Page 45 of The Hitchhikers

He shook his head. “Too many people.”

“Don’t we need water?”

“Gas stations have hoses. We can stay anywhere. Parking lots, the forest. Tom showed me already how to empty the tanks. We’ll dump them in the backwoods.”

That sounded gross to Jenny, but it made sense. Cops might be searching campgrounds. What if they were handing out “wanted” posters like they show in movies?

The RV suddenly slowed, and Alice made a gasping sound,sort of surprised and scared. Simon spun around to look over Alice’s shoulder out the windshield. Then Jenny saw them too.

Lights. Lots and lots of flashing lights.

“What’s going on?” Simon said.

“A roadblock,” Alice said.

Jenny raised herself onto her knees, trying to get a better look.

“Can you pull around?” Simon said.

“Where?” Alice gestured to the highway. Several cars were ahead of them. Red brake lights glowed and pulsed as they inched forward, stopped, then inched forward again.

“It might’ve been an accident,” Simon said, but Jenny noticed he didn’t sound as confident as he had a few moments ago.

“Are they looking for us?” Jenny couldn’t help asking.

“They couldn’t know about the robbery already,” Simon said.

“They might, though.” Jenny’s voice sounded high to her own ears, and she knew Simon heard the panic because he turned to look at her.

“There’s no way,” he said. “Even if they do, they have no idea we’re in an RV.”

Alice slowed the RV to a crawl. They were so close the lights were bouncing around inside the RV, reflecting off any metal.

“The cars are turning right,” Simon said. “What does that mean?”

“Detour,” Alice said.

“So probably an accident.” He sat a bit straighter, shifting himself so he was hidden by Alice’s shoulder as they neared what seemed to be emergency vehicles. White trucks with amber light bars on their roof—and a couple of RCMP cars. Their red-and-blue lights spinning.

“Police.” Alice sounded almost hopeful. Simon’s arm moved, and Jenny didn’t understand what he was doing until he spoke.

“Keep it together, Alice. The gun’s pointed at the back of your head.”

“If you want me to stay calm, that isnotthe way to do it,” she hissed.

“Just stay cool.”

Jenny stared at the police cars and gripped the edge of the table. What would it be like to be arrested? Would the handcuffs hurt? Would the police yell and shove them to the ground?

The RV was slowing to a stop, a man was walking to the window. White reflective strips shone on his yellow vest. He wore a hard hat. Not a policeman. She sagged back into the seat.

“Is everything okay?” Alice asked the man.

“Rockslide. The highway’s closed. Where you headed?”

“Banff.”

“Okay. You’ll have to detour down Highway 95.” The man pointed to where the other cars were turning. “Then loop back and take 93 until it connects with the Trans-Canada again. There’s no gas stations for a stretch, so make sure you’ve got plenty of fuel.”