Revenge (5 page)

Jason walked back into the Bristows' flat. He wanted to contact George, but he was unsure if he was being followed. As he entered the living room, all eyes stared at him. Janice shook her head and looked away.

“Has someone died?” he sniggered.

“It's not a laughing m-m-m-matter, Jason. We are trying to be flexible, but you have been gone all day. And why is your shirt bloody?” Mr. Bristow said as he stood. He walked over to Jason. “I don't want to be heavy-handed, Jason. We all like you. But if I have to install discipline, I will.”

“I was at the park all day playing football. Met some new friends. Then some small kid fell off the slide. I helped him until his parents came to fetch him. I think they took him to the hospital,” Jason said, trying to look hurt. Mr. and Mrs. Bristow now looked very guilty for not trusting him.

Maybe
I
overdid
it.

Janice watched through squinted eyes silently. She clearly did not believe his story, but Jason had bigger things to worry about. He had to get word to George urgently.

Jason lay in bed. The hall light that shone under the crack of his bedroom door went out. He decided he would wait a while for the Bristows to fall sleep and then sneak out. After twenty minutes, he climbed out of bed and started getting dressed when suddenly his door opened. He fell as he tried to quickly get back into his bed and under the covers.

“What are you up to?” Janice whispered.

“Nothing. What are you doing in here?” Jason hissed, trying to hide the fact that he was only wearing one sock and his underwear.

“Nothing? Then why aren't you in your pajamas?”

“I'm not tired. I don't burst into your room. I respect your privacy. Now please respect mine and get out.”

“Not until you tell me what you're up to.” She picked up the odd sock off the floor and sat on his bed with her arms folded.

“I'm not up to nothing. Just go,” Jason said, trying to pry his sock out of her grasp.

“You lied to my parents tonight. I don't know what you're up to, but I won't let my parents get hurt. You're not going out this time of night, are you?” Janice whispered. “Then I'm coming with you.”

“Out of the question.”

“I'll call my parents.” She stood, and with her arms still folded, she looked at him with her eyebrows raised, questioning him.

I'm glad I don't have a nosey sister in my real life.

They crept out of the apartment and ran down the flights of stairs.

“What's the rush?” she asked, almost running to keep up with his brisk walking speed.

“The buses will stop running soon.” Once they arrived at the bus stop, Jason read the timetable and realized the last bus had left at ten. He took Janice by the arm and started running.

They came to a pub, and outside, a row of taxis were waiting for customers. Jason opened the back door and jumped in and pulled Janice with him.

“You kids are out bloody late. Where have you been?” the taxi driver asked.

“A party. Church road, South London. And we're late, so make it quick please,” Jason ordered. Janice sat back and looked at Jason while he continued to give address details.

The taxi pulled up outside Scott's home, and Jason climbed out.

“Janice will wait here until I get your money. How much do we owe you, sir?” Jason asked.

“Six quid, mate.”

Jason rang the bell at the Turners' house and rattled the letter box at the same time. The second time he rang the bell, the lights came on in the house. The door slowly opened, and Dr. Turner peered around the crack, wearing his dressing gown and slippers. His hair was sticking up like he'd been electrocuted.

“Dr. Turner, I need six pounds to pay the taxi,” Jason asked, gesturing with his head at the taxi. The clackity diesel engine smothered the silence of the night.

The Turners were like a second family to Jason. They knew he was working for SYUI and that Scott was the contact. Nothing Jason did surprised them now. Dr. Turner waddled down the path and plucked banknotes from his wallet. Jason ran upstairs to Scott's room and quietly entered.

Scott was lying on his back, fast asleep. Jason sat quietly on Scott's bed and placed a hand over his mouth and pinched his friend's nose closed with his other hand. After a few seconds, Scott woke up struggling to breathe, twisting his head from side to side, trying to remove the obstruction.

“What? Who's there?” Scott asked, still half asleep.

“Hello, mate. Wake up. I need your help.” Jason laughed. Scott cursed at him. “There's no need to use that language. I've come to see you.”

“Thanks for the gentle shake to wake me up.” He cursed again. His bedroom light went on. Dr. Tuner came in, and he was followed by Janice.

