Angel

‘It’s 9.30.’ Joe was checking his watch. ‘Wherever can they have got to?’

They had left Xavier, Delphine and Emma clearing up the kitchen while they retired to the sitting room.

‘They’re adults Joe, don’t forget. It’s up to them what they do, we’re not responsible for them, now are we?’ said Kim.

‘I suppose not. But I’m a little uneasy about them, knowing that someone is trying to find them and not necessarily for good reasons.’

‘If the others aren’t worried about them, then neither should we be.’

‘I’m beginning to think they know more about what’s going on than they’re letting on. I’ve half a mind to ring Jean-Claude and ask him for an update, he always seemed pretty well-informed, didn’t he?’

‘Bit late now, don’t you think? Let’s call him tomorrow morning, when he’s back at work properly,’ said Kim. ‘I’m going to organise some coffee - would you be an angel and put the telly on, I want to catch up on the news.’

Kim went back into the kitchen in time to hear Xavier hissing a question at the young women.

‘Are you sure you don’t know where they are? Someone is blocking our main communication line and I have no input from the other three. Surely they must have said something when they left? You tell me or-’

He stopped speaking as he saw her. Kim pretended ignorance.

‘Thanks for clearing up. I’m making coffee, would any of you like some?’

Before they could reply, a shout from Joe in the other room sent them running in to see what he was looking at.

On screen, there were long lines of stalled traffic, and a helicopter with a floodlight hovering over the scene.

‘This is the local news - apparently there’s some sort of problem just down the road,’ said Joe. ‘A couple of miles away, I think. They’re looking for escaped prisoners or something, the reporter said.’