He looked around and assessed again. They were effectively in a tunnel, trapped between the airplane behind and the security checkpoint in front. They couldn’t go back, and they couldn’t go forward, so, with just one other option, Milton diverted to the door that the cabin crew had just used. It was on a sticky mechanism and was closing just slowly enough for Milton to catch it before it shut. Sakura moaned at the sudden movement, but Milton held her up and guided her toward the door. He pushed it with his shoulder, manhandling Sakura through as he glanced down the corridor at the policemen.

Milton took in their new surroundings. The interior of the corridor they were now in was functional rather than aesthetic. Areas like this, where paying clients were not supposed to be, did not need decoration; it was just the same in hotels and restaurants. Milton observed the bare walls and the industrial piping that ran along the ceiling as the door closed behind them with a resounding thunk. There was another door ahead of them and it was about to swing shut. It was too far away for Milton to reach, especially with Sakura in tow, but, just before it closed, someone stopped it and looked back through the gap.

It was Amber.

Her face fell. She turned to say something to whoever was in front of her and then walked back through the door to where they were standing.

“What are you doing in here?” she hissed, any trace of her earlier friendliness gone. She looked at Sakura and then at Milton, her brow furrowed. “What’s going on?”

“We need to get out,” Milton said. “She’s not well.”

“I can see that. And I know she wasn’t drinking. So what did you give her?”

“I didn’t give her anything,” he said. “She’s swallowed packets of drugs. I think one of them has split.”

She was aghast. “What?”

“That’s what she told me.”

“Why would she do something as stupid as that?”

“She said she’s been forced to do it. Someone has her son.”

“My God.” Amber’s mouth fell open. “If she gets caught here…”

“I know,” Milton said. “That’s why I’m trying to help.”

“You need to get her to a doctor. If they catch you helping her…” Fear flashed across her face. “If they catch me…”

Milton heard the sound of someone pounding on the door that they had just come through. He set off toward the second door, hauling Sakura with him. Amber followed. Milton grabbed Sakura’s arm, pulling it around his shoulder to give himself a more secure grip.

“Help me,” Milton said. “Help me get her out of here.”

“Are you nuts? They shoot drug smugglers here. I’m taking a risk even talking to you.”

“Fine,” he said. “I’ll do it. Get out of the way.”