CHERUB: Shadow Wave (21 page)

‘I spoke to John about the safety issue,’ Meryl said. ‘You associated with a large number of bikers over a long period, so you could be in some danger, especially while there’s a gang war going on. And besides, American colleges are the best in the world and Stanford is among the best of the best. The only thing that worries me is that it will be very academic. We can pull strings to get you through the door, but there’s nothing we can do to keep you there if you fail your exams.’

James nodded. ‘As long as it’s maths or physics, I think I’ll be fine. It’s only when it comes to reading books and writing long essays that my brain turns to sludge.’

Meryl stepped up to the computer on her desk. She crouched over her screen and spent a few seconds studying a spreadsheet.

‘Two other CHERUB agents have gone to Stanford in the last ten years,’ she said, as she read from the screen. ‘Both previous Stanford admissions have been handled for us by the CIA’s relocation department at short notice and without any problems. And because of the security angle with the Brigands, CHERUB will pay all of your tuition fees and living expenses whilst you remain in full-time education.’

‘The advisor said I should ask about American citizenship too,’ James said.

Meryl nodded. ‘I’d suggest setting you up as a British citizen. If you want to change that later, we’ll be able to fix you up with an American passport.’

‘Sounds good,’ James said.

‘The other obvious problem with going to America is that you can’t pop home and visit Lauren on campus, or go see Kyle for the weekend,’ Meryl warned. ‘And I thought you were still in a serious relationship with Kerry.’

‘American courses are modular,’ James explained. ‘So I can do my first and take a year off. So when Kerry leaves CHERUB this time next year, she can either start college with me, or we can take a year off and go travelling. And the beautiful thing is that there are other good colleges near Stanford. So Kerry could study at Berkeley, or USC and we’ll still be near to each other.’

‘I take it you want to fly out and actually visit the Stanford campus before making a final decision?’ Meryl asked. ‘You’ll have to do it fairly soon because even our CIA relocation contacts need time to process your application and arrange your student visa.’

James nodded. ‘The advisor suggested that I go and take a look. He said he can arrange college tours, with proper guides and everything.’

‘I’ll book you a flight,’ Meryl said. ‘It’ll probably be the week after next if that’s OK with you? And Kerry really needs to come along too if she’s a serious part of your plans.’

James liked the idea of a trip to California with Kerry and broke into a big smile.

‘There’s one other thing,’ Meryl said. ‘I almost hate to ask the question, but I feel that I have to. How confident are you that your relationship with Kerry will stand up to at least one year of living apart?’

James shrugged and looked awkward for a couple of seconds. ‘We’ve been separated on missions and stuff. But, I’m a realist, I guess … I mean, we’re both young. We’ve broken up before. I
really
hope it works out with Kerry and that we end up studying in California together. But shit happens, you know?’

Meryl laughed as she walked back from her desk. ‘Lots of shit happens!’ she agreed. ‘Stand up James. Give me a hug.’

James was startled. Meryl was always friendly, but not to the extent that she usually went around hugging people.

‘Get your hairy butt over here,’ she ordered, and held out her muscular arms.

Meryl pulled James into a tight hug and slapped him hard on the back. The six-foot three-inch retired Olympic sprinter was one of the few women big enough to mother a stocky seventeen-year-old like James.

‘I’ve been tough on you at times, but only because I had to be,’ Meryl said, as she let James go. ‘But I’m
really
proud of the way you’ve thought your future through. You’re a great lad, and I’m gonna miss the hell out of you when you’re gone.’

James felt a tear well up in his eye. ‘I never knew you cared that much,’ he said, as he stifled a sob.

‘Of course I care you daft boy,’ Meryl said incredulously. ‘You’re all little sods at times, but you’re all my babies. Well, with the
possible
exception of Jake Parker.’

James was humming
Going to California
by Led Zeppelin as he walked into the campus dining-room. It was morning break and there were crowds of younger kids queuing to get hot drinks and bacon rolls. He couldn’t be arsed to wait in line, so he headed directly to a table by the window and joined his sister Lauren and her boyfriend Rat.

‘You look cheerful,’ Lauren noted. ‘Did Kerry buy some kinky underwear or something?’

‘Oh aren’t you hilarious,’ James said dryly. ‘Where’d you disappear to yesterday?’

‘Long walk with a bunch of wedding guests. It was really nice. The sun was out, we ate lunch in this country pub.’

