CHERUB: Class A - Robert Muchamore Page 0,27

hand out of the air.
‘Sorry,’ James said. ‘So how much is this?’
‘One gram in every bag. They give me ten grams at a time, then they ring me on my mobile and tell me where and when to deliver it.’
‘How much do you make?’
‘Fifteen per cent,’ Del said. ‘This is sixty a gram, so I get nine quid. If I work Friday and Saturday evenings, I can easily make a hundred quid. Sometimes though, like at Christmas, you get people loading up for office parties and stuff. I had this one guy who lived two streets away from me. He was buying ten grams at a time. Ninety quid for a ten-minute bike ride. It was beautiful.’
‘Do you blow all the money?’
Del shook his head. ‘I used to, but you end up wasting it all on junk. Now I only spend twenty pounds a week. I stick the rest in my savings account and when I’m eighteen, I’m gonna buy a ticket and go off backpacking.’
James looked at Junior. ‘So how come you’re always broke?’
Del burst out laughing. ‘This baby’s not allowed to go anywhere near drugs.’
Junior explained miserably. ‘My dad’s paranoid that he’ll get arrested. If I get caught with drugs, it gives the police an excuse to question Dad and search our house.’
‘That’s a shame,’ James said.
‘Tell me about it,’ Junior said bitterly. ‘My dad’s a millionaire and half my mates are making a packet selling coke. What have I got? Holes in my jeans and supermarket-brand football boots.’
‘Can’t you do it on the sly?’ James asked.
‘Won’t happen,’ Junior said. ‘The word is out. Anyone who gets me or Ringo involved in the drug business will be in serious trouble if my dad cops them.’
‘So you’re stuffed,’ James laughed. ‘You reckon there’s any chance I can get in on this delivery lark?’
Del shrugged. ‘I’ll go upstairs and have a word with Kelvin if you like. I don’t know if he needs anyone right now, but I can try and get him to set you up with a few bags of coke and your own phone.’
‘I’ve already got a mobile,’ James said.
Del shook his head. ‘You have to use the phone they give you, so the police can’t trace it.’
‘But there’s definitely a chance?’
‘I haven’t got a clue,’ Del said. ‘All I can do is put a word in.’
‘Thanks,’ James said.
Del stood up. ‘Anyway, I’ve got a nine o’clock delivery, so I better dive home and pick up my bike. I’ll see you two hard-up losers at school on Monday.’
James smiled. ‘Yeah, see you.’
‘I’ll be thinking about you sweating away on your bike in a couple of hours,’ Junior said. ‘When I’ve got my hand up some girl’s shirt.’
‘In your dreams, Junior,’ Del shouted as he walked towards the exit.
James shook his head, grinning in false disbelief. ‘I can’t believe your dad is a drug dealer.’
‘Who cares?’ Junior said. ‘Do you want to try and get off with someone?’
They both glanced around.
‘Look at that bird sitting by the Coke machine,’ Junior gasped. ‘I’ve not seen her here before.’
James turned around. He’d guessed it was Nicole before he even saw her.
‘She’s reserved for me,’ he said. ‘That’s my stepsister.’
‘You can’t get off with your sister, you pervert.’
‘Stepsister,’ James said. ‘We’re not blood relatives. Why don’t you go for the one sitting next to her? She looks like a right dog.’
‘That’s my twin, you cheeky git,’ Junior said. ‘And you better not call April a dog again, unless you want a slap.’
April had her hair done differently from the surveillance photos. James hadn’t recognised her.
‘I tell you who else is good looking,’ Junior said. ‘Pity she’s already with someone.’
‘Who?’ James asked.
‘At the table behind our sisters. That Chinese-looking girl, with long black hair. She’s well tasty.’
James peered over. All he could see was the back of the girl’s head. Then she turned and he saw her in profile.
‘That’s my other stepsister,’ James gasped. ‘That’s Kerry. Who’s that she’s with?’
‘Dinesh Singh. He lives up my road. His dad runs a firm that makes those microwave meals for supermarkets. So, you want to go over?’ Junior asked. ‘I’ll go for Nicole and you can have a run at April. She’s not too picky, to be honest with you, so even you might stand a chance.’
‘Jesus,’ James said, feeling like his head was going to burst with jealousy. ‘Dinesh just put his arm around her.’
‘What’s the problem? Do you fancy all your sisters, or something?’
‘It’s just, Kerry’s really young.’
‘How old is she?’ Junior asked.
‘Twelve.’
Junior