‘Ebenezer’s right,’ said Trio. ‘It’s empty; you can go.’

Lewis pulled the steering wheel round and the car slewed sideways into the crash barrier in the centre of the motorway. He shunted the gear into drive, gave it some gas and they steamed forward, taking a wide arc across the tarmac. Slamming into some grown-ups who’d caught up. Spilling them off to the side.

‘Just go,’ Ed shouted. ‘Head for the M25 turn-off.’

‘I’m going, man,’ said Lewis, staying calm. Staying cool.

‘Bad call. My fault,’ Ed added. ‘We should have gone that way before. No more risks.’

‘Was worth it,’ said Kyle. ‘Worth a try, and at least now we know our limitations – this car ain’t no tank.’

‘There’s something wrong,’ said Trey quietly.

‘There’s a whole lot wrong,’ said Kyle. ‘Tell me something new.’

‘Are we OK?’ Brooke asked. ‘Have they done any damage?’

Lewis shrugged. ‘She’s handling OK.’ As if he knew what he was talking about. It did seem to be all right, though. It was steering straight and felt like it was responding to the pedals properly.

‘There’s more of them,’ said Trey. ‘I can feel it.’

‘We keep moving, we’ll be OK.’ Ed leant over and turned the music down a little. The guy was just like a parent or a teacher. He had his head on straight, but Lewis wondered if he’d be any good in a fight. Somebody had certainly got the better of him one time. Given him that ugly, dirty scar down his face. He was posh and all. Not from the streets of Holloway where Lewis had grown up. Still, if a hench kid like Kyle could accept him as the boss man, he must have something going for him.

That had been some stunt the big guy had pulled. Leaping out like Thor and cutting a path.

Cool.

Lewis kept the car at a steady speed and they soon arrived at the M25 turning. It was a little complicated getting on to the slip road as they were approaching it from the wrong direction and there were no signs, but they managed it OK and were soon heading north.

‘Keep on here until we get to the M40,’ Ed explained. ‘That’ll take us west again and then we’ll look for a turn-off that’ll swing us back south.’

‘Whatever you say.’ Lewis settled back in his seat, feeling the tension ease away. It was an open road again. Danger over. Close one, though. Real close.

‘We’re still not safe.’ Trinity had been banging on about danger all the way. Lewis was tired of it. Wanted to tell them to shut up. In the end Macca did it for him.