She looked toward the barred window. She heard a scraping noise and then saw Smith’s face once again. He didn’t have his hands wrapped around the bars like before; he must have been standing on something.

“Sakura.”

“I’m here.”

“Go over to the corner—over there, as far away from this wall as you can. Wrap your arms over your head and don’t look up.”

“Why? What’s going to happen?”

“Just do it. I’m getting you out, but I’m going to have to make a little mess.”

* * *

Milton watched Sakura retreat to the other side of the cell. Victoria had reversed the truck right up to the rear wall, and Milton was standing on the flatbed, more than high enough to look through the window. He leaned down and picked up one end of the thick strap that had, until a few minutes earlier, been keeping the tin roof of the motorcycle shack lashed down. He looped one end of the reinforced material through the bars of the cell window and attached the other end to the tow bar on the rear of the truck. He checked both ends of the strap to make sure they were secure. There was about ten feet of play in it; he would have preferred more, but that was as good as it was going to get. They would have to hope that it was enough.

There were more short, sharp bursts of gunfire from the front of the police station, followed a few seconds later by single shots from pistols. Milton assumed that was the sound of the police returning fire.

Milton jumped down, splashing into the mud. He slapped the side of the truck and then stepped right out of the way.

“Now!”

* * *

Katsuro cursed when he realised what was about to happen. The Hilux had been backed right up tight against the rear wall of the building, and something—a chain, perhaps, or a rope—had been fixed to the bars that covered a cell window. Katsuro swiped rainwater from his eyes as the driver threw the truck into gear and hit the gas. The wheels spun for a second or two on the wet ground before they gained traction, and then the vehicle lurched forward. The rope tightened, jerking the truck almost to a stop. Then it jerked forward again, and, this time, it was accompanied by a crack and then a loud crash.

* * *