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  ‘So you’re glad you didn’t bet me fifty quid?’ James grinned.

  Ewart gave James a vicious look. He definitely wasn’t in the mood for joking.

  ‘Go help Nicole pack and say your goodbyes,’ Ewart said. ‘I’m driving her back to campus in half an hour. Where’s Kyle?’

  ‘He’s in the kitchen,’ Kerry said.

  ‘Right,’ Ewart said angrily. ‘Let’s go and sort him out.’

  Ewart stormed off and slammed the kitchen door.

  ‘What’s Kyle done?’ Kerry asked, looking at Nicole.

  ‘Don’t know, don’t care,’ Nicole said bitterly. ‘I suppose he failed his drug test.’

  ‘No way,’ James said.

  ‘He wasn’t doing coke with me and Junior,’ Nicole said. ‘But he’s been going to loads of parties. Who knows what he gets up to?’

  ‘Oh, my god,’ Kerry said, cupping her hands over her face. ‘This is so sad.’

  Nicole started up the stairs. Kerry and James followed her.

  ‘How do you feel?’ Kerry asked.

  ‘Not bad, except my stomach’s agony and I feel like I’ve got an elephant standing on my head.’

  ‘I’m really sorry about what happened to you,’ James said, as they stepped into the girls’ bedroom. ‘It could have been any one of us.’

  Nicole smiled, ‘By the skin of your teeth, James.’

  ‘How’s that?’ Kerry asked.

  ‘He was ready to snort a line,’ Nicole explained. ‘But he got distracted.’

  ‘You moron,’ Kerry said, giving James a shove. ‘You told me you tried to stop Nicole.’

  ‘That’s not what I said,’ James squirmed.

  ‘That’s exactly what you said, James.’

  ‘So, anyone who takes drugs is a moron?’ Nicole asked. ‘Eh, Kerry?’

  ‘Nicole,’ Kerry said angrily, ‘if you’d passed out when you were in bed instead of on the stairs, nobody would have realised until morning. You might have died.’

  ‘You’re so sly, Kerry,’ Nicole stormed. ‘You and your prissy I’m a good girl act.’

  ‘What do you want me to do?’ Kerry asked. ‘Congratulate you on getting expelled?’

  ‘I don’t care about any of this CHERUB stuff,’ Nicole said defiantly. ‘It’s just a bunch of dumb kids getting hot under the collar over who wears what colour T-shirt and what stupid missions they’ve been on. Who cares about any of that anyway? They’re gonna set me up with a foster family and a place in a nice public school. I can have a boyfriend, chill out and lead a normal life.’

  ‘Don’t you get it, dumbo?’ Kerry said, tapping her head with her finger. ‘You nearly died last night.’

  ‘You don’t know what you’re talking about,’ Nicole said, shoving Kerry backwards.

  ‘Don’t dare touch me,’ Kerry said, rearing up on the balls of her feet. ‘I could kick your butt so easily, but you’re such a worthless tramp I can’t even be bothered.’

  Kerry spun around and stormed towards the door. James went to follow her, but Nicole called him back.

  ‘Stay and help me pack, James.’

  There was a desperate touch in Nicole’s voice that made him turn back.

  ‘Go ahead, help her,’ Kerry said. ‘You can make sure she doesn’t rip off my stuff.’

  Kerry banged the door and stomped downstairs to the living-room. Nicole dragged a sports bag from under her bed and started filling it.

  ‘You know, James,’ Nicole said, ‘you’re a good laugh, you don’t belong at CHERUB either.’

  ‘You’ve no idea how badly I need CHERUB,’ James said. ‘Sometimes all the work and training does my head in, but my life was a nightmare before I came here. I was in some crummy council home and I kept getting in trouble. If CHERUB hadn’t picked me, I probably would have ended up in prison.’

  ‘I’m glad I’m out of it,’ Nicole said, zipping up her bag. ‘As long as my new foster parents don’t turn out to be old farts.’

  ‘What is it you’ve got against old people?’ James asked.

  Nicole sat on the edge of her bed. ‘You know my family died in a car crash?’

  ‘I’d heard.’

