Black Friday (CHERUB) - Robert Muchamore Page 0,32
squad.’
Ryan smiled at the idea of Ethan’s scrawny bod on a football field. ‘What about your grandma Irena? Have you visited her?’
Irena Aramov had controlled the Aramov Clan for more than thirty years, but she’d allowed Dr D’s TFU unit to take her operation over, on condition that she was given immunity from criminal prosecution and was allowed to travel to the USA to receive an experimental cancer treatment.
‘Been up to New York to see her a couple of times,’ Ethan said. ‘Treatment worked for a while, but she’s crashing again. I don’t think she’s got long now. Last time I was up there she barely knew who I was.’
Ted put a hand between Ryan’s bare shoulder blades and spoke firmly. ‘I’m real sorry about Kazakov. He was a good guy.’
‘He was,’ Ryan said sadly.
‘So,’ Ted said, trying to break the silence, ‘you still a pancake man?’
Ryan had fond memories of Ted’s pancakes and edged into a smile. ‘Blueberry?’
‘I can dig out some blueberries,’ Ted said. ‘You go get yourself cleaned up. Ethan will lend you some clothes, then you can fill your face while we work out what happens next.’
16. CONFERENCE
After being interrupted for the announcement on Friday afternoon, the advanced driving course had continued through the weekend and Monday was the final day.
Ning felt nervous as she sat in front of campus’ main building at the wheel of a large but badly mauled Opel saloon car. It was ex-police, with the high-vis stickers still along the side and filler in the roof where the flashing blue lights had once been bolted through.
James was in the front passenger seat, looking round impatiently with a clipboard resting on his lap. ‘Have you seen Alfie this morning?’
‘At breakfast,’ Ning said. ‘He went upstairs for something he’d forgotten, but that was ages ago.’
‘I sent him a text,’ James said, as he glanced at the clock on the dashboard. ‘If he’s not here in four minutes … ’
But Alfie came charging out of the main building before James finished his sentence.
‘Sorry,’ Alfie blurted, as he climbed in the back. ‘Got collared by my science teacher. The dickhead wants me to redo a whole bunch of work because it’s sloppy.’
James should have been annoyed, but he’d spent plenty of time hiding from teachers who were after him for homework when he’d been a cherub.
‘Who needs to know about molecules anyway?’ Alfie asked. ‘I’ve got my career all mapped out.’
James laughed. ‘And what’s that?’
‘I’m gonna be a professional rugby player, but if that fails I’ll become a porn star.’
‘Very sensible,’ James said, as Ning smirked.
‘Oh,’ Alfie added. ‘And they announced on the news that the FBI raided some warehouse. Found the last of the explosives and they reckon they’ve busted IDoJ’s top man in the US.’
‘Good,’ Ning said. ‘Means Kazakov didn’t die for nothing.’
‘OK, that’s enough distractions,’ James said. ‘Bruce, Leon and Grace left ten minutes ago. Have you both read the briefing?’
Ning and Alfie nodded.
‘You’re going to be tested on everything you’ve learned over the past four days,’ James said. ‘Drive fast, but always put safety first. Today won’t be easy, but you’re both good enough to pass this course.’
‘Slay them, Ning,’ Alfie said, as he buckled his seatbelt. ‘Also, please try not to kill me.’
‘Same to you,’ Ning said, smiling warily as she started the engine, dropped the handbrake and pulled off in first gear.
There were often little kids running around, so campus had a strict 10mph limit. Ning rolled down the gravel path that led from the main building to the security gate, but James told her to pull over before she got there.
‘What?’ Ning asked.
James tutted. ‘This is really basic. What do you do when you get into a strange car?’
‘Check that the car is mechanically safe from the outside. Check mirrors, familiarise yourself with the controls.’
‘Right,’ James said. ‘How far are we driving?’
‘You said thirty miles.’
James pointed to the fuel gauge. ‘Is that going to get you thirty miles?’
‘Oh,’ Ning said, when she saw the gauge on empty. ‘Shouldn’t the red warning light be on if it’s that low?’
‘It should,’ James agreed. ‘But this car is twelve years old. What did I tell you about old cars?’
‘Old cars are shit,’ Alfie said. ‘You can expect everything to go wrong.’
‘Exactly,’ James said. ‘The warning light could be faulty. Or the fuel tank might be brim full and the gauge itself could be faulty. But you set off without any awareness of a possible critical fuel problem.’