Giles

‘Those aren’t police, are they?’ Kim leant into the screen and looked closely. ‘There’s no numbers or writing on their uniforms, and I’m pretty sure the police have to have that by law.’

‘Urban myth,’ said Joe. ‘But still, I agree with you, they don’t look much like regular police.’

‘Two miles away.’ She stared at Joe. ‘This is getting crazy. There was a helicopter circling this morning, not many streets away. I don’t think it’s a coincidence. I wish I knew where the other three were.’

‘Shh, there’s a reporter going to explain stuff.’

A slim smartly dressed man came into focus, grasping a microphone. 

‘Traffic is at a standstill at the junction between St. Giles School and the flyover. We’re not entirely sure what the holdup is but officials are using the opportunity to question travellers about any strangers seen about the place. I understand they are looking for’- he consulted his notes ‘-three escaped prisoners, two men and one woman. Descriptions are a bit hazy but they are young, fairly tall and wearing tracksuits and baggy tops. The public is asked not to approach them, but if they see them, to report to this number…’ A telephone number scrolled across the bottom of the television screen.

‘Do you recognise that number?’ asked Kim.

Xavier shook his head. ‘I think it’s for the local area but it’s not one I saw anywhere in the complex or on any of the paperwork I scrolled through on Jean-Claude’s phone.’ He stopped, suddenly aware that bringing that particular name into general conversation might be inadvisable.

Emma and Delphine, white-faced with shock, stood in the doorway as close to one another as they could get. Kim noticed they did not look at Xavier, nor at the screen. They kept their heads down but she saw their eyes darting about, as people sometimes do, when listening hard. She stepped to the window and looked out towards the street.

‘There’s no-one out there,’ she said, to reassure the young women and herself, if she was honest.

‘Not yet, there isn’t,’ said Xavier. ‘But I think it’s only a matter of time.’