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“Very,” Ashley said, with a slight smile, “if you get my meaning.”

“Wouldn’t something like that make the news?” Steph replied. What could it have been? A mammoth? She knew mammoths were often found in Siberia under the ice. A rhino?

“Usually,” Ashley replied with a knowing look.

Steph nodded. She assumed that she was thinking correctly. The black market was far more powerful and wider reaching than she had ever thought. Then again, had she ever actually thought about it? Not really. Her recent experiences were herfirst real ones except for friends talking about some tiger hides and ivory. It was scary in a way. It made her more aware of how much of society lived in a comfortable bubble of ignorance whilst others worked dark arts on the peripheries, seizing opportunities and forcing openings.

“Anyway, as I was saying, you brought us to an ambush – I don’t blame you as it was your business – and we went thinking we could either overcome whatever you had planned or that you actually were working in good faith. Either could have been the case. Your ambush worked. Baz died. Kelvin took the keys and thus control of the lion that we all knew was in the back of the truck despite your pretence. Kelvin – coldly if you ask me but again understandable considering who he is – valued the lion and his work over your life. The curveball was the bear coming out and that guy – I assume it was Davey – sacrificing himself. I can’t explain that bit. But the result is that Kelvin and Martina have got the truck and the lion, whilst you are now here with me – I thought it safer to follow you as I don’t know who else Kelvin could have hidden with a gun pointed at me. You have reason to dislike Kelvin and I have no reason to hold you hostage anymore… from a literal transactional point of view. Your value is apparently not that high.”

When he’d finished talking, he held his rifle under one arm and looked at Steph expectantly.

Two things bothered Steph: how he could talk about death in such a matter-of-fact tone, and why he knew so much.

When Steph could not find anything to say, Ashley then said, “So that all being the case, I suggest we stick together for now until we get out of here.”

“Together?”

“Look, whether you like it or not, we have somewhat been put in the same boat.”

“How?”

“Kelvin has thrown you under the bus and can’t trust you now, so you’re not safe. He’d obviously have me killed – just look at Baz,” Ashley said, taking a few steps past Steph and looking into the distance.

“Yeah, but he wouldn’t kill me!” Steph said. Did she believe that? “He might kill me with lawyers but not literally.”

Ashley turned towards Steph. She didn’t like the dark smile on his face.

“I’m not sure how well you really know Kelvin. I’m not sure anyonereallyknows him. Whatever happened to him all those years ago brought about a change in him. With one step at a time he has become who he is today. The man isruthless. I don’t like him, but I do appreciate that he is both brilliant and ruthless.” Ashley looked at the ground, smiling. “But also a complete bastard. You can trust that you can’t trust him. Besides, death by lawyers could be just as bad as literal death, unless you keep your mouth shut. Of course, it would be more convenient for him if you simply disappeared.”

Steph wasn’t convinced. She was still pretty sure that her life was in no real danger. Not from Kelvin at least.

“Surely the police would hold him accountable. In the end, the system would get him. It has to.”

Ashley laughed. “Look around. Why aren’t the police here now?”

“Well, I suggested that we contact them but…”

“But they aren’t here, are they? Whatever the reasoning, they aren’t here! Instead, two guys intent on stealing and who aren’t afraid to put a bullet through someone are here! Well, one of them is still here.”

This was factually correct. Put to her in that way, it was no wonder parts of her assurance on what was and what wasn’t had started to break.

Steph took a deep inhale of air and exhaled through her nose. “Considering you are one of those men happy to put a bullet in someone, why should I trust you? Especially as I helped set you up?”

“Firstly, it iswillingto put a bullet in someone, nothappy. I’m not a psychopath. Secondly, because the situation has changed. Like I said, you were just conducting your business as I was doing mine, but now we are somewhat in the same boat. Besides, you can trust me as much as you can trust anyone right now.”

“Fair enough.”

“And I have a gun which is somewhat useful given the circumstances.”

“True. But why do you need me?”

“You know your way around here better than I do. I also don’t think you have anything against me personally. Not relative to Kelvin anyway. Not anymore.”

It was an odd assessment. Yet Steph supposed it was accurate enough. He was right: she found that she didn’t really have anything against him despite him putting a knife to her throat.

“So what’s your plan?” she asked.

Ashley looked out into the distance once more.