Parked

Parked outside the blank-faced buildings, Kim was getting more anxious by the minute. When she saw Joe appear through the front door and begin limping his way across the tarmac towards her, she leapt out of the car and ran towards him, headache forgotten.

‘Steady on, woman, you’ll have me over,’ he said, hugging her back.

‘Are you okay?’ She held him at arms’ length. ‘Are you really all right Joe?’

‘Yes, I’m fine. Bit hungry if I’m honest but yes, I’m fine.’ He looked past her at the car. ‘Where are the others?’

‘The new ones are at home. Xavier and Jean-Claude went in there to get you.’ She gestured at the warehouse. ‘Aren’t they with you?’

‘Nobody’s with me, pet. Those two idiots who kidnapped me stayed inside - gone to report to Mr Osborne I suppose. I haven’t seen Jean-Claude or Xavier.’

‘He said this Euron person would meet him inside - there were supposed to be some negotiations which would mean you could leave.’

‘Euron? Who’s Euron?’

Kim gabbled an explanation as best she could. About the mysterious person that Xavier was reporting to, the extra comms channel, the enhancements.

‘And the oddest thing is that Jean-Claude didn’t seem to know anything about any of it.’

‘Well, I didn’t see either of them or that other guy in there. Just the hired help who grabbed me. So what do we do now?’

‘Xavier said to wait here and drive you back when you came out. Presumably with Xavier and Jean-Claude.’

‘I’m not going back in there to look for them-’

‘Of course not. Let’s get you in the car and then we’ll wait for a bit. Hopefully they won’t be long.’