They'd only gone a hundred metres when the heat blew out one of the back tyres. A few seconds later, the fuel caught and the back end of the car went up in a fireball.

It was less than a kilometre home, but they were feeling their injuries and the walk seemed to take for ever. James had a pounding headache. When they staggered through to the kitchen, Ewart jumped up from the table, surprised by the state they were in. He made them both hot drinks and sandwiches while Zara and Nicole cleaned up their cuts and bruises.

'Shower and go to bed,' Zara said, after they'd explained what had happened. 'Don't bother getting up for school in the morning. You both need a good day's rest.'

'I better ring Kelvin first,' James said.

'OK,' Ewart said. 'Do that while Kerry's in the shower, then go straight to bed.'

18. RISKS.

James was out as soon as he hit the pillow and the next thing he knew it was 10 a.m. the following morning. He had six huge bruises, a couple of grazes and a giant scab on his bottom lip. When he stood up, his thigh muscle felt tight and he could only manage short steps.

Down in the kitchen, Joshua was on the floor playing with some magnets he'd pulled off the fridge door and Kerry was at the table in her nightshirt. She looked sh.e.l.l-shocked.

'Sleep OK?' James asked.

'Not bad,' Kerry said. 'Zara just made a pot of tea if you want some.'

James poured a mug and got a bowl of cereal.

'I can't believe all we went through last night,' Kerry grinned. 'If I didn't hurt in ten places, I might believe it was all a dream.'

'Same here,' James smiled. 'You were so tough on Crazy Joe when you had him tied up. I know you've got a temper, but I've never seen you juiced-up like that before.'

'I was so angry,' Kerry said. 'I mean, what kind of scuzzball pays skinheads to beat up kids?'

'At least Kelvin seemed cool when I explained how we got the drugs back; and we saved the mission.'

Zara stepped in from the garden and threw an empty laundry basket down beside the washing machine. She'd heard James' last line.

'You know,' she said, 'sometimes a mission isn't worth saving.'

'What?' James gasped.

Kerry looked surprised as well.

'I respect what you two did last night,' Zara said. 'You made a decision under tricky circ.u.mstances and it came off. But Ewart and I both feel you should have come home. It was an unacceptable risk going up against a man with a gun.'

James and Kerry both looked wounded.

'There's no need for those faces,' Zara said.

She picked Joshua off the floor and sat him on her lap at the table.

'CHERUB is one of the most secret organisations in the world,' Zara explained. 'Only two people in the British government know it exists: the Intelligence Minister and the Prime Minister. When politicians first find out about CHERUB, they're usually queasy about putting kids in danger. Then Mac explains about all the useful work cherubs do and the lengths we go to to make you guys safe.

'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 s.h.i.t, 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, n.o.body 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 p.r.i.c.ks,' 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 b.a.l.l.s. 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 h.e.l.lo.'

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 compet.i.tion 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.