USB

‘I think it would be best if I went ahead to find the others,’ said Xavier. ‘If we all go, it will attract attention.’

‘Fair point,’ said Kim. ‘But what are you going to do if you find them? We can’t fit any more people into the car.’

‘One of us should come with you,’ said Joe. ‘If it’s risky to use phones at the moment, at least then someone can come back and let us know what’s happening. If you can use a phone, I think ours is fully charged now-’ he glanced at it. ‘How’s yours Jean-Claude?’

The Frenchman reached into his pocket. ‘Almost empty.’

‘Give it here then.’ He beckoned and the phone was passed to him. He plugged it into the car’s USB port. ‘You take ours Xavier. If you are able to call us when you find them, Jean-Claude’s will be fully charged. How far away do you think that is?’ He motioned to the warehouse complex as they approached down the hill.

‘A little over half a kilometre.’

‘There’s a lay-by, just there, up ahead,’ said Kim. ‘I’ll pull in.’

‘If you go on a bit, there’s a sort of wood.’ Joe pointed. ‘Might offer a bit more cover.’ He was beginning to think they were being ridiculously over-cautious and as Kim coasted between the trees and brought the car to a stop, he was about to say so. What stopped him was a cavalcade of three large black vans, travelling at speed, which shot round the curve of the road behind them and accelerated hard down the hill ahead.

Kim and Joe exchanged glances and turned to look at Jean-Claude.

‘Do you think-?’

‘Yes.’