CHERUB: The Killing - Robert Muchamore Page 0,90

will.’

‘So is Max about?’ James asked. ‘Do you reckon I should stick my head in your flat and say goodbye to him?’

‘I wouldn’t,’ Liza said. ‘It’s a nuthouse in there. Max is sobbing his little heart out about Uncle Leon and Pete getting nicked. Auntie Sacha’s really upset, because bloody Sonya started a big row with her, blaming Uncle Leon for everything.’

James smiled a little. ‘That explains why you’re out here. I’m sorry about your uncle.’

‘Sonya’s right about one thing,’ Liza shrugged. ‘Uncle Leon’s like Teflon: nothing ever sticks to him. He’ll probably be home in a few hours.’

‘I hope so,’ James lied. ‘Anyway, I’d better carry this downstairs before I do myself an injury.’

‘Yeah, later James,’ Liza said, as he waddled towards the staircase holding the TV.

Thursday 00:02

James was heading up the M11 in the van when his mobile rang: Hannah calling. He stared at the display, picturing Hannah on her bed, lit up by lava lamps with her orange toenails. He wondered what kind of mood she’d be in and what she wanted to say, but he didn’t answer. When the phone stopped ringing, James slid off the battery, pulled out the SIM card and snapped it in two.

‘That’s another phone number I don’t have to remember,’ James said, grinning at John but feeling sad inside.

John nodded, without looking away from the gloomy lanes of traffic. His eyes looked puffy, like he needed a good night’s sleep.

James slid a nylon wallet out the back of his jeans and ripped the Velcro apart. He went down the little zip-up pocket, took out the SIM card he used on campus and slotted it into his phone. After turning it on and looking at the intro message – which Lauren had changed to U*Suck months earlier – he flicked through the saved numbers and gave himself a shock: Bruce, Cal, Connor, Gab, Kerry, Kyle, Lauren, Mo, Shak.

Apart from Lauren, nobody on the list was speaking to him. He flicked up to Kerry’s number and thought about sending her a text. The kiss had worked two nights earlier, so he figured he should try. But what should he write?

He typed SORRY, deleted it, then typed it again. After deleting again he got halfway through I APOLOGISE before deciding that it sounded too pompous. James wanted to tell Kerry how she made him feel special. How she wasn’t the fittest or most beautiful girl in the world, but that he wanted to be with her more than anyone else.

James realised what he really wanted to say and typed it out: KERRY, I LOVE U.

He spent a full minute with his thumb over the send button before he felt brave enough to press it.

00:18

James’ phone beeped. There was an envelope on the screen:

1 SMS from Kerry:

WE NEED 2 TALK :)

CU AT BREAKFAST. K.

Epilogue

The Cops

The end of the CHERUB investigation into Leon Tarasov was just the beginning for RAY McLAD and GREG JACKSON of the Complaints Investigation Branch (CIB).

It took six further months of investigations for their team to root out and gather evidence against fifteen corrupt officers who had been based at Palm Hill police station over a twenty-year period.

Five of the fifteen officers were forced to resign. Nine others were arrested and charged with serious corruption offences, such as taking bribes, tampering with evidence and running a protection racket in association with Leon Tarasov. One of these officers was acquitted of all charges. The other eight were successfully prosecuted and received prison sentences ranging between two and nine years.

The final corrupt officer, ALAN FALCO, was not charged with any offence. His testimony was instrumental in successfully prosecuting his former colleagues. Falco was forced to move from his Southend home following a series of anonymous threats, an arson attack on his car and waking up to find the word grass spray-painted on his greenhouse.

Disillusioned with her police career, MILLIE KENTNER took a two-month leave of absence. After considering her options – including an offer to become a handler at CHERUB – Millie decided to continue working for the Metropolitan Police. She successfully applied for a transfer to CIB and is now in charge of an undercover squad that specialises in rooting out corrupt police officers.

The Robbers

LEON TARASOV and MICHAEL PATEL faced charges relating to the Golden Sun Casino robbery and the subsequent murder of WILL CLARKE.

Shortly before his trial was due to start and in the face of overwhelming evidence, Leon Tarasov pleaded guilty to all of the robbery charges against him and to

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