‘Those cops were animals. They pushed me around, called me every racist name under the sun and then threw me in a cell with piss everywhere and the smell …’
James and Bruce eyed each other across the table and started to giggle.
‘Yeah it’s really funny, boys,’ Michael snarled, but his look turned to a smile when Gabrielle started laughing too, wincing with the effort.
‘OK,’ Zara said impatiently. ‘We’re already late and I’m sure everyone in this room has seen enough police cells in their time not to need too graphic a description. Chloe, under the circumstances, I’m sure we can stretch the mission budget to providing Michael with some replacement clothing. Michael, have you had a chance to see the mission update that Chloe prepared overnight?’
‘I’ve only just got here,’ Michael said, shaking his head as Maureen slid a document across the table.
**CLASSIFIED**
MISSION UPDATE FOR: JAMES ADAMS,
MICHAEL HENDRY, BRUCE NORRIS
& GABRIELLE O’BRIEN
THIS DOCUMENT IS PROTECTED WITH A RADIO
FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION TAG
DO NOT PHOTOCOPY OR MAKE NOTES
THE FIRST PHASE
In January 2007 CHERUB agents Gabrielle O’Brien and Michael Hendry (under the names Gabrielle Smith and Michael Conroy) were sent to live in the Bedfordshire Halfway House, known locally as the Zoo.
Their Mission Objectives Were:
(1) To infiltrate the gang known as the Slasher Boys and collect information on their criminal activities. In particular, to try and uncover the methods they use for smuggling cocaine and other illegal drugs into the country.
(2) To gather information about rival gangs, with the aim of giving the police a better understanding of the rivalries between them.
Progress was slow but Michael and Gabrielle successfully infiltrated the Slasher Boys and began associating with known members, gaining knowledge and slowly winning the trust of the group’s leader DeShawn Andrews, more commonly known as Major Dee.
Unfortunately, the mission suffered a major setback on 15 March, when the two agents became entangled in a violent robbery that led to two members of a rival gang known as the Runts being shot, another Runt suffering a fractured skull, the stabbing of Gabrielle O’Brien and the murder of Owen Campbell-Moore.
While it first appeared that the Runts had attacked the Slasher Boys, it has now become clear that the attack was orchestrated by a third gang known as the Mad Dogs. Agents should note that the Slasher Boys are not yet aware that the Mad Dogs set up the robbery.
THE REVISED MISSION
Following a meeting of the ethics committee and the news that Gabrielle’s injuries were not as serious as first feared, a decision was made to press ahead with the mission using two separate teams.
Team one will consist of Michael Hendry working with assistant mission controller Maureen Evans. Michael will continue with his existing mission to infiltrate the Slasher Boys. Gabrielle O’Brien has stated that she would also like to return to the mission. It is unlikely she will recover sufficiently before the mission ends, but a cover story involving her recuperating at an aunt’s house in London will be put in place to allow for her return.
Team two will consist of James Adams and Bruce Norris. James will reprise his role as James Beckett from his 2004 anti-drugs mission. Bruce will take on the identity of James Beckett’s cousin. They will work with mission controller Chloe Blake.
Their task will be to infiltrate the Mad Dogs, initially by rekindling James’ past relationship with Junior Moore. They will live in the Bedfordshire Halfway House along with Michael, but for the purposes of the mission they must pretend not to know one another.
Due to the high risk of this mission, overall control for the operation will be handled directly by chairwoman Zara Asker, with Chloe Blake in charge of day-to-day operations.
TRAINING AND PRECAUTIONS
When the ethics committee approved the expansion of this mission they imposed strict conditions:
(1) Before being redeployed, all agents will be issued with protective equipment including body armour, easy-to-conceal knives, miniature stun guns and a small handgun for use in situations of extreme danger.
(2) The ethics committee has placed the mission on seven-day review status. This means that three members of the committee will review the progress of the mission every week. If they feel the situation has become too dangerous they will cancel the operation and order the agents back to campus.
(3) All agents are reminded of their right to refuse this mission or to withdraw at any time.
‘Here’s what I don’t get,’ James said, as he waggled his copy of the briefing in the air. ‘How can we go around with guns and body