CHERUB: Class A - Robert Muchamore Page 0,82

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 balls.’
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 butt.’
‘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 smashing 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 class.’
‘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 class 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 boyfriend–girlfriend thing, weren’t you?’ Kerry asked.
James smiled. ‘Oh, yeah. I can’t wait to see you.’
32. LAST
James walked into Meryl Spencer’s office, which overlooked the athletics track on CHERUB campus. Even though the window was open, you still got a hint of the damp smell from the changing room across the hallway.
‘Ewart is impressed,’ Meryl said. ‘Zara’s impressed and even Mr Jones from MI5 is impressed. I have to say it, James, I’m impressed.’
James smiled at his handler as he placed a black bin liner on the desk and sat down opposite her. Meryl tipped out the contents. There were clothes, trainers, CDs, an envelope with over five hundred pounds in cash and the five Playstation games he’d stolen from the Reeve Centre.
‘I trust there’s nothing else hidden up in your room?’ Meryl asked.
‘No,’ James said. ‘That’s everything I either stole, or earned from selling drugs. Except money I spent on food and going out, some presents I got for Joshua, and Lauren’s birthday money.’
‘Which charity do you want to give it to?’
‘Me and Kerry looked on the internet. She found this hostel near Luton that helps young people with drug problems. Gets them off drugs, finds them jobs and gets them places at college and stuff.’
‘That sounds excellent,’ Meryl said. ‘You’re due over thirty pounds’ pocket money for the time you were away, and the clothes won’t go for much in charity shops. If you want, I’ll put the pocket money in the envelope and you can keep the clothes and trainers.’
‘Cool,’ James said. ‘I’ll go for that.’
‘You know, James,’ Meryl said. ‘It must be Kerry’s influence, I could almost mistake you for a reformed character.’
James couldn’t help smiling at the compliment. ‘I’ve been at CHERUB for exactly a year,’ he said. ‘I reckon I’ve spent too much of that time scrubbing corridors, peeling vegetables and running punishment laps to mess you around any more.’
Meryl burst out laughing. ‘That’s what I like to hear,’ she giggled, ‘total obedience … But seriously, James, your performance on this mission shows that the training and hard work have paid off. When Keith Moore was being held hostage a few nights ago, you kept your head in a very nasty situation and thought your way out of it. If you’d found yourself in that position before you came here,