‘No problem,’ Zara said. ‘If she meets up with any of the local kids, you’ll have to tell them she’s your cousin. It’ll seem weird if you suddenly have a sister popping out of nowhere.’
‘If that’s everything,’ Ewart said, ‘let’s all get some shut-eye.’
With only one bathroom, there was a scrum over the toothbrushes. Kerry stayed on the couch sulking and James thought he’d give the others a few minutes to fight it out.
‘You’re really good at this,’ Kerry said, looking at James.
‘What?’ he asked.
‘Missions. You go into a room and everyone likes you. Good old James, even the baby likes you. I study hard and I get some of the best marks on campus, but I’m rubbish out on missions where it really counts.’
‘Come on, Kerry,’ James said. ‘You’re being way too hard on yourself. This is your first important mission. Nobody expects you to be brilliant.’
‘And it’ll be my last big mission, after this disaster,’ Kerry said. ‘I’ll probably spend the rest of my CHERUB career doing mundane security tests and recruitment work.’
James moved across to the other couch, next to Kerry. ‘I’ve been meaning to talk to you,’ he said.
‘Talk about what?’
‘We haven’t been getting on that well since this mission started,’ James said. ‘But you still like me, don’t you?’
‘Of course I like you, James,’ Kerry said, breaking into a smile. ‘You’re one of my best friends.’
James decided to be bold and put his arm around Kerry’s back. She smiled and rested her head against his shoulder.
‘You’ve done all you can on this mission,’ he said. ‘And there’s no way they’re not gonna give you another shot at a big mission. With your fighting skills and the five billion languages you speak, who’ll be able to turn you down?’
Kerry smiled. ‘For someone who acts like a moron half the time, you can be a really nice guy sometimes.’
‘Thanks,’ James grinned.
He thought about starting the speech he had prepared in his head, telling Kerry how kissing Nicole was a one-off and how he liked her a hundred times more than any other girl and wanted to be her boyfriend. But Kerry still looked upset. It wasn’t the right moment.
13. VISIT
One of the CHERUB staff dropped Lauren off on Saturday morning. James was barely out of bed when he heard the doorbell.
‘Happy birthday,’ he said, giving his sister a hug. ‘You made double figures, the big one zero.’
Lauren smiled. ‘I missed you, James … for some strange reason.’
They walked inside. Everyone was wandering between the kitchen and living-room, munching on triangles of toast. Joshua was shuffling down the hallway on his bum. Lauren had never seen him before.
‘OOOH,’ she said. ‘Aren’t you cute? What’s your name?’
Joshua gave Lauren an odd look, as if to say, Oh god, not another kid, and started bawling for Zara.
‘Hey, Ewart,’ James shouted, ‘there goes your theory that Joshua likes anyone with blond hair.’
Lauren wandered into the living-room, threw off her bomber jacket and sat on the couch. Kerry and Kyle wished her happy birthday.
‘So,’ Lauren asked, ‘where’s all my prezzies?’
‘Actually,’ James said, ‘I haven’t got you one yet.’
‘Typical,’ Lauren huffed.
‘Now I’m a bona-fide drug delivery boy, I thought you might like to spend my ill-gotten gains.’ James burrowed down his jeans, pulled out a fistful of scrunched-up bank notes and dumped them in Lauren’s lap.
Lauren grinned. ‘How much is this?’ She straightened out the notes and started counting. ‘Twenty, forty, sixty, eighty, a hundred, and ten, fifteen. Wow … How long did it take you to make a hundred and fifteen pounds?’
‘Four nights,’ James said. ‘The only thing is, if you want me to take you shopping you’ll have to pay my bus fare. I’ve only got sixty pence left.’
‘Is there a Gap near here?’ Lauren asked eagerly. ‘I want some new jeans. And a Claire’s Accessories? If there is, I can get those cool black hair scrunchies like Bethany’s got.’
‘Can’t you just use an elastic band?’ James asked.
Lauren ignored her brother and glanced at her watch. ‘What time do the shops open?’
‘Calm down, you idiot,’ James said. ‘The money’s still gonna be there in a couple of hours. Why don’t you go in the kitchen, get some toast and say hello to Zara and the others.’
