The closer they got to London, the more nervous Kit became. He drove until the sunset behind the rolling hills and the blue sky faded to a near-black. On their journey, he'd stopped only once to top the motorcar with the petrol in the back. They'd have to get more before they left the city, but that wasn't a priority.

Kit drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as they passed the familiar landscapes. Emily slept curled up in her seat, a blanket draped over her, and her eyebrows furrowed as though she were deep in thought. He wanted to be with Adam before she woke up, so she wouldn't have to see whatever police patrols were out looking for them. They were playing a dangerous game.

He kept his eye out as they drew nearer, watching passing cars for signs of the police or anyone who might have been looking for them. The motorcar would give them away more than their faces would, especially since the licence plates were the same ones Matthew had used.

"Are we almost there?" Emily asked, stretching her arms above her head. The blanket slipped off her lap, but she pulled it up.

"Almost."

"Good. I don't think I can spend another night sleeping in this motorcar."

"And you won't have to." Kit took one hand off the steering wheel and pointed to a small, red-brick house. "He lives there."

"Is he in?"

"I hope so."

Kit parked the motorcar beside the house and climbed out. Emily followed him though she was a little more apprehensive about going. He didn't blame him and felt the same sort of doubt she did. She had trusted Matthew the same way he trusted Adam, yet he had had no issues with stabbing them in the back. Kit made sure the gun was safely stowed away in the back of his trousers before he approached the house.

Emily hung back as he wrapped his knuckles on the small, wooden door. He glanced over his shoulder as though anticipating someone sneaking up on him, but the roads were silent. The door to the house swung open and Adam looked at him with wide eyes.

"What the hell are you doing here, Jonesy? Half of London is looking for you," he said.

"I know. They're not the only ones. We need a way out of the country."

Adam stepped back into the house and returned a moment later with a large white sheet. "Throw that over the Royce and then get in here. That motorcar is going to tell everyone where you are and I ain't having the police turning up here, neither."

Kit did as he was asked and threw the sheet over the motorcar. He made sure it covered the licence plates and anything else that would identify it as belonging to Matthew. Emily reached out and grabbed his hand as Adam stepped aside to let them into the house. It had been a long time since Kit had been in Adam's house, but it hadn't changed in the slightest; the same peeling paint, the same scuffed floor, and the usual scent of smoke hung in the air.

The house was dark, with nothing but a few flickering candles to light the small living room. Adam gestured them both to a couch — which thankfully wasn't broken — whilst he remained standing. Both Kit and Emily perched on the edge of the couch, just in case they needed to make a quick getaway. Kit made sure the gun was within reach.

"You need documents to leave the country, right?"

Kit nodded. "As soon as possible. There are posters out, so nowhere is safe."

"I know. They're all over the place." Adam pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it using one of the candles. "Rob told me to keep an eye out for you. He knew you'd come back when you saw those posters. You've got yourselves into a right sticky situation."

"Can you help us or not?" Emily asked. Kit squeezed her hand, reassuring her as best he could.

"Sure can, but it ain't easy. If your documents don't work, you'll need to bribe 'em, but I don't reckon you've got the money for that."

"It's a good thing you owe me."

Adam laughed, puffing on the cigarette. "Hm, s'pose you're right. It should only take a day or two to get the documents you need, so long as no one finds out. Anyone who ran with you is in danger, me included. They already got people watching Rob's garage since they couldn't prove he was the one who swapped the plates out on the other Royce."

"Is Rob alright?"

"A bit roughed up, but nothing he can't handle. You should be lucky the rest were still inside. I reckon they would have turned you in if they knew where you were." Adam looked at Emily, who sat with her hands tightly squeezed into fists until her knuckles went white. "Don't worry, I ain't going to do the same. I know what happened to that friend of yours and I ain't in the habit of getting myself killed."

"Thank you, Adam. I know how much of a risk this is for you."

"Ain't nothing. You've helped me out more times than I count and a few documents ain't going to kill me, so long as the police don't find me. Stay upstairs until I tell you it's safe. Use the back room and don't open the curtains."

"Alright. Be careful."

"I always am."

He nodded at the two of them, taking another long draw on the cigarette. Kit, still holding Emily's hand, stood up from the couch and led her to the dark hallway. Their light footsteps echoed through the small space as they climbed the stairs to the upstairs landing. Here, there were two bedrooms — a larger one, and a smaller back bedroom — the bathroom was outside.

The smaller bedroom contained nothing more than a small wooden dresser and a metal-framed bed in the centre of the room. Kit knew the room was used for people looking to escape the city. Adam's back bedroom had become a safe house for their group to hide out if they needed it. There was nowhere safer for them to be than right under the police's nose. 

~~~

First Published - February 13th, 2024