‘I got blisters,’ Rat complained.

Lauren swivelled her head and glared at him. ‘You said you enjoyed it.’

‘It was OK,’ he shrugged.

James laughed. ‘You two have been together
too
long. You’re starting to peck at each other like you’re married or something. So anyway, I had my meeting with Meryl.’

‘Take it from the humming that it went well?’ Lauren asked.

‘Trip to California being planned to check out Stanford University. She did the financial figures as well. I get about four hundred and fifty grand. You’ll get even more when you leave, because you passed basic training when you were ten.’

Rat looked down and blew casually on his fingertips. ‘That’s not much,’ he sneered. ‘ASIS found that some of my dad’s paintings were registered in my name. I think the Picasso was sold for five and a half, then there was a Pollock, and a couple of Warhols. It came to about eight and a half million at auction as I remember …’

‘Rich bastard,’ James grinned.

Lauren nodded. ‘I’m only really his girlfriend because of all the money he’ll get when he turns eighteen. I’m gonna marry him and then totally screw him for a massive divorce settlement.’

‘Well I’m no millionaire,’ James said. ‘But there’s enough in the kitty that I won’t have to worry about student loans or saving up for a car.’

‘I feel bad for people like Bruce and Kyle,’ Lauren noted. ‘Their parents didn’t leave them anything.’

‘Kyle did OK though,’ James said. ‘Because his parents were povs, he gets an extra allowance from the CHERUB trust fund. We’re lucky that we’re so well looked after. I remember when I was staying at the Zoo in Luton. The kids there got a council flat, dole money and a two-hundred-quid furniture grant when they turned seventeen.’

‘They have to look after us after we leave,’ Rat said. ‘If they didn’t, some desperate sod would write a book about CHERUB, or try sneaking out photos of campus and selling them to a newspaper.’

‘So speaking of Kyle,’ James said, as he gave Lauren a serious look. ‘Did you read the e-mail he sent you about Tan Abdullah?’

Lauren looked a little awkward. ‘I saw it quickly when I got back from the walk last night.’

‘But you got the gist?’ James asked, and Lauren nodded. ‘I’m going to see Ewart Asker about the mission after break. I think we should go together and tell him that we’re not doing it. I might speak to Kevin as well if I see him around.’

‘I think I’m doing the mission,’ Lauren said.

James gasped. ‘You what?’

‘You’re in a different position,’ Lauren explained. ‘You’re about to leave. If you quit, it makes no difference. But if I drop out of a mission less than a week before it’s due to start there’s going to be a black mark against me.’

James shook his head. ‘No there won’t. Your record on missions is one of the best on campus. If they need someone for an important mission and you fit the bill, they won’t not send you just because you withdrew from this half-arsed bodyguard detail.’

Rat put a hand up to his mouth and spoke in a whisper, pretending like Lauren wouldn’t be able to hear. ‘She wants to go shopping.’

‘What does shopping have to do with anything?’ James asked, as Lauren gave Rat a dig in the ribs.

‘She’s been going on about this for ages,’ Rat explained. ‘Tan Abdullah is a billionaire. His latest wife is a top model and they have a reputation for spending big in the shops.’

‘Ahh,’ James said, as the pieces clicked into place.

Lauren had never been a girlie girl when it came to make-up, dressing up and that sort of thing. But the stereotype that girls were obsessed with shopping fitted Lauren perfectly.

‘Tan Abdullah’s wife is called June Ling,’ Lauren explained, half excited, half apologetic. ‘I’ve read about her in magazines. She’s a shopping fiend. She goes into Harvey Nichols and spends sixty grand on dresses. I found this article that said when Tan’s kids were little she took them into Hamleys and spent eighteen grand on toys in one pop.’

As James shook his head, Rat’s best mate Andy Lagan came towards the table holding a tray with two bacon rolls and a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows floating in it. He nodded to James, then shook his head.

‘You’re not going on about that shopping trip
again,
are you?’ Andy sighed. ‘I got stuck on a table with Lauren, Bethany and Tiffany in maths yesterday. It was all they kept talking about.’

‘They’re
so
jealous,’ Lauren cooed.

James pounded his hand on the table top and pushed back in his seat. ‘I can’t believe you, Lauren,’ he blurted. ‘You’re usually the moral one. The one who’s a veggie. The one who wants me to shell out on some “adopt an endangered bunny” scheme for your birthday present. But apparently people getting tortured and thrown out of their homes doesn’t matter, as long as you get to hang around some posh shops with a Chinese model.’