‘Whatever,’ Lauren said. ‘But let’s go early. The shops get really busy on a Saturday.’
*
Zara dropped the kids at the Reeve Centre. James hoped none of the security guards remembered him.
‘Why are you wearing those sunglasses?’ Lauren asked.
James shrugged. ‘Am I? I forgot to take them off.’
‘You look a right twit,’ Kerry said.
‘It doesn’t have anything to do with the five Playstation games you’ve got stuffed under your bed, does it?’ Kyle asked.
‘What were you doing spying under my bed?’ James asked indignantly.
‘Remember Monday, before school?’ Kyle asked.
‘No.’
Kyle mocked James’ voice. ‘I can’t find my PE shirt, Kyle. Will you help us look for it?’
‘Oh yeah,’ James said, ‘that.’
‘So let me guess,’ Kyle said. ‘You don’t want to go anywhere too near Gameworld either.’
‘But if he stole them as part of a mission, he’s allowed, isn’t he?’ Lauren asked.
‘He’s supposed to give the proceeds of any crime to charity,’ Kerry explained.
‘Well he should give them to charity then,’ Lauren said. ‘You’re not on this mission to make a profit, James.’
‘Does that include the birthday money in your pocket?’ James asked.
‘Oh,’ Lauren gasped.
‘Yeah,’ James giggled. ‘That shut you up, didn’t it?’
Normally, going around the girly shops would have driven James mad, but being the big brother treating his sister felt good. Lauren, who wouldn’t be seen dead in a skirt, got two hooded sweatshirts in Gap, a pair of faded jeans and some silver stud earrings. She treated everyone to lunch in the food court and even got James a pair of novelty socks as a thank you. He was never going to wear the ghastly things, but it was a nice moment when she gave them to him.
After lunch, Kerry went off to meet Dinesh. She told James to give Zara a message that she wouldn’t be back until after dinner. Kerry being with Dinesh pissed James off, but he didn’t want to spoil Lauren’s birthday, so he tried not to think about it.
When they got home, Zara had ordered a fancy cake. The icing was camouflage green and there was a miniature assault course built out of marzipan, with a climbing tower, a water jump and toy soldiers running around. The iced message around the edge said, Happy Birthday, Lauren & Good Luck in Training.
Joshua thought the cake was a toy and kept lunging out of Ewart’s lap towards it. After Lauren had blown out her candles, everyone sat around the table, cracking up at the huge mess Joshua made with his tiny piece of cake.
*
Lauren was tired out by half-nine and James decided to go up to bed with her. She started off in a sleeping bag on the floor, but she decided it was uncomfortable and climbed in with James. She’d always got into his bed when they were little, but they’d grown since those days.
‘This is ridiculous,’ James said, wriggling up to the wall so she had more room.
‘I’m still scared about training,’ Lauren said quietly. ‘I don’t even see the point of it.’
‘You’ll understand after you’ve done it,’ James said. ‘Training’s horrible, so when something tough happens on a mission, instead of being scared, you remember that you’ve been through worse and you can handle it.’
‘Sometimes,’ Lauren said, ‘just thinking about it makes me feel like puking.’
>
‘The fear is worse before training starts,’ James said. ‘Once you’re there, you’re too worn out to think.’
There was a knock on the door.
‘Yeah,’ James shouted. ‘We’re awake.’
Zara pushed the door open and stuck her head in.
‘James, when Kerry left you earlier, did she say if she was going anywhere after she left Dinesh’s?’
‘No,’ James said.
‘I rang their house,’ Zara said. ‘Dinesh said Kerry left before eight. She ought to be home by now.’
‘Did you try her mobile?’ James asked.
‘That’s the first thing I did. I even sent a text.’
‘Maybe we should go out looking,’ Lauren said.
‘I wouldn’t panic yet,’ Zara said. ‘She’ll probably turn up. You two get some sleep and try not to worry.’
*
A mobile woke James up. He’d forgotten Lauren was asleep next to him and bumped into her as he sat up.
‘That’s your tasteless ring tone,’ he said, giving her a kick. ‘I bet it’s that idiot Bethany.’
