Part 21 (1/2)

The cop gave Zara a custody form to sign, while Dinesh wandered into the living-room. Kerry stood up and gave him a hug.

'I'm so sorry about your dad,' Kerry said.

'I told you he was a crook,' Dinesh said angrily. 'It was bound to happen sooner or later.' He looked at the duvets and pillows scattered around the living-room.

'We couldn't sleep,' Kerry explained. 'They had to take Nicole to the hospital.'

'Is it serious?'

'Kyle called from the hospital. They gave her an adrenalin shot to bring her round. Then they pumped her stomach.'

'I saw that on TV once,' Dinesh said. 'It's so nasty. They force a rubber tube down your throat and right down into your stomach.'

'They'll keep her in under observation for a few hours,' James said. 'But they reckon she'll be OK.'

Dinesh managed a smile. 'I wouldn't want to be in her shoes when she gets home.'

It was gone 3 a.m. when a cab dropped Kyle home from the hospital. Zara told them all to go upstairs and try to get some rest. Dinesh slept on Nicole's bed.

While the mission was going smoothly, Ewart had been acting calm, but when he shook James awake at eleven o'clock that Sat.u.r.day morning, he looked rabid.

'In the bathroom, now,' Ewart barked.

'Uh?' James said, still half-asleep.

Ewart grabbed James by his wrist and practically dislocated his shoulder as he yanked him out of bed. He shoved James towards the bathroom, bolted the door and bundled him up to the wall.

'We've got to keep the noise down while Dinesh is in the house,' Ewart whispered. 'But you better start giving me straight answers about last night, or I'm gonna make you sorry.'

'I haven't done anything,' James said.

'So what's this then?' Ewart asked, producing the metal straw that had come out of Junior's cocaine. There were still specks of white powder stuck on one end.

'It's not mine,' James said.

'Liar,' Ewart snarled. 'I was checking inside the pockets before I put the was.h.i.+ng on. It was in your jeans.'

James realised he must have pocketed it when Kelvin had surprised them.

'I swear I never took c.o.ke,' James said frantically. 'That belongs to Junior. I must have picked it up by mistake.'

Ewart opened the medicine cabinet and took out a plastic sample bottle.

'We'll see, won't we? I got three of these at the hospital last night,' Ewart said. 'Pee in that. I'm gonna have your, Kyle's and Kerry's urine samples tested and if there's cocaine in there, you'll be out on your a.r.s.e with Nicole.'

James was pleased to see the sample bottle. The test would clear up any argument.

'Give it here,' he said, smirking confidently. 'How much do you want to bet that I'm clean? Fifty quid, a hundred?'

'Cut the smart mouth,' Ewart said. 'And p.i.s.s.'

James angrily s.n.a.t.c.hed the bottle off Ewart, flipped up the plastic lid and stood over the toilet. He was usually busting when he woke up, but he couldn't go with Ewart standing behind him.

'Can't you wait outside?' James asked.

'You might tamper with it,' Ewart said. 'Try thinking about waterfalls or something.'

When he'd finished, James handed the bottle to Ewart.

'Any money you like,' he said c.o.c.kily.

His air of confidence had taken the edge off Ewart's anger. 'Go back to your room and tell Kyle to get over here.'

After Kyle had gone, James slumped on his bed feeling pleased with himself. Ewart would look an idiot when the drug test came back. Then he had a horrible thought: if Kelvin had called down the stairs a couple of seconds later...

James relived the drunken instant when the dish of white powder was just centimetres from his face. He felt sick when he realised how close he'd come to snorting a dangerous drug and getting himself booted out of CHERUB.

22. NICOLE.

Junior called James on his mobile.

'Dude.'

'You sound happy,' James said. 'What's up?'

'It's pandemonium here,' Junior said. 'I've got a killer hangover and the pigs arrested over eighty KMG people last night. My dad thinks he's about to get busted. He keeps running up to the curtain every time a bird flies past the window.'

'Mr Singh got nabbed,' James said. 'Dinesh spent the night here. Ewart's taken him to the airport to meet his mum.'

'They nicked Uncle George and Uncle Pete,' Junior said. 'They're not my real uncles, but they've been working for Dad since before I was born.'

'So how come you're in a good mood?' James asked.

'Nicole, of course,' Junior said. 'I had my hands everywhere. No offence, James, I know she's your sister and everything.'

'She's in hospital,' James said. 'The c.o.ke did her in.'

'No way,' Junior gasped. 'That explains why I couldn't get her mobile. Is she OK?'

'Yeah, but I wouldn't get your hopes up about seeing her any time soon. She overdosed once before,' James said, repeating Zara's latest cover story. 'Ewart and Zara are terrified that she's gonna end up killing herself. They've arranged for her to go back to a care home in London for a psychiatric a.s.sessment.'

'Oh, my G.o.d,' Junior blurted. 'I'm really sorry, man. I'd never have offered her c.o.ke if I'd known she had a problem. How long will she be gone for?'

'Um,' James said, scratching for an answer, 'it all depends on the a.s.sessment, I suppose ... She might not be back at all ... Anyway, I just heard Zara pulling up with a carload of shopping. She goes loopy if I don't help her unload.'

'I'll see you then,' Junior said. 'April asked if you fancied coming round for Sunday lunch?'

'Maybe,' James said. 'I don't know what's going on at the moment, with Nicole and that. I'll ring you later.'