  ‘They were crossing a road in broad daylight. This stupid old fool sailed his car through a red light and smashed into them. They tested his eyes after the accident and it turned out he could barely see past the end of his own nose.’

  ‘That’s so bad,’ James said. ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘If it had been a young guy, they would at least have locked him away. But no, because it was some old fart, they took pity and let him off. My mum, my dad and my little brothers were killed and he totally got away with it. Then everyone goes around telling me I should have respect for old people. Well, they can shove that idea right up their arse.’

  Ewart leaned in the door and looked at Nicole.

  ‘Are you packed?’

  ‘Just finishing off,’ Nicole said.

  ‘OK,’ Ewart said. ‘I’m going to the toilet. I’ll see you at the bottom of the stairs in five minutes.’

  ‘Wish me luck?’ Nicole asked, looking at James.

  ‘Sure,’ James said, wrapping his arms around her and giving her a squeeze. She had a tear rolling down her cheek.

  James carried one of Nicole’s bags out to the people carrier. Kerry stood in the living-room doorway with folded arms and a frosty expression. James thought it was a shame Kerry and Nicole had fallen out. They’d got on well up to now.

  Zara came out from the kitchen, gave Nicole a hug and wished her good luck with whatever life she chose to lead. When the car started pulling off the driveway, Kerry had a change of heart and ran on to the doorstep. She stood between James and Zara and waved Nicole off.

  ‘I hope she sorts herself out,’ Kerry said.

  ‘We’ll set her up with a good family,’ Zara said. ‘I think she’ll be better off in the long run. Not everyone is cut out to be a cherub.’

  ‘Oh,’ James said, suddenly remembering, ‘what happened with Kyle?’

  ‘It’s his business,’ Zara said. ‘It’s up to him whether he wants you guys to know or not.’

  James and Kerry found Kyle face down on his bunk, having a sulk.

  ‘Why was Ewart having a go at you?’ James asked.

  ‘They found traces of cannabis in my urine sample,’ Kyle said. ‘Almost every drug you could name passes through your body in day or so. Unfortunately for me, cannabis lingers in your system for up to three weeks.’

  ‘But you did take some?’ Kerry said, sounding outraged.

  ‘It’s not some massive deal, Kerry,’ Kyle said defensively. ‘I had a few puffs of a joint that was going around at some kid’s house two Saturdays ago.’

  ‘So how come you’re not expelled?’ Kerry asked.

  ‘Cannabis is a class C drug,’ Kyle explained. ‘I would have been sent back to campus, but they could hardly send me and Nicole away on the same day without it looking suspicious.’

  ‘So you’re gonna get your botty spanked when we go back to campus?’ James grinned.

  ‘That’s how it looks,’ Kyle said. ‘Probably a few weeks scrubbing floors, followed by a few months suspended from missions.’

  23. LUCK

  Sunday morning, James was in the living-room on his Playstation. Ewart came in and pushed his feet off the coffee table.

  ‘You just gonna sit around doing nothing all day?’ he asked.

  ‘That was plan A,’ James grinned. He’d missed a lot of sleep over the last couple of weeks. It was nice to bum around indoors for a change.

  ‘What about deliveries?’ Ewart asked.

  ‘Kelvin called me,’ James said, reluctantly pausing his game. ‘The nice lady who calls me with my deliveries has been busted. Not that it matters, because there aren’t any customers. Everyone’s heard about the arrests and they’re scared that if they ring up for a drug delivery, they’ll have PC Plod turning up on their doorstep rather than the likes of me.’

  ‘Does Kelvi
n think KMG is ruined?’

  ‘He says it’ll take at least a month to get new supplies of coke and set up distribution. Even then, customers will be wary. Other gangs will move in and snatch a lot of the business, but Kelvin thinks KMG has the clout to get back on top of things, provided Keith Moore doesn’t get nicked.’

  ‘What about Junior and April? Have you heard from them?’

  ‘I’ve spoken to both of them. I got invited to lunch, but I can’t be arsed.’

  Ewart sounded slightly annoyed. ‘Why aren’t you going?’

  ‘What’s the point?’ James shrugged. ‘The mission’s as good as over. We’ll all be back at campus in a week or two.’