“Who's she?” Scott asked.

“Scott, this is Janice. Janice, this is Scott. I've some news, and it can't wait. We need to inform George Young…now.”

Jason stood up and pulled the covers off of Scott.

“Get dressed, Scott. Jim Kinver could be dead by tomorrow. We need to act now. Dr. Turner, can you drive us to Scotland Yard please?”

“I don't think I have much of a choice, but won't that blow your cover if you are seen?”

“It's a chance I'll have to take. Scott, get dressed,” Jason said sternly.

“But there's a girl in my room,” Scott whined, pulling the sheet over himself.

• • •

Thirty minutes later in a large office full of desks, typewriters, telephones, and files of paper, George stood in front of his assembled team. Most looked like they had just gotten out of bed—some dressed as if they had been out for the evening and not yet got home. He marched toward Jason and shook his hand.

“Good to see you again, cocker. I hear you survived the corner shop incident. Well done. I knew you would.” George was sweating and smelled of body odor as normal. Tonight his breath smelled of garlic too. George turned and shook Scott's hand.

Then he sat down behind a desk and looked at the two boys. They looked tiny among the high-ranking SYUI officers. All the officers had been recruited from the metropolitan police and all stood at over six foot.

Jason started to turn red and looked at Scott with a painful expression.

“Jase, tell them what you found out,” Scott whispered. Jason took a deep breath. He looked directly at George and tried to block out the others in the room.

“Jim Kinver. They've caught him, and he will probably be dead by the morning if we don't get him out tonight,” Jason said quietly.

“What'd he say?” an officer at the back of the office shouted.

“Speak up. Stand on a chair or something,” another suggested.

Jason turned bright red and nervously started to shake.

What's wrong with me?
Jason asked himself.

He had never before spoken to a large group and was surprised with himself that he couldn't do it. Scott looked at him and was surprised to notice he was so nervous. He had always seen Jason as his fearless hero. For the first time, he saw Jason in a different light. Jason had stage fright! Scott leaned forward and whispered in Jason's ear.

“I read that if you imagine the audience naked, it's easy to talk.” As he listened to Scott's advice, Jason peered around the room and then looked at George.

“Yuck, that's gross,” Jason said, pulling a face like he was going to be sick. He walked over to George and pulled a chair next to him. George looked at Jason, and like Scott, he was surprised to see Jason was nervous and shaking.

“So you are human after all. Okay, son, tell me.” George smiled. As Jason spoke to George, a hum of conversation went around the room.

After five minutes, George thanked Jason and stood up and walked to the center of the room. Scott joined Jason.

“Jim Kinver's been caught. He's been bloody tortured. It sounds pretty horrific. He has lost fingers and toes. If it wasn't for Jason, he would probably be ‘brown bread' by now, but as far as we know, he's still alive and kicking.”

“He won't be kicking much with no toes,” Scott sniggered. In return, he got a look that could kill from Jason. He immediately knew that had been in bad taste. “Sorry, Jase.” Jason shook his head disapprovingly at his friend.

George continued and explained everything. For the next hour, Jason had to make a detailed statement. He explained everything. They could not figure out how Boudica could possibly be selling enough cereal to fund a takeover of the Chinese government.

By three in the morning with no fresh ideas, SYUI officers started to lose interest. They doubted some of what Jason had told them. Scott took Jason to the cafeteria to get a drink. They wanted to try to stay awake. Dr. Turner and Janice were already there, sitting at a table and drinking hot chocolate.

“Is it over? Can we go home now?” Dr. Turner asked.

“No, Dr. Turner. Sorry.” Jason said as he sat down heavily in a chair next to Janice. Scott was at the counter. The cafeteria was open twenty-four hours for the police who came on and off duty. He collected a tray with some food and drink and joined them.

“Will someone tell me what's going on? Jason—if that is your real name—are you in trouble?” Janice asked.

“Yes, my real name is Jason Steed. For now, that's all I can say.” She was not happy with the answer. She folded her arms across her chest and turned away.

“Here, mate, I got us a Coke and a bowl of Coco-Bites each.” Scott smiled.

