Grate

Joe limped back across the parking area and Kim could see the disappointment in the slope of his shoulders.

‘What did they say?’

‘They said Jean-Claude hasn’t been at work this week and they don’t know when he’ll be back. Apparently he hasn’t been in touch, which the woman in Reception said is pretty unusual.’

‘And we haven’t been able to raise him on the mobile. Doesn’t sound good, does it?’ Kim turned to face the others, still crammed into the back seat like sardines. ‘Any ideas?’

Five heads bent in to touch each other and there was whispering. Alain spoke for them all. ‘We are going to try the communication channel which will link us directly with him.’

‘Isn't that risky?’ said Kim.

‘Can you think of anything else? We cannot.’

‘The only thing I can add to that is, we should move from here while you connect, and as soon as you have, move again. That might make us a little harder to find?’

It was agreed. Kim drove a couple of miles farther along the road and waited anxiously as the young people focused intently on Hugo. He touched a finger behind his ear, as she had seen Xavier do before. Within seconds, his eyes clouded and his hand dropped to his lap. The young people looked in every direction except Kim’s. 

‘What is it? What did he say?’

Hugo’s voice grated in the silence. ‘Nothing. There is no link.’

‘But what does that mean? Exactly?’ Joe was trying to understand.

‘It means that Jean-Claude is no longer available to us,’ said Emma. ‘Or anyone else.’