‘James, me going shopping isn’t going to knock down any villages.’

‘Well do it for Kyle then,’ James suggested. ‘He put his whole CHERUB career on the line for you when Mr Large threatened you.’

‘I’m chumming up with a couple of kids, going shopping and staying overnight in a posh hotel,’ Lauren said. ‘If Kyle has a problem with that, I’ll find some other way to make it up to him.’

‘You’re never gonna persuade her, James,’ Rat explained. ‘She’s had her heart set on this for weeks.’

Lauren stood up from the table. ‘I’ve got to get over to the pool block for swim training,’ she announced, before looking accusingly at Rat. ‘And
you
should be more supportive.’

James shrugged at Rat while Lauren pulled on a big pack filled with her swimming kit and started walking towards the doors.

‘Sorry mate,’ James said. ‘I didn’t mean to cause trouble for you.’

‘Forget it,’ Rat said.

James noticed that Andy was picking at his bacon roll. ‘You gonna eat that?’ he asked.

‘Take it,’ Andy said, sounding like he had the weight of the whole world on his shoulders.

‘You OK?’ James asked.

Andy gave a nod, but Rat explained. ‘He’s been like this ever since Bethany came back from her mission with Bruce and dumped him. I think she’s at it with Bruce as well - I walked past Bethany’s room and you could hear them. We were talking about putting a surveillance camera in their room and posting the result on YouTube.’

James laughed at this thought as he bit a chunk out of Andy’s bacon roll. But as much as he hated Bethany, Bruce was still one of his best friends. ‘You’re not serious though, are you? I mean, they’d both get expelled.’

‘Of
course
I’m not serious,’ Rat laughed. ‘Imagine if Bruce found out. Your life expectancy would be about four-point-seven milliseconds.’

*

James was determined to try and stop CHERUB getting involved with Tan Abdullah, even if it meant pissing off Lauren. The mission control building was one of the newest on campus, but the hi-tech steel and glass roof had also sprouted leaks over the winter, leaving stains and mildew patches on walls and a smell like a musty cellar clinging to the air.

Senior mission controller Ewart Asker looked frazzled as James stepped through the door of his office. He had paperwork mounded on his desk and was crawling around the back of his computer, jiggling a lead.

‘Nothing works,’ Ewart complained violently as he stood up. ‘What can I do for you, James?’

James looked up at a metal column streaked with rust. ‘They still haven’t fixed this place up?’ he asked.

‘Nightmare,’ Ewart explained. He slumped in his chair. ‘There are several companies that can fix this type of roof, but do you know how many of them have the security clearance required to work on CHERUB campus?’

‘None,’ James guessed.

‘Got it in one.’

‘What about the company that built the building?’ James asked.

‘Bankrupt,’ Ewart said. ‘And on top of that, my fellow senior mission controller, Dennis King, is in hospital having his prostate removed, my sodding computer isn’t working and I’ve been waiting for an IT engineer for thirty-five minutes.’

James thought about saying it wasn’t important and coming back later, but decided to start speaking. ‘This mission that you’ve set up for me,’ James said. ‘I looked up Tan Abdullah. He’s a scumbag, to put it mildly.’

‘You mean the arrests last summer?’ Ewart asked.

‘Arrests?’ James asked.

‘Opposition politicians, arrested by the army on terrorist charges? Isn’t that what you’re talking about?’

‘I only saw about tossing villagers out of their homes on Langkawi island,’ James said.

Ewart shrugged. ‘I hadn’t heard that one. But Tan Abdullah is a nasty little crook, no doubt about it.’

‘So why are we helping him?’ James demanded.

Ewart shrugged again. ‘Abdullah is coming to Britain to ink a five-billion-pound defence deal, for everything from sidearms to trainer jets to gas turbines for new Malaysian frigates.’

James sounded a little cross. ‘So we turn a blind eye to torture and violence, as long as there’s a bit of money coming our way?’

‘Oh, come off your high horse James,’ Ewart said, sounding slightly irritated. ‘You’ve been on too many missions to be that naive. Not many people get into high ranking positions in politics, business or most other fields without being ruthless. I’m not proud of the fact that we welcome someone like Tan Abdullah into our country, but if we didn’t pocket the five billion the Americans, French or Russians would.’