Part 9 (1/2)

'Three hundred and seven quid,' James said.

'You add fast,' Junior said. 'Over three hundred quid's worth of games. That's so cool, we've got to do it again some time.'

'I dunno,' James said. 'I'm not sure if my underwear can take the strain.'

'You're late, James,' Zara said. 'Dinner's nearly ready.'

Kerry and Kyle were sitting at the kitchen table while Zara did frozen lasagne in the oven.

'Sorry,' James said.

'You could have rung us,' Zara said. 'We were all worried.'

Kerry looked up. 'Where were you? I didn't see you at lunchtime.'

'I was around,' James said, defensively.

'So how was school?' Zara asked.

'Oh, you know,' James shrugged. 'Same old, same old. Boring as h.e.l.l.'

Zara wouldn't have minded that he'd bunked off with Junior, but James didn't want her finding out about the shoplifting and the chase. If cherubs steal something, or make money while they're on a mission, they're supposed either to return the goods or donate them to charity. James had no plans to give away five top Playstation games after going through so much exertion stealing them.

'How did you get along with Junior?' Zara asked.

'Really good,' James said. 'He's my sort of person. I reckon we would have ended up mates even if I hadn't tried. Where's Nicole?'

'Doing homework with April Moore and a bunch of other girls,' Kyle said.

'Wow,' James smiled. 'She's a fast worker. How did you two get on with your targets?'

'Erin Moore and her weird friends chucked paper at me and started calling me peg-leg because of my limp,' Kerry said miserably.

'Ringo's a swot,' Kyle said. 'Nice kid, taking his GCSEs very seriously. The thing is, I reckon he's too straight to be involved in his dad's drug business.'

'James,' Kerry said, 'why's there tin foil sticking out of your backpack?'

'What?' James gasped.

Kerry leaned towards the pack. James whipped it away before she got a chance to see inside.

'You've been up to something,' Kerry grinned. 'What's in there?'

'Nothing,' James said, jumping up from the table. 'I better go and um ... I'll give Lauren a call before dinner's ready.'

Kyle and Kerry exchanged looks as James thumped upstairs to his room.

'Tin foil?' Kerry whispered, not wanting Zara to hear.

'Don't ask me,' Kyle shrugged. 'But he's been up to something, that's for sure.'

1 The author of this book would like to point out that the shoplifting technique described here only works with certain outdated security systems. I've got no intention of telling you which ones they are because I don't want angry Dads turning up on my doorstep and kicking my head in because their little darling just got busted trying to nick something from a shop.

10. PUNCH.

It was Friday, after school. James, Kyle, Kerry and Nicole sat on the living-room couches in their school uniforms, drinking cans of c.o.ke. The TV was on but n.o.body was watching.

James looked at Kyle. 'I'm going boxing tonight, with Junior. You wanna come?'

'You in a boxing ring,' Kerry giggled. 'That's something I'd pay money to see.'

James clucked. 'It's training, stupid. They don't make you fight on the first night.'

'I'll pa.s.s on getting punched in the head,' Kyle said. 'I got invited to a party.'

'Oh,' James said. 'Thanks for inviting me.'

'It's Ringo Moore and his mates,' Kyle said. 'Year Ten and Eleven kids. They won't want the likes of you biting their ankles.'

'I'm meeting April at the youth club,' Nicole said. 'The boxing gym is upstairs.'

'So, Kerry,' James said, breaking into a grin. 'I'm going out with Junior Moore tonight. Kyle's partying with Ringo Moore and Nicole's at the youth club with April Moore. What are you and Erin Moore doing?'

'Ha ha, very funny,' Kerry said miserably. 'Erin is the biggest geek. There's this student Spanish teacher.'

'Miss Perez,' James said. 'I've got her as well.'

'That's her,' Kerry said. 'Erin and her little friends wound her up so much, they made her run out of the cla.s.sroom in tears. I felt really sorry for her.'

'Yeah,' James giggled. 'Perez is always crying. My cla.s.s had her bawling three times in one lesson. It was soooo funny.'

Kerry looked mad. 'James, that's horrible. How must that poor woman feel?'

James shrugged. 'Who cares? She's only a teacher.'

'You know what, James?' Kerry snapped. 'Teachers have feelings the same as anyone else.'

'Whatever,' James said. 'I know you're only angry because you can't get on with Erin and you'll probably get your botty kicked off this mission.'

'Oh, shut up, James,' Kerry shouted, putting her palm in front of her face. 'I spend all day stuck in a cla.s.s with a bunch of stupid, noisy morons. I don't want to come home and deal with another one.'

'Touchy touchy,' James giggled.