Class A (19 page)

‘Imagine if you two had been hurt, or even killed, last night. Mac would have had to go to London to explain the facts: two kids got mugged and went chasing after an armed drug dealer. At the least, Mac and the senior people within CHERUB would be sacked for letting something so irresponsible happen. The politicians might even decide they can’t stomach what CHERUB does and shut the whole show down.’

Kerry nodded. ‘When you put it like that, I can see it wasn’t worth it.’

‘Sorry,’ James said.

‘You’ve got nothing to be sorry for,’ Zara smiled. ‘Just try to be less gung-ho from now on.’

*

Kelvin rang James’ mobile around midday.

‘I’ve been making calls about what happened,’ he said. ‘Can you meet us down here at the boxing club and bring everything you got off Crazy Joe with you?’

‘I’m not in shit, am I?’ James asked.

‘No, no way,’ Kelvin said. ‘I just want you to fetch the stuff down and we’ll see you right. And that bird you had with you.’

‘Kerry,’ James said.

‘Yeah, bring her as well.’

*

Kerry had never been up to the boxing club. The gym was quiet at this time of day; just a few of the more serious boxers putting themselves through punishing workouts. Ken, as always, sat in his chair holding a mug of tea and watching everything that happened.

‘They’re using my office,’ he said. ‘Knock before you go in.’

A gigantic man in a suit and tie stood guard at the door of the dingy office. James did a double take when he got inside. Crazy Joe was leaning against the back wall; he had a bloodstained dressing over a cut in his forehead. Kelvin sat on a cabinet off to one side and the big cheese himself was in the cracked leather chair at the desk.

‘Take a seat,’ Keith Moore said.

He didn’t look like anyone special. A smallish man, with cropped brown hair. He wore Levis and a white polo shirt. The only conspicuous sign of wealth was a chunky gold ring.

‘I haven’t had the pleasure before,’ Keith said, reaching over and shaking James’ and Kerry’s hands. ‘Have you brought everything you took off Joe?’

James rattled the carrier bags between his legs.

‘It’s all in there.’

‘I take it you know who I am?’ Keith asked.

‘Yeah,’ James said. ‘I’ve seen you at your house. I was on the
Playstation
with Junior.’

‘My business runs itself these days,’ Keith said. ‘People go off to South America to buy stock, stock arrives, stock gets distributed.’

James noticed that he never referred to drugs or cocaine, in case the room was bugged.

Keith continued, ‘Sometimes I go for weeks hearing the same message:
 
all the usual problems, boss, but nothing we can’t handle
. Then, just when you think nothing is ever going to excite you, something turns up like what you two did last night.’

‘It was a test, wasn’t it?’ Kerry asked.

‘That’s right,’ Keith smiled. ‘You won’t last long in business without loyal people. The best way to find what they’re made of is to give them some fake merchandise and put them in a situation like we put you two in last night. Some people get scared and turn hysterical. Those are the ones who’ll cause problems if they get busted. We have to kick them out. Some people are sorry for losing the merchandise, but they tough it out and beg for another chance. That’s what we’re hoping for: guts and determination. Until last night, though, nobody ever showed enough guts to hunt down and get revenge on the guys we paid to rob them. What you two did was very impressive.’

James and Kerry both smiled.

‘This is all nice and cosy,’ Crazy Joe said bitterly. ‘But what about my stuff?’

‘Yes,’ Keith said. ‘You’ll have to return what you took from Joe.’

‘What about us?’ James said. ‘I’ve lost my best trainers. We both lost our watches and mobiles and stuff.’

‘Joe can return them,’ Keith said.

Joe cleared his throat. ‘Actually, I said the two guys who
duffed
them up could keep what they took.’

‘OK,’ Keith said. ‘Take five hundred quid out of Joe’s money, that’ll cover it.’

‘That’s a bit steep,’ Joe said tersely. ‘It’s not my fault the brat was wearing expensive trainers.’

