CHERUB: Class A - Robert Muchamore Page 0,83

I’m sure your reaction would have been very different.’
James nodded. ‘I probably would have freaked out, like Junior did.’
‘And the close bond you made with Keith Moore was tremendous.’
‘Keith’s a really nice guy,’ James said. ‘I know he’s a drug dealer, but I almost feel sad that he’s gonna go to prison.’
‘Well, don’t,’ Meryl said sharply. ‘Keith had enough money and power to keep his distance from the nasty side of the drug business. He might have spent his days swanning around his pool acting like a cool guy, but he knew what was going on. KMG was a ruthless organisation that didn’t hesitate to use violence and intimidation to get what it wanted. For every person KMG made rich, there’s probably a thousand more who messed their lives up with drugs. Either by taking them, or getting caught selling them.’
‘Keith said breaking up KMG wouldn’t even make a difference to the amount of cocaine being sold on the streets.’
‘Maybe there’s some truth in that,’ Meryl said. ‘But you can’t stop fighting against something just because it’s difficult. That’s like saying there’s no point having doctors and hospitals because everyone eventually dies.’
‘So when’s my next mission?’ James asked.
‘Ah,’ Meryl said, ‘bad news on that score, I’m afraid. You’ve been on two long missions already this year and you’ve missed a lot of school. We’re not looking to send you off campus again until the new year.’
‘That’s not so bad, actually,’ James said. ‘Missions are hard work. It’ll be nice to go a few months without waking up every morning wondering what my name is and if I’m gonna get shot at.’
‘I heard about the man you killed. We do all we can to keep our agents out of situations like this, but it’s an unfortunate fact that drug dealers and guns are inextricably linked. Have you thought about it at all since you got back?’
‘A bit,’ James said. ‘But I get more freaked-out wondering what would have happened if me and Junior hadn’t decided to go down the beach for a boxing— erm … For a swim, that night.’
‘Have you had trouble sleeping, or nightmares?’
‘I was lying awake thinking about the car chase on the plane home,’ James said. ‘The woman sitting next to me said I looked pale. She got me a little tub of mineral water.’
‘I’ll arrange some sessions with a counsellor,’ Meryl said. ‘You’ve been through a traumatic experience and it’s important that you talk about your feelings with someone.’
*
Kerry was sitting on a bench by the athletics track waiting for James when he got out of Meryl’s office. He gave her a quick kiss and sat next to her.
‘How many punishment laps did Meryl give you?’ Kerry asked.
‘None,’ James said.
‘That’s got to be a first.’
‘I didn’t do anything bad.’
Kerry started giggling. ‘Another first.’
‘They don’t want to send me on another mission until the new year. It’ll be cool if we can just chill out on campus together. Watch movies, do homework and stuff.’
‘That’s OK for you to say, James. You’ve already fluked into the lead role on two major missions and earned your navy T-shirt. I’m still a nobody.’
‘It’s not such a big deal,’ James said casually. ‘It’s just a T-shirt.’
Kerry huffed. ‘If there’s one thing I really hate, it’s people who have something and say that it doesn’t matter. It’s like those rock stars on MTV who go on about how their millions of dollars and supermodel girlfriends haven’t made them any happier. But you never see them giving it all away and going back to live in Mummy’s trailer home, do you?’
James thought it was best to change the subject before Kerry got into one of her moods. ‘Do you fancy taking a stroll over to the back of campus?’
‘That would be nice,’ Kerry said, breaking into a smile. ‘The leaves are pretty colours at this time of year. I never thought you had a romantic side, James.’
‘Actually, Kyle and Lauren are up there cleaning out ditches. I thought we could go over and wind them up a bit.’
Kerry gave James a gentle shove. ‘I might have known you didn’t have a romantic side… What happened about Lauren, anyway? The last I heard, everyone was gonna go up there and help her out.’
‘Mac said Lauren had to be punished and that anyone caught helping her dig would have to run thirty laps every day for a month. Everyone’s making her life easier in other ways though: doing her laundry, letting her jump the queue