CHERUB: The Recruit Read Online Free PDF Page A

anti-clockwise direction.

    James hadn’t realised that the direction you turned the dial made any difference. He dialled in the first number and carried on reading:

    (2)   Dial the subsequent four numbers by turning the dial as follows: clockwise, anti-clockwise, anti-clockwise and clockwise. Failure to observe this procedure will result in non-operation of the mechanism.

    He dialled the first four numbers.
    ‘What are you playing at?’ Kevin asked.
    James spun around. Kevin was standing in the doorway. Luckily the open wardrobe door stopped him seeing the safe. Kevin seemed nice, but James was sure any adult who found out about the safe would make him give the contents either to the police or to Uncle Ron.
    ‘Looking for stuff,’ James said, convinced he sounded suspicious.
    ‘Come and help me pack, James. I don’t know what you want.’
    ‘I’ll be out in a minute,’ James said. ‘I’m just looking for photo albums.’
    ‘Do you want me to help you look for them?’
    ‘No,’ James said, practically squealing.
    ‘We’ve got fifteen minutes,’ Kevin said. ‘I’ve got to do a school run in an hour.’
    Kevin finally went back to the other room. James dialled in the fifth number. The safe made a satisfying click. He read the third instruction before he pulled on the handle and couldn’t help smiling:

    (3)   For security purposes, this sticker should be removed once you are familiar with the unit.

    James swung the heavy door open. The inside of the safe was surprisingly small because the metal lining was so thick. There were four tall piles of cash inside and a tiny envelope. James took a bin-liner and shoved the money in. He tucked the envelope into his pocket.
    James imagined Ron’s face when he walked in and saw the safe open. Then he thought of something even better. He peeled the instruction sticker from the safe door and put it and the Danielle Steele novel inside. As a final touch, to make Ron extra mad, James took a framed picture of himself from his mum’s bedside cabinet and stood it inside the safe so it would be the first thing Ron saw when he eventually broke it open. James shut the door, gave the dial a spin and replaced the tools exactly how Ron had left them.
    *
     
    James was in a slightly better mood when he walked back to his bedroom holding the cash. The room looked bare. Kevin had bagged up all the clothes and bedding that was usually strewn over the floor.
    ‘I found the photo albums,’ James said.
    ‘Good. But I’m afraid you’re gonna have to make some sacrifices, James. All you’ve got in Nebraska House is one wardrobe, a chest of drawers and a locker.’
    James started hunting through the toys and junk on the floor. He was surprised how little he cared about most of his stuff. He wanted his Playstation 2, mobile phone and portable CD player, but that was about it. Everything else was toys and stuff that he’d grown out of. The annoying thing was, Ron had taken his TV so he had nothing to use the Playstation on.
    Kevin crouched down looking at a Sega Dreamcast and a Nintendo Gamecube.
    ‘Don’t you want these?’ Kevin asked.
    ‘I only use the Playstation 2,’ James said. ‘Take them if you want them.’
    ‘I can’t take gifts from residents.’
    James kicked the consoles into the middle of the floor.
    ‘I don’t want my stepdad to get the money from selling them. I’m not taking them with me. If you don’t take them, I’ll trash ’em.’
    Kevin didn’t know what to say. James slammed the heel of his trainer into the Sega. Surprisingly little happened, so he picked it up and threw it at the wall. The case smashed. It slid down the wall and dropped behind the bed. Kevin quickly bent down and rescued the Gamecube.
    ‘OK, James, I tell you what. I’ll take your Gamecube and the games and in return I’ll buy your padlock for you on the drive back. Is that a deal?’
    ‘Fair enough,’ James said.
    *
     
    When they’d packed up the last few things and