CHERUB: The Recruit by Robert Muchamore Read Free Book Online Page A

Kyle said.
    James sat on the edge of his bed rubbing his eyes. He didn’t need to get dressed because all he’d done the night before was kick off his trainers and climb into bed wearing his football shirt and tracksuit bottoms.
    ‘You’ve had the same socks on for days,’ Kyle said.
    ‘You’re not my mum, Kyle.’
    ‘Your mum never had to sleep in a room that stinks of your BO.’
    James looked down at the blackened bottoms of his socks. They reeked, but he’d got used to the smell.
    ‘I’ll have a shower,’ James said.
    Kyle tossed a packet of Twix bars on to James’ bed.
    ‘Happy twelfth birthday,’ Kyle said. ‘Should have got you deodorant.’
    James was pleased Kyle had remembered. It wasn’t much of a gift, but five Twix was quite expensive for someone on three quid a week.
    ‘You’d better clean yourself up, anyway. You’ve got to go to the police station today.’
    James looked at Kyle. His hair was gelled down and his school uniform was immaculate, with the shirt tucked in and the tie done at the proper length, instead of ten centimetres long like most kids did it. James looked at the black under his nails, ran his hand through his gluey tangle of hair and couldn’t help laughing about the mess his life was in.
    *
     
    Rachel was in a mood. Her car was overheating, the traffic was awful and there was no space in the police station car park.
    ‘I can’t park, you’ll have to go in by yourself. Have you got the bus fare to come back?’
    ‘Yeah,’ James said.
    He got out of the car and walked up the steps of the police station. He’d dressed in chinos and his best fleece, even combed his hair back after the shower. Everyone said getting a police caution was no big deal, but it didn’t feel that way as James walked up to the desk and said his name.
    ‘Sit,’ the policewoman said, pointing at a row of chairs.
    James waited for an hour. People came in and filled forms, mostly reporting stolen cars or mobiles.
    ‘James Choke.’
    James stood up. A fit-looking cop reached out and gave him a crunching handshake.
    ‘I’m Sergeant Peter Davies, juvenile liaison officer.’
    They went upstairs to an interview room. The sergeant got an inkpad and a piece of card out of a filing cabinet.
    ‘Relax your hand, James. Let me do all the work.’
    He dabbed the tips of James’ fingers in the ink, then rolled each tip firmly against the card. James wished they’d given him a copy because the fingerprints would look cool pinned on his bedroom wall.
    ‘OK, James, this is the caution. Any questions?’
    James shrugged. Sergeant Davies began reading from a piece of paper:
    ‘The Metropolitan Police have received information that on October 9th, while attending Holloway Dale School, you seriously assaulted one of your classmates, Samantha Jennings. During the assault Miss Jennings received a severe cut to her cheek, resulting in the need for eight stitches. During the same incident you also assaulted the class teacher Cassandra Voolt, who received injuries to her back.
    ‘As this is the first criminal charge you have faced, the Metropolitan Police have decided to give you a formal caution if you admit to what you have done. Do you admit to the offences detailed above?’
    ‘Yes,’ James said.
    ‘If you are found guilty of another criminal act before you reach the age of eighteen years, details of this offence will be given to the Magistrate or Judge and it is likely to increase the severity of the sentence you receive.’
    Sergeant Davies put the piece of paper down and tried to sound friendly. ‘You look like a decent kid, James.’
    ‘I never meant to cut her face. I just wanted to make her shut up.’
    ‘James, don’t kid yourself into thinking it’s not your fault Samantha got hurt. You can never predict what will happen in a fight. If you’re stupid enough to start one, you’re to blame for what happens whether you meant it or not.’
    James nodded. ‘That’s true I suppose.’
    ‘I