Lauren got out of bed, flicked on the light and found her phone inside her jacket. James looked at his clock. It was gone midnight.
‘Hello?’ Lauren answered. ‘Kerry, wow. Everyone’s looking for you … Hang on, yeah, James is here.’
James snatched the Nokia off Lauren.
‘Kerry?’
‘Oh, thank god,’ Kerry said. ‘Why did you switch your phone off?’
‘It’s probably gone flat,’ James said.
‘I couldn’t get an answer from Kyle, or Nicole either. I tried Lauren as a last resort.’
‘Where the hell are you?’ James asked. ‘Zara’s going frantic. She’s sitting downstairs waiting for you to get in.’
‘I’m outside Thunderfoods. I need a huge favour.’
‘What’s Thunderfoods?’ James asked.
‘Dinesh’s dad’s company,’ Kerry explained. ‘I think I’m on to something, but I need you and one of the others to ride out here and give me a hand breaking in.’
‘Why don’t you explain everything to Ewart or Zara?’ James said. ‘They’ll know what to do.’
‘Because if I’m wrong, I’ll look like an idiot and they’ll boot me back to campus.’
James couldn’t refuse. After all, he spent half his life telling Kerry to be more relaxed about rules.
‘OK,’ he said. ‘What is it you want?’
‘I’d like Nicole or Kyle to come as well,’ Kerry said.
‘Nicole’s at her sleepover. Kyle’s out partying.’
‘But I’m here,’ Lauren said, sounding excited.
James looked at his sister. ‘No way, you’re not trained.’
‘It’s better if there’s three of us to search,’ Kerry said. ‘But two is OK. I need you to bring some stuff: torches, your lock gun, your digital camera and some beer.’
‘Where the hell can I get beer at this time of night? Even if there was somewhere, I’m too young to buy it.’
‘There’s a few cans in the bottom of our fridge,’ Kerry said. ‘Sneak one out.’
‘What do you need beer for, anyway?’ James asked.
‘James,’ Kerry snapped, ‘I don’t have time for two hundred questions. Get the stuff, get on a bike and ride your butt out here.’
James took down directions and ended the call.
‘What’s happening?’ Lauren asked.
‘God knows why,’ James said, ‘but Kerry wants to break into some food factory. She doesn’t want Ewart or Zara to know what she’s doing in case she’s wrong about whatever it is she thinks is going on.’
He stepped into some tracksuit bottoms and trainers.
‘I’ll go get the beer for you,’ Lauren said.
‘Thanks.’
Lauren crept down to the kitchen, while James churned through the mess under his bed and got his lock gun and camera. He grabbed Kyle’s camera in case they needed two and took Lauren’s phone because his was flat.
Lauren came back with the cold beer.
‘Thanks,’ James said. ‘It’s gonna be well hard, sneaking my bike out of the garage without Ewart or Zara noticing.’
Lauren started putting on clothes.
‘What do you think you’re doing?’ James asked. ‘You’re not coming. No way.’
‘Kerry asked for a third person.’
‘You’re not trained.’
‘I’ll ride along,’ Lauren said. ‘If Kerry doesn’t want me, I’ll look after the bikes.’
James knew how stubborn Lauren could be. He didn’t have the time or energy to argue.
‘Fine,’ he said. ‘But don’t think I’m taking the rap for you if we get in trouble.’
‘I’m ten years old,’ Lauren said proudly. ‘I can make my own decisions.’
14. CURRY
There wasn’t much traffic, but what there was drove dangerously fast. It took twenty minutes to ride across to the industrial park. Thunderfoods had a full car park and lights on everywhere. The factory worked 24/7, sending out truckloads of chilled pastas and curries to supermarkets.
Kerry led them into an alleyway between two warehouses.
‘Are you sure you want to do this, Lauren?’ she asked. ‘We could get in serious trouble if we’re caught.’
‘If you want me to help, I’m up for it,’ Lauren said.
‘So what’s this about?’ James asked.
‘I got more information from Dinesh,’ Kerry explained. ‘It’s amazing what you can wheedle out of a boy if he thinks you’re up for a snog.’
‘Did you snog him?’ Lauren asked.
