Part 30 (1/2)

'The local cops found a deceased member of the Lambayeke cartel and a bunch of unlicensed firearms in your house,' John said. 'Somebody killed him, and unless the bad guys decided to start shooting one another, you're the main suspect.'

'I want a lawyer,' Keith said sourly.

John turned and looked at Beverly. 'What's the standard sentence for a drug-related murder in Florida?' he asked.

'Life without parole, on a good day,' Beverly said, smiling. 'Though if the judge doesn't like the look of you, he might b.u.mp that up to death by lethal injection.'

'What if Keith claims self-defence and puts in a guilty plea to a charge of manslaughter?' John asked.

'Between twenty and fifty years in prison,' Beverly said.

'Man,' John Jones laughed. 'They're certainly tough down here in Florida. Keith Moore, I believe you're in a big heap of trouble.'

'I've got money,' Keith said, trying to sound confident. 'I can afford a very smart lawyer.'

'You reckon this case will ever make it anywhere near a courtroom?' John asked.

'Why shouldn't it?' Keith asked.

'You'll be charged with murdering a member of the Lambayeke cartel,' John said. 'You're a foreign citizen on a murder charge, so there's not a hope in h.e.l.l you'll get bail. You'll be banged up on remand, awaiting trial, in a Florida prison stuffed with members of the Lambayeke cartel. How long do think you'll last before one of them sticks a knife in your back?'

Keith looked a lot less sure of himself when he thought about this. John theatrically slammed his mobile phone on the desk.

'There's my phone, Keith. Go ahead, call your big-shot lawyer if you want to. The Florida legal system will take you under its wing and you'll be a dead man by Christmas.'

'So what's my alternative?' Keith asked.

'You'll have to sign a deal,' John explained. 'The DEA will grant you immunity from prosecution in the United States, if you give a full and accurate account of your dealings with the Lambayeke cartel over the last twenty-whatever years. And you'll have to agree never to set foot in the United States again.

'The DEA will pa.s.s all the information you give to the British police. I'm sure you'll have given them enough to prosecute you. You'll face the full weight of British justice, which will probably be a twenty to twenty-five year prison sentence. With remission for good behaviour, you could be a free man inside fifteen years.'

'Why not leave me out here to rot?' Keith asked.

'This deal makes everyone happy,' John said. 'The Americans get lots of valuable information on the Lambayeke cartel, rather than a big bill for prosecuting you and trying to keep you alive in prison. Back in Britain, the Home Secretary gets to stand up in parliament and mouth off about the success of Operation Snort and his big crackdown on drugs. And most importantly, you'll still be alive this time next year.'

'What if the Lambayeke cartel comes after me in Britain?' Keith asked.

'They might try to get at you,' John said, shrugging. 'But Lambayeke members are thin on the ground in British prisons, whereas you'll be on home turf. I expect a man with your resources will be able to find plenty of friends to protect you.'

'You've got it all worked out,' Keith said, s.h.i.+fting uneasily in his chair.

'This is a once in a lifetime deal,' John said. 'There won't be any negotiation. You've got one hour to make a decision.'

Keith leaned back in his chair and ran a hand through his sweaty hair. 'You know what?' he said. 'I reckon I've been in business long enough to know when someone's got you by the b.a.l.l.s.'

He reached his arm across the table to shake John Jones by the hand.

'I think you've got yourself a deal, Mr Jones.'

When the interview was over, James went back to Beverly's office and called the house in Luton.

'Kyle?' James asked. 'Is that you?'

'James, what's happening?'

'John Jones just nailed Keith Moore,' James said. 'They arrested him last night and he's cut a deal to save his b.u.t.t.'

'Excellent,' Kyle said. 'We're just packing up here. We've had to tell everyone we're moving back to London.'

'How was half-term?'

'Ringo's party was nuts. Kids were smas.h.i.+ng up furniture, puking on the stairs. I met this cool guy called Dave, he's really cute and-'

'Stop, stop, stop,' James said sharply. 'I can just about get my head around you being gay, Kyle. That doesn't mean I want graphic details ... What about Kelvin and that? I thought they were supposed to be looking after Keith's house.'

'Didn't you hear?' Kyle said. 'The police raided the boxing club on Tuesday night. They arrested Kelvin, Marcus, Ken and that tall kid in your cla.s.s.'

'Del?'

'Yeah, Del, and loads of other guys. The cops found the contact diary of the woman who used to organise the deliveries. They nabbed all the young couriers. You probably would have got busted if you'd been there.'

'So is Kerry in?' James asked. 'Can I have a quick word?'

'She's with Max Power.'

'Who?' James gasped.

'This new kid turned up in her cla.s.s on Monday. They're all over each other, snogging morning, noon and night.'

James realised it was a wind-up. 'Yeah, right, Kyle.'

'I had you going for a second,' Kyle giggled. 'Kerry ... it's your new beau. He wants to talk to you.'

Kerry came to the phone.

'We busted Keith,' James said. 'He's looking at twenty-five years.'

Kerry let out a big shriek. James had to move the phone away from his ear.

'Brilliant,' she said. 'We're heading back to campus tomorrow morning. When will you be home?'

'I'm flying out of here this evening,' James said. 'I'll probably get to campus about the same time as you guys.'

'You were serious about the boyfriendgirlfriend thing, weren't you?' Kerry asked.

James smiled. 'Oh, yeah. I can't wait to see you.'

32. LAST.