  ‘James, the mission carries on either until Keith Moore is caught, or we officially get told to come home. You’re our closest link to the Moore kids now Nicole is gone. I’d be interested to know what Keith is up to at the moment.’

  James reached forward and switched off the Playstation, looking thoroughly put-out.

  ‘Fine,’ he huffed. ‘I’ll call Junior and re-invite myself.’

  *

  Ewart left James at the Moore house, then drove on a few hundred metres to drop Kerry at Dinesh’s.

  James thought there might be a bad atmosphere, but when Keith opened the door he was in swimming shorts with a big grin on his face. The house was huge and even though they had a cleaner, you could tell four kids lived there the second you walked through the door. There were trainers and cushions chucked everywhere, dirty cups and plates. James thought it was cool. He hated it when you go round some kid’s house and the mother goes hysterical when you put your cup down in the wrong place.

  ‘Come in,’ Keith said, dripping over the floor tiles. ‘April and Junior are swimming.’

  ‘I never realised you’d be in the pool.’

  ‘Don’t worry. Go up to Junior’s room. He’s got about ten pairs of swimming shorts in his middle drawer.’

  ‘Cheers,’ James said.

  Junior had a massive room with a big screen TV and video, a wardrobe full of decent clothes and a gumball machine. It wasn’t a bad spread for a kid who claimed to be hard done by.

  James stripped off and came down in a pair of orange shorts with seahorses on. The indoor pool was about fifteen metres long, with palms and flowerbeds along one side. Ringo and Keith were swimming laps. April and Junior were at the far end in a whirlpool tub. James stepped into the steaming water, gave April a kiss and sat beside her. She looked fit in her swimming costume.

  Once he was in the tub, James was glad Ewart had made him get out of the house. The warm jets of water made him feel relaxed and having April cuddled up close was a bonus. He took his hand off her back when Keith wandered up.

  ‘I’m ordering takeaway,’ Keith said, raising his voice above the bubbling water. ‘What do you guys want?’

  ‘Indian,’ April said.

  ‘Pizza,’ Junior said.

  Keith looked at James. ‘Deadlock. The guest gets the casting vote.’

  James didn’t like Indian much, but April had a cute grin on her face and she started sliding her toes up his leg.

  ‘Indian,’ he said.

  ‘Traitor,’ Junior said, slicing his hand through the water and giving James a soaking.

  James, Junior and April had a splashing battle, then towelled off and put on robes before the food arrived. Ringo and Keith sat on the sofa while James, April and Junior arranged themselves on cushions around the coffee table with all the boxes of food on it.

  Keith found the remote between two sofa cushions and switched the TV hanging on the wall to News 24. They all concentrated on stuffing their faces until the TV cut to a policeman. The title up on screen said: Superintendent Carlisle, Operation Snort. He started speaking to the camera.

  ‘We’ve made over one hundred and fifty arrests in the last three days and believe we have taken a major step against illegal drugs in this country…’

  A lump of prawn vindaloo smacked Superintendent Carlisle in the forehead and began sliding down the screen.

  ‘… This represents a giant stride forward in our war against illegal drugs in the UK …’

  ‘Try and catch me, Superintendent,’ Keith shouted, chucking another prawn.

  Keith’s kids joined in, hurling lumps of curry and handfuls of rice until the screen was a blurry mess. Everyone laughed, but it had a hollow ring, like they were really scared by the arrests.

  Junior turned around and looked at his dad. ‘Did you ask James about Miami?’

  ‘No,’ Keith said.

  ‘Miami?’ James asked.

  ‘I usually take the boys to my place in Miami for half-term,’ Keith explained. ‘But Ringo says he’s got a lot of homework and doesn’t want to go this year.’

  ‘He’s having a party,’ April explained. ‘I expect we’ll come home and find this house razed to the ground.’

  ‘Who says I’m having a party?’ Ringo said defensively.

  ‘It’ll be boring without Ringo,’ Junior said. ‘And the plane ticket’s paid for, so Dad suggested I take a mate.’

  ‘Cool,’ James said, bursting into a grin. ‘I’ll have to check with my parents, but it should be OK. Are you going, April?’

  ‘No,’ April said. ‘Me and Erin are skiing with our mum.’

