Amber got halfway down Green Lane before a man stepped out in front of her, barely a few feet away. Not wearing a hooded robe like the one Mel had described, but an ordinary suit. Black jacket, black tie, white shirt with some faint stains still visible. He was a big guy, he seemed like twice her height and maybe taller than Jack, and shoulders wide enough to completely block a doorway. He looked like he'd been in shape once, maybe, and still had a lot of muscles. But the bulk of a bodybuilder was padded out with more than a little flab, and the shirt was tight around his waist. She couldn't help noticing that he had a wrench in one of his jacket pockets, where it looked like it was going to fall out at any moment but never quite did.

"I know you," he whispered, voice low but somehow carrying the few feet between them. There was something in the way he spoke, in the way that he looked at Amber, that made her uncomfortable. Something wasn't quite right, and she didn't understand why. Maybe he was angry, mad enough that he couldn't yell any more. That was when Daddy had been at his worst, when the words slipped out silently like knives. Or maybe he was scared, or confused, or drunk. Amber didn't have enough experience reading people to tell the difference.

"I don't think so," she shook her head decisively, but tried to keep the time she wasn't looking at him to a minimum. She'd felt that same itch, the tingle of destiny dragging her along, so she was pretty sure they were connected. But she didn't know anything else to do but deny it. "I'm sure I've not met you, I would have remembered."

"No, I know you. I'm sure of it, but I don't remember. Who are you? Who were you?"

"My name's Amber," she did a little curtsey, not sure what she should be doing now. She was sure he'd be able to catch her if she ran away now, so all she could think of was keep talking. She had to keep her feelings hidden, and hope that someone from school would have noticed her slip out. "Amber Crookshanks. My Mom will be here soon. Who were I? You're asking about past lives? I was Claude they told me, but I don't remember. Did you know him? You couldn't, that was a hundred years ago, and even Mr Trelawny isn't that old. He's ancient, and he's got little white bushes growing out of his ears. But I was Claude before."

"I don't mean–"

"Amber!" Mel's voice cut off the weird guy, coming up quickly behind him. "Where were you? Your mom's worried about you!"

"Sorry, I was just–"

"We were talking!" Wrench-guy snapped, clearly over the line into angry country now. "You can't– Nico?!" he raised his voice and raised his fists the instant he could see Mel. But Mel was already ducking back, and stepping sideways to avoid the first clumsy swing.

The big guy looked like he was probably stronger, but Mel was quicker. The two danced around each other for a moment, both lashing out with their hands and feet, but neither of them actually connecting. Then wrench-guy turned down the alley he'd come from, a path a single flagstone wide between two houses. Along both sides, concrete fences that were higher than his head blocked entry to the gardens.

"Stay here," Mel muttered to Amber before giving chase.

"He might be..." she started to reply, but he was already around the corner at the end. Amber stood there and waited, listening for sounds of fighting. She couldn't keep up with them, she knew that, but it was still hard not to follow. She wanted to help even though she knew it was impossible.

She didn't have to wait long. Mom showed up around the corner at about the same time Mel got back.

"He ran away," Mel gave her a shrug, then turned to Mom. "Some guy wandered onto the school grounds. Had a suit jacket on, but his trousers were like workwear. Ranting and raving, she must've been terrified. I think he might be on drugs."

"Are you okay?" Mom gasped and dropped to her knees, pulling Amber close, "He didn't hurt you did he? Did he touch you?"

"I'm okay," Amber couldn't keep the fear out of her voice. She didn't want to lie to her Mom, but this was about her secret identity again, and things that nobody else would believe. She came up with the best she could on the spot, and tried to keep from crying as she said it: "He came out of nowhere. He was huge, and he had a wrench in his pocket. He said he knew me, he called me something but it wasn't my name. I just kept backing away, I was scared he'd be angry if I ran. I went out through the fence, I was just scared. And then Mel came, and wrench guy tried to hit him, then he ran away."

"I couldn't keep up with him," Mel agreed, "I think he must have ducked through a gate while I was out of sight. We were lucky I was here."

"Or unlucky. So much bad luck," Mom shook her head, "Two monsters, and now this? What's the world coming to, I don't know what to believe any more."

"Opportunist... wanders in because the monster trashed the fence," Mel suggested, "It's just bad timing, it could have happened any time. We need to notify the school, so they'll fix that fence quickly. And hope that guy was the only one."