Kerry laughed. ‘No chance.’
James was relieved. It was worth being dragged out of bed at midnight just to hear that.
‘Anyway,’ Kerry said, ‘Dinesh doesn’t get on with his dad. He reckons Mr Singh is a hypocrite when he tells him to behave and do his homework, when he’s a crook himself. So I go: How is your dad a crook? And Dinesh starts explaining how his dad nearly went bankrupt and KMG bailed him out. I said I didn’t believe him. Dinesh tells me there’s a storage building at the back of Thunderfoods’ production plant. He says he’s been inside and seen bags of cocaine. Security seems pretty lax: I’ve already sneaked right up to the warehouse door, but I can’t get inside without my lock gun.’
‘What if there’s a security system?’ James asked.
‘There is,’ Kerry said smugly. ‘You need a swipe card.’
She pulled a plastic card out of her shorts. ‘I nicked this one off Mr Singh.’
‘And what about the beer?’ Lauren asked.
‘We need a cover story,’ Kerry explained. ‘If we get caught, we act like kids who got drunk and decided to cause some mischief.’
Kerry took the beer off Lauren. She pulled the tab and swallowed a few mouthfuls, then dribbled some down her T-shirt.
‘It’s more believable if we’ve got the smell of drink on our clothes and breath.’
James took the can off Kerry and did the same. Lauren hated the taste and spat hers in the gravel. ‘I don’t want to get beer on my new top,’ she said.
‘Give us,’ James said.
He snatched the can off Lauren, poured most of it on the floor and splashed the dregs over her hair.
‘OK,’ Kerry said. ‘Don’t forget to act drunk.’
They staggered through the Thunderfoods car park, keeping behind the cars. Then it was over a stretch of lawn to the side door of the warehouse. James handed Kerry his lock gun.
‘You’re quicker than me,’ he said.
Kerry fiddled with the lock, while James and Lauren sat in the grass yawning. It was an eight-lever deadlock, one of the trickiest kinds to pick.
‘You want me to try?’ James asked.
Kerry sounded edgy. ‘You won’t do it. It needs a different attachment.’
She unscrewed the back of James’ lock gun. There were nine different-shaped picks inside and it was tough to tell them a
part in the dark.
‘This one or bust,’ Kerry said, clicking a different pick on to the gun.
She rattled about for another half minute.
‘Finally,’ she sighed, pushing the door open.
The alarm pipped until she swiped the security card. They couldn’t turn the light on in case someone saw it through the windows. It felt spooky, shining their torch beams around the cavernous black space. The racks of metal shelving were filled with sacks and tins of ingredients for the factory next door.
‘Maybe that’s how they get the cocaine into the country,’ James whispered. ‘Disguised as curry powder or something.’
‘No,’ Kerry said. ‘Dinesh described clear bags filled with white powder. And he said KMG people came and did something with it upstairs.’
‘Kerry,’ James said, ‘I hate to say this, but maybe your little boyfriend is just trying to impress you. This building doesn’t even have an upstairs.’
‘We should split up,’ Kerry said, deliberately ignoring James. ‘There’s a lot of shelving to cover.’
They each took a row of shelves and started working along, searching for the white powder. The shelves went up ten metres. You’d need a forklift to access the higher bays.
Lauren whispered to Kerry between the rows of shelves, ‘Come look at this.’
Kerry dashed over. Lauren’s torch shone on a few clear polythene sacks filled with white powder.
‘Borax,’ Lauren said. ‘It’s what you mix with pure cocaine to make the weaker stuff they sell on the street.’
‘How do you know that, Miss Smarty-Pants?’ James asked.
‘I read your mission briefing,’ Lauren said casually.
James tutted. ‘Lauren, do you know how much trouble you could have got in if you’d been caught reading someone else’s mission briefing?’
Lauren laughed. ‘Less than the amount you’d have been in for leaving a secret briefing lying on your bathroom floor.’
‘James,’ Kerry gasped, ‘you’re not even supposed to take briefings out of the mission preparation rooms.’
‘I know,’ James said, shrugging. ‘But I usually smuggle a few bits out to read while I’m on the toilet.’