Keith repeated himself. ‘Take five hundred quid out of Joe’s money, that’ll cover it.’

He didn’t change his tone or anything, but Joe knew his place and didn’t push the argument. James took five hundred pounds and split it with Kerry. After that, he slid the carrier bags over to Joe.

‘Is that everything you took?’ Keith asked.

James nodded. ‘Everything.’

‘Where’s my Mustang parked?’ Joe asked.

James and Kerry looked awkwardly at each other.

‘We were scared you’d report it stolen and our fingerprints were all over the inside,’ James said.

‘You didn’t clean them off with white spirit, did you?’ Joe asked. ‘White spirit dries out the leather.’

‘No, we didn’t,’ James said. ‘We,
erm
…’

He didn’t have the bottle to say it.

‘We burned the car out,’ Kerry blurted.

‘You did
 
what?
’ Crazy Joe shouted, lunging over the desk and grabbing James by his T-shirt.

‘Let him go,’ Keith said, firmly.

‘I’ll kill these little pricks,’ Joe shouted, dragging James across the desk and trying to get his hands around his throat. James thrashed about, trying to push Joe off.

Joe had ignored Keith’s order, so Keith gave Kelvin the nod. Joe was no match for the powerfully built boxer; Kelvin picked up the fat man like he weighed nothing, banged him against the wall and slapped him around the face. Joe let out a high-pitched yowl that could have come from an eight-year-old girl.

‘That car was my baby,’ he sobbed. ‘I spent months working on her.’

Kelvin backed off with a stunned look on his face. Joe dabbed up tears with the end of his beard.

‘Wasn’t it insured?’ Keith asked.

‘That’s not the point,’ Joe sniffled. ‘I invested love in that car. You’ll never get that back.’

Keith was killing himself laughing. ‘Joe, it’s only a car. Get a grip on yourself.’

‘Those kids should pay damages, or something. They shouldn’t get away with it.’

‘Joe,’ Keith said, looking a little angry. ‘It’s not my fault you let yourself get outwitted by two twelve-year-olds. I’ve done what you wanted, now get out of here before I ask my minder to step inside and knock your head through the wall.’

Joe grabbed his carrier bags and stumbled out of the office. He looked such a shambles James almost felt sorry for him. Keith got up from behind the desk, shaking his head.

‘You know,’ Keith said, as Kelvin helped him into his overcoat, ‘if you two kids stay loyal and work hard, you’re gonna make a lot of money.’

James and Kerry both grinned. The bruises were worth it if they’d earned Keith Moore’s respect.

‘Actually,’ Kerry said, ‘I came along as a favour to James. All your deliveries are done by boys.’

‘I thought girls were soft until I met you,’ Keith said.

‘I can set her up, if you like,’ Kelvin said.

‘These two are really special,’ Keith said, grinning. ‘They’ve got brains and balls. Keep them busy and make sure they’re properly rewarded.’

‘Thanks,’ Kerry said.

‘And James,’ Keith said. ‘If you’re over my house with Junior any time, be sure to stick your snout into my office and say hello.’

Keith left with his minder like he was in a hurry. James looked at Kelvin, who was shaking his head in disbelief.

‘I’m gonna have to treat you two right,’ Kelvin said. ‘With Keith singing your praises, I might just end up calling one of you boss some day.’

19. THIRTEEN

Friday before school, Kerry knocked on the boys’ bedroom door.

‘Are you decent in there?’

‘I’m still in bed,’ James groaned, sounding knackered. ‘Come in if you want.’

He’d been up until nearly midnight having a
Playstation
competition with Kyle and a couple of Thornton kids. Kerry came through the door with Joshua in her arms and dumped him on James’ bed.

‘He wanted to wish you Happy Birthday,’ she said.

James pulled his duvet over his face. Joshua tugged it back and giggled when James made a loud quacking noise.

‘How come you didn’t scream your head off when Kerry picked you up?’ James asked.