“Thanks, I'll have the Coke, but I won't eat Coco-Bites. They are made by Boudica's company. I want nothing to do with that witch,” Jason said as he pulled the tab off a can of Coke.

“I'll have them then.” Janice said, swiftly taking the bowl. She and Scott hungrily ate the cereals.

“Looks like they haven't eaten in weeks,” Dr. Turner said and laughed. “He is getting through three boxes a week.”

“That's nothing. I have a friend at school that eats a box a day,” Janice replied with a mouthful. “She is addicted to them more than me.”

Scott stopped eating, gazed at his bowl, and then looked at Jason. Jason looked back quite confused by Scott's look. Scott was in deep thought. He repeated what Janice said. “Addicted to them. Is that what you said?” He kept his gaze on Jason's eyes. His brain was working overtime. Jason blinked and tried to look away from the stare that was getting uncomfortable.

“Are you two going to kiss or what?” Janice questioned. Scott continued to stare blankly into Jason's eyes. Eventually he got up and went back to the counter and picked up a box of Coco-Bites and studied it. He looked up at Jason, who was watching him.

“
Got
it!
” he shouted. “Come on.” Jason followed Scott back up the stairs to the SYUI office.

“Are you sure you have worked it out, Scott? They made me look pretty stupid,” Jason said, walking behind with his hands in his pockets.

“
They
are the stupid ones.”

George and the others were talking, trying to decide if they should rescue Kinver and blow the case. They had given up on Jason. Scott burst into the room.

“Mr. Young, Jason's right. I know how Boudica will get the money.” Jason sat next to George while Scott stood at the front of the room and held the box of Coco-Bites.

“How many boxes per week are sold in Britain?” Scott asked.

The officers sighed. Was this a boy's game? They were now being treated like schoolchildren. George groaned until Jason kicked him under the table.

“I thought SYUI stood for Scotland Yard Undercover Intelligence. Then show me some intelligence. Come on…how many?” Scott repeated. Jason watched Scott full of admiration. He had no idea what Scott was about to say but had full confidence in him.

“Maybe one hundred thousand,” George replied.

“No. Wrong. Try ten million and growing,” Scott said.

“What the bloody hell has this to do with anything?” George shouted.

“Who owns the company?” Scott asked.

“Yes, we know. Boudica,” a female officer interrupted.

“So, when she doubles the price or even triples it, that's an extra twenty or thirty million per week. That is just the UK. Jason has already told us that she is opening a plant in America. Once the Americans start eating them—and let's not forget there are over two hundred million Americans—we can add another six hundred million per day. In a week, that's enough money to buy some corrupt politicians, feed an army, and have some change. She will be the richest woman in China. She will control everything she wants. She will be able to overthrow the Mao government.” Scott rolled his sleeves up and pushed his hair back over his head.

“What are you saying, Scott?” George asked.

“Have you tried these?” Scott asked.

“No, but my son eats them. Actually, he eats a lot of them—bloody addicted to the stuff.”

“Exactly. And no doubt if the price was to double or triple, you would still buy them to keep him happy,” Scott said with his arms folded. He looked at Jason and smiled. George put his arms up, looking for an explanation.

“So, you think she is just going to sell a few boxes of cereal? But that's not illegal!” George shouted.

“But the secret ingredient in Coco-Bites is what? It's nothing new really. When they started making Coca-Cola back in 1895—when you were still a boy—they actually put a few milligrams of cocaine in the ingredients. That and the caffeine made it slightly addictive—but nothing like whatever they are putting in Coco-Bites. It's must be a new secret ingredient that keeps people addicted. This way, people won't be able to stop buying them at any price.”

“They can't put bloody secret ingredients in kid's cereal.” He got up, took the box off Scott, and threw it to a man sitting behind him. “Take it to the lab and test it,” George demanded. He stood up and shouted orders. They were going to raid Boudica's yard as soon as they got the test results. “Scott!” he shouted. “What the bloody hell did you mean? In 1895, when I was a boy? To you, I may seem old, but I am not that old.” He grinned and winked at the boys.