A simple rectangle, plain white walls, fluorescent lighting, five camp beds arranged on each side, evenly spaced like a barracks. Celine smiled as she was guided to the bed, pushed down to the softness beneath. Home…

“No, not home.” This wasn’t home. What was this place? Celine looked at the girl she had been following. She knew now that the girl was her friend. What was her name? This was wrong. This wasn’t home. What was her friend’s name? Celine? No, I’m Celine.

Thoughts danced like sparks from a damp campfire. Celine tried to stand.

The same man who had guided her earlier issued a barking command. “Lie down and shut up!”

Celine reclined onto the bed and lapsed into silence. Lie down and shut up. That was what was important.

“Lie down and shut up.” Celine’s voice was one of acceptance.

“Lie down and shut up,” the girl on the next bed echoed, her voice devoid of emotion.

10

“That filled a small gap,” said Clay, patting his stomach in satisfaction.

“A small gap? You just ate your weight in chicken tacos and potato salad,” said Danny as they waited in the harsh sunlight for Giorgio to bring their rental car.

“And very nice it was too. I’m keen to get going but you never know when you’re getting your next proper meal.”

“I know what you mean, big brother. This line of work, each meal could be our last.”

Clay’s rental, a sturdy Jeep Wrangler, arrived quickly. Giorgio grinned as he jumped out, leaving the engine and air-con running. “Nice wheels, man.”

Clay nodded in agreement. “It’s only a rental but it gets the job done.”

“A lot of visitors just rent the cheapest car they can get, which is fine for the main roads around Cancún, but if you venture a bit further out the roads are not so good. I’ve seen a lot of people get stuck out near the Mayan sites.”

Danny agreed. “I went out to Chichen Itza twenty-odd years ago, and I remember the road wasn’t much better than a farm track. More potholes than road.”

“The main roads out to Chichen Itza and Tulum are fine now, long and straight, no problems,” Giorgio explained, “but when you get out into the jungle to the smaller villages and the sites that haven’t been opened yet, that’s when the roads become an adventure.”

“An adventure, that’s one way to put it,” said Clay.

Giorgio shrugged, a wry smile creeping across his face. “Mexico is not just a country, it’s a state of mind. Every day is an adventure.”

“Scotland is much the same,” said Danny.

“You’re Scottish… that’s what your accent is,” said Giorgio, snapping his fingers. “I would love to go to Scotland one day. I love watching the movies from there. Highlander, Rob Roy, Braveheart, some of my favourite films. Do they still have the real castles to see?”

“Aye, there’s a lot of them still standing. The countryside is beautiful too. If you like the rugged outdoors, you’ll like Scotland.”

Giorgio clapped his hands together. “I must save my money and go one day.”

Clay rested a hand on Giorgio’s shoulder. “Hey, I wonder if you could help us out?”

“Sí, Mr Clay, anything, ask.”

“One of the housekeeping girls was telling Danny about the kids from the States who went missing recently.