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“Ashley?” Roger called through the windscreen. Nothing. Heknocked on the windscreen. “Ashley?”

There was no concern in his voice. It was as if everything that happened around him was nothing more than an amusing formality. Had he always been that way? Maybe that was why she had liked him. In a normal person, she supposed, a refusal to take life too seriously was endearing. However, in someone who held such power and moved in such shadowy circles it was somewhat unnerving.

Steph looked out of her window. Martina did the same, her hands no longer hovering over her buckle.

“Well, I can’t see anything, can you?” Roger said, turning to Steph, ignoring Martina.

“No,” Steph replied, undoing her seat belt to turn herself to look further back through her window.

“How strange,” Roger replied jovially. “Inconvenient really, but interestingly strange nonetheless.”

An indecisive silence fell. Steph became aware of her heartbeat starting to creep up as the blood pumped around her ears.

Suddenly, the car bonnet slammed shut. Steph jumped. The other two also snapped their heads forwards expecting to see the worst. They needn’t have worried: it was Ashley rubbing his head.

Steph watched as he meandered back to the driver’s door and got in, shutting the door and looking forward.

“Well?” Roger asked.

“Well, I think I will be seeking compensation for a workplace concussion!”

Roger laughed.

“Don’t be daft; you know how poor our HR department is. The engine?”

“Dead!”

“Dead?”

“Battery acid everywhere. It’s cracked.”

“Cracked?”

“Yes, cracked! Shoddy parts used on this thing,” Ashley said lightly thumping the steering wheel.

“Bollocks!” Roger snorted. “Nothing wrong with the parts used on this thing. It is the way it has been driven that’s caused it!”

Ashley raised a triumphant finger, “Ah, but Kelvin was the last one to drive it!”

Roger opened his mouth to retort. Paused. Shut it and then said, “That’s fair enough; he was always careless.”

Martina growled in the back. Roger ignored her.

“Plan B?” Ashley asked.

Roger thought for a moment.

“We all need to get out of here for our own reasons. Personally, I think a northern direction would suit us best, Ashley. That’s where the others will be waiting – it is a shame they will be disappointed by the lack of an animal, assuming they didn’t cross Kelvin’s own men outside coming in to take the specimens away. I fear they won’t appreciate Martina as the real driving force behind it all – see how big a catch she is.”

“I’ll kill myself before I work for you!” Martina snarled.

“No, you won’t,” Roger replied dismissively. “You’re far too much of a narcissist for such a thing. Besides, your scientific curiosity is as great as mine and I can give you what you need to explore current boundaries. Anyway, Steph, I suggest that when we get to the fencing and go our separate ways, you head back towards the village. I suppose that means a trip south first, Ashley. Perhaps that’s not an issue. I am sure someone will be awake to potential scenarios.”

Steph had heard Roger but was busy looking at Martina, curious as to how she would react to what Roger said. Her arms were folded and her eyes were still, but behind them the cogs were turning.

Steph turned back to Roger.

“And the wolves?”