Who was that masked man?

B walked through the mall with his parents. Simone, his mother, was a few steps ahead of B. She slowed down her pace and asked B as he caught up to her, "Where's your dad?" B frowned at Simone. "He's right here," he said, pointing to the man walking close to B. Simone grimly shook her head. "Look again," she said. B did indeed look again and saw a man he'd never seen before. Startled, B stopped moving as did Simone. "That," said Simone, "is why you must keep looking and making sure that you're with your mom or dad. It's why you need to stay close enough to hold my hand. Even though you're a big boy now." Then Simone inhaled deeply and hugged her son.