that right now.

---

It’s a little before closing time, and the shop has finally emptied out. Pippa still isn’t speaking to me and I’m trying to pluck up the courage to apologise to her. I don’t feel strong enough to face another argument, so I hope that if I grovel enough, she’ll forgive me. But before I can approach her, I’m dismayed and unsettled to see Leon-freaking-Whittaker walking through the door. What’s he doing here? I hope he’s not going to have a go at me for calling the police. I wish I could run into the back room and lock the door until he’s gone, but he’s already seen me and is heading my way.

‘No!’ I cry, holding up a hand to ward him off. ‘You can’t come in here.’

He stops in his tracks and shakes his head.

Pippa is dusting one of the glass cabinets. She glances from me to Leon and then back again.

‘I only came in to apologise,’ he says, sounding anything but apologetic.

‘Okay,’ I say. ‘Thanks. Now I’d really like you to leave. Please.’

He takes another step towards me, so I take a step back. Like we’re dancing… or fighting.

‘I didn’t know about the letters,’ he says. ‘If I’d known about them, I would never have come in here and asked you out. The last thing I’d ever want to do is upset you, Lizzy.’

I have a hundred responses in my brain but I can’t seem to get any of them out.

‘You didn’t have to call the police!’ he adds.

Does he want me to apologise? Say sorry? Well, I’m not going to. I can’t even speak. Leon’s presence here has set my teeth on edge. I can’t believe how much he’s unsettling me. My nerves are shot to pieces.

‘Can you say something?’ he says. ‘I’ve come here to say sorry – the least you can do is accept my apology.’

‘She asked you to leave,’ Pippa says, coming over and standing by my side. She takes my hand and gives it a squeeze.

I’m frozen to the spot. I have no idea why I can’t speak. All I know is I want that man to go away.

Leon throws his hands up in the air. ‘Okay, fine. I give up!’ He spins on his heel and marches out of the shop. Once he’s gone, Pippa closes and locks the door behind him.

‘You can’t close up yet,’ I say quietly. ‘It’s only ten to five.’

‘Who cares,’ Pippa replies. ‘You’ve had a rough day, we’re closing early. Sorry I was such a bitch to you earlier.’

‘No.’ I shake my head. ‘It’s me who should apologise. I accused your brother of something awful.’

‘Sweetie, shall we just forget about it?’ She gives me one of her eye-rolling smiles.

‘Yes, please. I’d like that.’

‘Now, I’ll make us a cup of tea, and you can tell me what happened with the police earlier and what on earth’s going on with Leon Whittaker.’

I knew there had to be a reason Pippa wanted to make things up with me – she wants all the juicy gossip. I take a breath and follow her into the stockroom.

‘Actually,’ Pippa says, grabbing her purse, ‘forget the tea, we’re going for a proper drink.’

‘Uh, Pippa, that’s sweet of you to offer, but Joe’s expecting me home.’

Pippa flashes me a look of disdain. ‘What is he, your keeper? Text him and tell him you’ll be late.’

I realise that going out for a couple of drinks with a friend is exactly what I feel like doing right now. I also realise that I need to rebuild a few bridges after accusing Seb. ‘Okay,’ I say, with a rebellious smile. ‘Let me get my phone.’ I’m a little nervous about telling Joe that I’m not coming straight home from work. It’s not like he’ll forbid me from going or anything like that, it’s just that I know he won’t be happy about it. But I push down my worries. I’ll deal with the fallout later.