Part 22 (1/2)

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 a.r.s.e.'

Ewart leaned in the door and looked at Nicole.

'Are you packed?'

'Just finis.h.i.+ng 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 pa.s.ses 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 ma.s.sive deal, Kerry,' Kyle said defensively. 'I had a few puffs of a joint that was going around at some kid's house two Sat.u.r.days ago.'

'So how come you're not expelled?' Kerry asked.

'Cannabis is a cla.s.s 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 b.u.m 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 Kelvin think KMG is ruined?'

'He says it'll take at least a month to get new supplies of c.o.ke and set up distribution. Even then, customers will be wary. Other gangs will move in and s.n.a.t.c.h 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 a.r.s.ed.'

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.'