Foolproof !

Debbi was nervous but excited when Saturday morning rolled around and Carol and Derek pulled in to pick her up. Carol reiterated the plan. "Derek'll stop in the lay by right at the top of the stairs. So when you get out you can run straight down the steps and through the underpass into the High Street. That'll give us plenty of time to drive round and be waiting for you at the other end. I'll have gotten out and will have the doors open for you. Foolproof !"

Foolproof indeed. What could go wrong ?

Debbi clambered into the back of the van. There were no windows but Derek had laid out a sheet for her to sit on and there was a switch for a dim light. She was only wearing a sweatshirt and jogging bottoms, no underwear. She quickly pulled off the sweatshirt and it only took a little longer to disentangle the jogging pants from around her sneakers. Lastly she pulled the Mexican wrestler's mask over her head, carefully positioning it so that the eye holes would not slip down and obscure her vision.

In no time at all, Debbi felt the van slowing and coming to a halt. She heard the passenger door slam and then the back doors were flung open. "Out, out, out. Go, go, go !" Carol encouraged her. In a rush of adrenaline and without thinking, Debbi leapt out blinking into the sunlight. She turned and headed straight down the stairs, dodging past startled onlookers as she went. She knew that she couldn't afford to dawdle or take any time to ponder her surroundings, instead setting off on a full speed run as soon as she reached the bottom of the stairs. Her legs and heart began pounding as she launched herself at pace through the underpass. "Sorry, haven't got any spare change on me" she called out to the resident busker !