  ‘It’s a family tradition,’ Keith explained. ‘We all used to go on holiday together, but I’d always be strangling my wife, Junior and April usually end up rolling around the floor if they’re together for more than a few hours, and Erin …’

  ‘We think the real Erin was abducted at birth and replaced by an alien from Neptune,’ Junior explained.

  ‘I’ve been here about ten times and I’ve still never met Erin,’ James said.

  Keith shook his head and smiled. ‘That girl may be my daughter, but I haven’t got a clue what goes on inside that little head of hers.’

  ‘You’ll love Miami,’ Junior said. ‘It’s boiling hot and our house is right on the beach. You can crawl out of bed, run down the beach and be in the sea within thirty seconds.’

  ‘I’ll ring Zara up now,’ James said.

  ‘Is Kyle home?’ Ringo asked.

  ‘Probably,’ James said. ‘Did you want a word with him?’

  Ringo gave his dad a mischievous grin as he spoke. ‘Just tell Kyle there’s a big party going down here, Friday after next.’

  Keith burst out laughing. James thought Keith was a really cool dad, especially considering the stress he was under.

  ‘You can have your party,’ Keith said. ‘But Kelvin and a couple of other guys from the boxing club are gonna chaperone it, in case any of your pals decide to start peeing on the carpets or stubbing out ciggies on my Egyptian rug.’

  ‘What?’ Ringo gasped. ‘I don’t want some crew of muscle-heads bossing my mates around. I’ll be totally embarrassed.’

  ‘Don’t worry,’ Keith said. ‘I’ll tell them to keep a low profile.’

  James gave Zara a call. She was surprised, but she said it was OK to travel.

  *

  It was already turning dark when James got home. He recognised John Jones’ Toyota on the driveway. He was in the living-room, with Zara, Ewart, Kerry and Kyle.

  ‘What’s this in aid of?’ James asked.

  John Jones explained. ‘As soon as Zara heard about your little holiday, she contacted me and I rushed over here.’

  ‘Why is me going on holiday such a big deal?’ James asked.

  ‘Miami is the centre of the world drug trade,’ John explained. ‘It’s no coincidence that Keith Moore has a home there. The saying goes: If you want a gram of cocaine, stand on any street corner. If you want a ton of cocaine, stand on any street corner in Miami.

  ‘There are twenty smaller gangs snapping at the heels of KMG. Keith has to get his hands on fresh supplies of cocaine and get KMG working again. A lot of his top people have been arrested and he won’t know who he can trust, so he’ll be brokering the deal himself.’

  ‘So wh
at can I do?’ James asked.

  ‘We know KMG has a long-standing relationship with a Peruvian drug cartel called Lambayeke,’ John explained. ‘To pay Lambayeke, Keith will have to transfer millions from his overseas bank accounts. If we can find out what bank and country Keith’s money is coming from, we’ll have a lead that could help us unravel the whole financial structure of KMG and maybe even Lambayeke as well.

  ‘Keith can’t keep every detail of his business in his head. He’ll be going to Miami carrying some piece of information that links him to his money. It might be a bank account number, or the phone number of a bank, or a file on the hard drive of his laptop. Whatever it is, you’re going to be in Keith Moore’s house for seven days. You’re never going to get a better opportunity to grab information than that.’

  James smiled. ‘So much for bumming around on the beach all day.’

  ‘As soon as this meeting is over, I’m driving you back to campus for two days’ emergency training,’ Ewart said. ‘There’s a lot you need to learn, but we don’t want you away from the Moore family for more than a few days.’

  ‘What excuse will we use for me not being at school?’

  ‘We’ll tell everyone you were planning to visit your aunt and cousin Lauren during half-term, but we brought it forward because of your trip to Miami.’

  24. FACTS

  James slept better than he had for ages. His bed in Luton was cramped and had springs that jammed in your back; plus on campus there was no Kyle squirming in the top bunk and no 300-seater jets whizzing overhead. The plumbing worked better as well. James put on a Metallica CD and rocked out in his shower, without having to worry about getting scalded every time someone touched the tap in the kitchen.

  When he was clean, he put on CHERUB uniform. The rooms and corridors in the main building reminded James of a hotel. As he waited for the lift down to the dining-room, he reflected that the only thing lacking was room service.