"True," May said. “Let’s drive behind that bank of trees. Then it’ll be out of sight, just until we see what’s happening here. If it's the professor, and he sees us here, he might be scared off and make a run for it. And in that car, he might very well get a head start on us."
Quickly, May started the car and drove over the bumpy ground, easing the car around the track and behind the ragged tree branches. Now, she felt grateful for the untidy state of their surroundings because at least they offered cover.
She narrowed her eyes in surprise. It wasn’t just the one car. Close behind that SUV, she saw another one. An identical one. Powering up the hill, and now veering between the rusted gateposts and heading for the trailer.
Through the branches, the headlights flashed in May's eyes, so bright she couldn't see who was behind the wheel in either car. But she did notice that neither had license plates.
She watched the cars pull up directly outside the trailer with a squeal of brakes.
The driver's door of the first car opened. Now they could get a better look at the vehicle, which May saw was a large, jet black and shiny Range Rover.
She had no idea what was playing out here. This was very confusing to her. The passenger door swung open, and then the doors of the other vehicle opened too.
May’s mouth literally dropped open as four men, dressed in dark leather jackets and all wearing holstered guns, climbed out and headed with aggressive purpose toward the trailer.
May turned to Owen, seeing that he looked as shocked as she felt. This was beyond what she'd ever anticipated to find. Theywere outnumbered and outgunned by these four armed thugs, who May was sure had not arrived for a social visit. Nothing in their body language pointed to the fact that they were here on friendly terms.
If Professor Bright was a drug dealer or involved in serious crime, this could go very wrong, and who knew how bad it would get?
It was like a scene from a movie.
"We need to radio for backup," May whispered.
The four men were disappearing around the side of the trailer to where the door was located. As soon as they were out of sight, Owen got on the radio straight away.
"We need reinforcements, urgently. We're at a suspect's house and four gunmen have just pulled in," he muttered. "This is top priority. Highly dangerous situation." He then gave their location and waited for a response.
May hoped the crackle of the radio wasn't audible to these thugs, or they might storm out of the trailer and hone in on their new target.
Was Bright even in the trailer? Or were they raiding it while he wasn’t home, and if so, why?
She had no idea, because they’d literally just walked into a situation that had veered off course in the most unpredictable way.
Owen got off the radio.
"Backup can only get here in twenty minutes. That's the soonest possible timeframe. That might be too late for us to wait, May."
She nodded. Within twenty minutes, she feared that whatever was set to happen here, whatever fuse had been lit, the explosion would already be over.
"We're going to have to take a risk, if we can't wait," she said. The longer they sat here, the greater chance there was of the gunmen returning and maybe getting the jump on them.
May flinched as she heard a smashing sound.
"They must have broken down the door," Owen whispered.
May waited, her heart pounding, wondering if she would hear shouts or gunshots, screams for help or the sound of a fight.
She urgently needed to manage this situation. Apart from anything else, she needed to question this suspect and she couldn't do that if he was going to be lynched by these gun-wielding men.
What had he done, who had he angered? Who were these people, and with backup so far away, how was May going to extricate herself and Owen from the situation, as well as ensure Professor Bright lived long enough to be questioned?
She was scared, but she wasn't going to leave a man's life in the balance.
"We have to intervene somehow," she said. "It's our duty of care as police, and as investigators, we need our suspect alive."
"And if they're drug dealers? What are they going to do if they see us?"
"That's the chance we'll have to take. But we need to think of the professor, Owen. And our case."