I noticed that its occupants carefully reversed it before leaving it.

A minute or two later I heard their steps on the gravel outside the window.
My plan had been to lie hid in my bedroom, and see what happened.

I had a notion that, if I could bring the police and my other more dangerous pursuers together, something might work out of it to my advantage.

But now I had a better idea.

I scribbled a line of thanks to my host, opened the window, and dropped quietly into a gooseberry bush.