He helped her up. ‘Next time you escape from somewhere, why not try the stairs?’ He sounded cool and casual, but the light in his eyes told her how pleased he was to see her. He pointed up at Swagger, still framed in the window. Thick drool was stringing down from the ’wolf’s slavering jaws. ‘I guess we should get out of here, huh?’

‘Right now,’ she muttered. She took a few tentative steps – her legs felt bruised and wobbly but at least they weren’t broken –then turned and gave Swagger the finger. ‘I said you wouldn’t believe what I’d do to you,’ she shouted, ‘you sick, evil bastard.’

The beast stared coldly down at Kate, then abruptly, it vanished from the window.

Tom got up, rubbing his back from where he’d fallen, and took her hand as he hobbled over to the corner of the half-derelict building. Jasmine and Rico were waiting there.

‘You was right, Tom,’ said Rico, grinning from ear to ear. ‘She was in there!’

‘Let’s move,’ said Jasmine, and started to sprint away down the street. The others set off after her.

Kate noticed Rico was wheezing. ‘Is he OK?’

‘Not really,’ Tom muttered.

‘He’ll be fine,’ Jasmine said hotly, skittering to a stop. ‘Ric, get on my back.’

‘I can carry him,’ Tom protested, as Rico dutifully climbed aboard.

‘No,’ she said, ‘I got him.’

With Rico clinging on around her neck, she moved off again –but at least now at a speed Kate and Tom could better match.

‘I thought you were dead,’ Kate said.

‘So did I,’ Tom answered. ‘A couple of times.’

‘How the hell did you find me at that place?’ she panted, gesturing to his outfit. ‘Were you emptying their trash or something?’

‘Funny. But don’t think this uniform entitles me to take any garbage from you!’ He gave her a smile. ‘We followed the trail of some ’wolf who tried to kill us. Only when it led us to the arena, I could’ve sworn there was a scent of you about the place.’

She frowned at him. ‘You saying I smell?’

‘Thought it was my imagination.’ He sniffed. ‘But now you’ve taken a bath in the trash …’

She stuck out her tongue. ‘Believe me, there’s worse garbage inside that place. You won’t believe what those freaks are doing.’

‘Tell me later,’ Tom puffed. ‘But God, Kate, is it ever good to see you.’

‘Sure it is,’ she said, and put on an extra spurt of speed so he wouldn’t see she was smiling.