Read Online CHERUB: People's Republic by Robert Muchamore - Free Book Online
Authors: Robert Muchamore
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When she was clean, she ditched the cat suit and slipped into jeans, hoodie and trainers.
She met Ingrid by the utility room door, assuming they’d walk back to the BMW.
‘It’s a waste of time walking across country again,’ Ingrid said. ‘It’ll be a while before they realise what’s happened here. We’ll drive the cop car back into the city. It shouldn’t take long, we’ll be going against the rush hour traffic.’
‘Then what?’ Ning asked, running around to the passenger side of the brown car as Ingrid took the driving seat.
When they were belted up and the engine was running, Ingrid handed Ning her mobile. ‘Call Wei and tell him I’ve got the money,’ she said.
The villa had a long front driveway with gates that parted automatically as the brown car approached. Ning’s heart was thudding, but the ringing from the bullet had died back to a hum and she drew some comfort from Wei’s involvement in their escape plan. He was soberer and less impulsive than Ingrid.
‘Ning, is that you?’ Wei said warmly, when he answered. ‘How are you coping?’
‘Not brilliantly,’ Ning admitted.
The car jolted and nearly went into a dramatic stall as Ingrid slotted the police car into fifth gear, when she’d been going for third.
‘Chinky shite box!’ Ingrid shouted.
‘What’s going on?’ Wei asked.
‘Ingrid just asked me to call you and say that she has the money,’ Ning said, fighting a wavering voice.
‘Good,’ Wei said. ‘I’ve set you up at the Pink Bird Motel. It’s dingy, but it’s out of the way and any taxi driver will be able to find it for you. You’re booked in under the name of Gong. The room has been paid for in cash.’
‘Pink Bird, name of Gong. Got it,’ Ning said.
‘Don’t go to the check-in desk. It’s room 205 on the second floor. The room is unlocked, you’ll find your key in the bathroom, tucked inside a towel. It’s better if you stay out of sight as much as you can, but you’ll need to eat. There’s no room service, but there’s a supermarket and a couple of cafes across the parking lot. Someone should be in touch with instructions within forty-eight hours.’
‘Will you come and see us?’ Ning asked.
‘Can’t,’ Wei said firmly. ‘Ingrid understands and you should too. You’ve got to avoid all unnecessary contact. That includes rogue calls to school friends or that boy you fancy. The cops can triangulate your position from a cell phone signal. Both of you to ditch your mobiles as soon as this call is over.’
‘Right,’ Ning said sadly. ‘We might never see you again.’
‘Never is a long time,’ Wei said. ‘But not any time soon.’
Ning hung up and gave the hotel details to Ingrid, who fought the gear lever as they approached the on-ramp leading up to the highway.
‘We’ll take the car into town and pick up a taxi,’ Ingrid said. ‘Maybe even a couple of taxis to throw them off the scent. Where’s your phone?’
‘Inside my boot, back at LS18.’
‘Just as well,’ Ingrid said, as she snatched her phone from Ning.
With one hand on the steering wheel, Ingrid pressed the button to open her window, then flung her phone into the overgrown area separating them from the oncoming traffic.
‘Time to vanish,’ she said.
10. PARTICIPATE
Amy had worked hard persuading Dr D to use a CHERUB agent to infiltrate Gillian Kitsell’s home, and her new career at TFU depended on the success of the mission. She was too professional to let Ryan sense her angst, but she wanted him on top form and pampered him with a beautifully cooked breakfast of scrambled eggs, crispy bacon and mushrooms.
Ryan was paying the price for pounding the heavy bag the night before, with stiff knuckles and a bruised toe. But he was too proud to admit it and was actually in a decent mood because Amy’s plan gave him hope.
Ryan had been enrolled in seventh grade at Twin Lakes Middle School. Santa Cruz had a reputation for good state education, so even wealthy
She met Ingrid by the utility room door, assuming they’d walk back to the BMW.
‘It’s a waste of time walking across country again,’ Ingrid said. ‘It’ll be a while before they realise what’s happened here. We’ll drive the cop car back into the city. It shouldn’t take long, we’ll be going against the rush hour traffic.’
‘Then what?’ Ning asked, running around to the passenger side of the brown car as Ingrid took the driving seat.
When they were belted up and the engine was running, Ingrid handed Ning her mobile. ‘Call Wei and tell him I’ve got the money,’ she said.
The villa had a long front driveway with gates that parted automatically as the brown car approached. Ning’s heart was thudding, but the ringing from the bullet had died back to a hum and she drew some comfort from Wei’s involvement in their escape plan. He was soberer and less impulsive than Ingrid.
‘Ning, is that you?’ Wei said warmly, when he answered. ‘How are you coping?’
‘Not brilliantly,’ Ning admitted.
The car jolted and nearly went into a dramatic stall as Ingrid slotted the police car into fifth gear, when she’d been going for third.
‘Chinky shite box!’ Ingrid shouted.
‘What’s going on?’ Wei asked.
‘Ingrid just asked me to call you and say that she has the money,’ Ning said, fighting a wavering voice.
‘Good,’ Wei said. ‘I’ve set you up at the Pink Bird Motel. It’s dingy, but it’s out of the way and any taxi driver will be able to find it for you. You’re booked in under the name of Gong. The room has been paid for in cash.’
‘Pink Bird, name of Gong. Got it,’ Ning said.
‘Don’t go to the check-in desk. It’s room 205 on the second floor. The room is unlocked, you’ll find your key in the bathroom, tucked inside a towel. It’s better if you stay out of sight as much as you can, but you’ll need to eat. There’s no room service, but there’s a supermarket and a couple of cafes across the parking lot. Someone should be in touch with instructions within forty-eight hours.’
‘Will you come and see us?’ Ning asked.
‘Can’t,’ Wei said firmly. ‘Ingrid understands and you should too. You’ve got to avoid all unnecessary contact. That includes rogue calls to school friends or that boy you fancy. The cops can triangulate your position from a cell phone signal. Both of you to ditch your mobiles as soon as this call is over.’
‘Right,’ Ning said sadly. ‘We might never see you again.’
‘Never is a long time,’ Wei said. ‘But not any time soon.’
Ning hung up and gave the hotel details to Ingrid, who fought the gear lever as they approached the on-ramp leading up to the highway.
‘We’ll take the car into town and pick up a taxi,’ Ingrid said. ‘Maybe even a couple of taxis to throw them off the scent. Where’s your phone?’
‘Inside my boot, back at LS18.’
‘Just as well,’ Ingrid said, as she snatched her phone from Ning.
With one hand on the steering wheel, Ingrid pressed the button to open her window, then flung her phone into the overgrown area separating them from the oncoming traffic.
‘Time to vanish,’ she said.
10. PARTICIPATE
Amy had worked hard persuading Dr D to use a CHERUB agent to infiltrate Gillian Kitsell’s home, and her new career at TFU depended on the success of the mission. She was too professional to let Ryan sense her angst, but she wanted him on top form and pampered him with a beautifully cooked breakfast of scrambled eggs, crispy bacon and mushrooms.
Ryan was paying the price for pounding the heavy bag the night before, with stiff knuckles and a bruised toe. But he was too proud to admit it and was actually in a decent mood because Amy’s plan gave him hope.
Ryan had been enrolled in seventh grade at Twin Lakes Middle School. Santa Cruz had a reputation for good state education, so even wealthy
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