‘I think he’s finally got used to me,’ Kerry smiled. ‘Can I leave him here while I get my books ready for school?’

Kerry went out. Joshua crawled up the bed and burrowed under a loose pillow near James’ face. James moved in to blow a raspberry on Joshua’s arm, but as he got close he recoiled from a powerful smell.

‘
Jeeeeeeesus
,’ James shouted, covering his nose with his arm. ‘You smelly little …’

James jumped out of bed and picked up Joshua, holding him out at arm’s length. He walked into the hallway, where Kerry and Nicole were wetting themselves laughing.

‘I wondered when you’d smell it,’ Kerry said.

‘You’re evil,’ James grinned. ‘I’ll get you two for this.’

James carried Joshua downstairs to the kitchen. Zara was cooking a pan of sausages.

‘Morning, teenager,’ Zara said. ‘There’s presents and stuff on the table.’

‘This little monster filled his nappy,’ James said.

Zara grinned. ‘You know where the changing table is, James.’

‘Yes, I do, but you’re not getting me anywhere near it.’

‘Think of it as a learning experience,’ Zara said. ‘An introduction to life as a young adult.’

James knew Zara wasn’t serious.

‘Actually,’ he said, ‘a better introduction to young adulthood would be a crate of beer and some hot chicks.’

Zara smiled. ‘I don’t think so, somehow.’

Ewart walked in behind James.

‘You want to be careful,’
Ewart
said, taking Joshua out of James’ arms. ‘You start off with the hot chicks and before you know it you’re leaning over a changing table with one of these little beasts peeing on you.’

Ewart tickled his son’s belly before taking him outside for a nappy change.

James sat at the table and started ripping into his cards. Because cherubs never have family, except brothers and sisters, they make a point of exchanging cards, even when they’re away on missions. James had over thirty, including some with foreign postmarks redirected from campus. Gabrielle had sent one from South Africa. James’ old training pals
Callum
and Connor had posted one from Texas and Amy had sent a postcard with a picture of a giant pineapple on it from Australia. The tackiest-looking card was from Lauren.

‘Here, Zara,’ James laughed. ‘Listen to what Lauren
wrote.
Dearest brother, you are an idiot. Sometimes you make me puke. I’ll be in training by the time you read this and I wish you were doing it instead of me. PS Happy thirteenth birthday, I love U
. Then she’s done a row of kisses.’

James left opening his presents until Kyle and the girls had come down. The biggest box was from
Ewart
and Zara: a replacement for his stolen trainers. Nicole and Kerry had clubbed together and bought him a T-shirt he’d looked at the last time they went to the Reeve Centre. He got a kiss from each of them when he said thanks. Kyle got him a pack of trendy men’s toiletries. It included shampoo, conditioner and a little bottle of aftershave. The label read,
 
Please use these regularly
.

‘This is all cool,’ James grinned. ‘Cheers.’

He put his goodies aside and grabbed a sausage sandwich from the plate in the middle of the table. His mind wandered back a year to his twelfth birthday, just after his mum had died. He’d been living in a council home and wasn’t allowed to see Lauren. It had been about the most desperate day of his life.

Then he thought about other birthdays, back when his mum was alive. Charging down the stairs to stacks of shoplifted toys and clothes, then racing to unwrap everything before school. When Lauren was tiny, she’d had to have a present as well, or she’d chuck a jealous fit.

Thinking back made James feel emotional and his eyes started glazing over. He didn’t want to start bawling in front of everyone, so he scraped back his chair and bolted towards the stairs.

‘Are you OK?’ Zara shouted after him.

‘Busting to pee,’ James lied.

He locked himself in the bathroom. He wasn’t really miserable, it was just that thinking about his mum always made him feel empty. Even though there was loads of interesting stuff going on in his life, James often wished he could go back in time and spend a night in front of the TV with his mum.

After washing his eyes, James stared in the mirror at the same kid who’d been there the night before, only now he was a teenager. It didn’t really make any difference, but it was a buzz all the same.