Starly was at the top of the hill but it had low-level street lighting, night-sky-friendly, the village had been noisy about it, like so many other eco things, nagged enough to get their way. At nearly half past ten, the place was empty and quiet. They had illuminated the church tower for a while until there had been another protest, to save energy and the planet, and the compromise had been lights on the facade only at Christmas, on Remembrance Day and national events like the Queen’s birthdays, jubilees and anniversaries. Vince had voted for keeping the lights on full-time, knowing that his side would lose. But you had to try, you had to speak out, just as you had to vote because if you didn’t you’d no right to complain afterwards.

Ginger had slowed right down after turning into the square, and Vince decided to stop, and continue on foot. The van pulled up outside the Chinese pharmacy, switched off his lights. Then, nothing. Vince slipped into a doorway further along.

Two minutes. Five. Ten. He was frozen, he had to clench and unclench his hands and play keyboard with his fingers, pull his collar up and his fleece hat right down.

It was getting on for twenty minutes before another car turned into the square and slipped in behind Ginger, and the men were out, and up to the door of the pharmacy, the second man, much taller and bulkier than Ginger, with a key ready in his hand. Vince edged his way along the row but stopped three shops down. No light went on inside the shop, but after a few seconds, he could make out a thin torch beam moving quickly down to the counter area.

They were just thieving, then? Casual thieves had keys, did they? And unless they were just after money, how likely was it they’d want herbal toothpaste and Chinese vitamins?

He edged forward one shop. Dreamcatchers, crystal balls, tarot packs, Wiccan gear, all both weird and dusty. Vince remembered it first opening and the incense smell that always got at you from six doors down.

The torchlight inside the pharmacy disappeared but no one came out. He edged right up to the side window and cupped his hands against the glass. At first he saw nothing but then the thin beam of light again, moving about right at the back. they had obviously been here before and knew their way round. He should wait until they did emerge, see if they were carrying anything, maybe follow Ginger again, in which case he should make a note of the other car number plate, pass it over to his cop. He turned but the plate was hidden and he could only see part of the car registration. Could they get anything from a description and half a number plate?

‘Who the hell are you?’ Two men had come out of the shop fast and one had cannoned into Vince.