Chapters (88)
- Cover
- Title Page
- Dear Reader …
- Also by Robert Muchamore
- PART ONE
- Walter J Freeman Adolescent Mental Health Unit – East Grinstead, UK
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- PART TWO
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- PART THREE
- Walter J. Freeman Adolescent Mental Health Unit – East Grinstead, UK
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- PART FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- EPILOGUE
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- Have you read KILLER T?
- 1 SLASHED RUBBER
- 2 NOT HARRY POTTER
‘This is the news, live from our mobile studio outside Woolwich Crown Court, where what has been described as Georgia-mania is in full swing …’
The newsreader broke off as a half-drunk Fanta bottle hit the glass behind his head.
‘We understand the preliminary hearing for the so-called Bank Seven, which was scheduled for ten thirty, has been delayed because lawyers for some of the accused have been unable to get inside the building. Georgia Pack and the other suspects are waiting in the court, after they were transferred via tunnel from the adjacent Belmarsh Prison.
‘Now, I’m joined in the studio by two young protestors, Maya and Rolf. My first question is, are you missing school to be here in Woolwich?’
‘Yes,’ Rolf said bluntly, before Maya took over.
‘This is really important,’ Maya said. ‘Young people deserve a voice, like everyone else.’
The newsreader nodded. ‘I understand you’re a close friend of Georgia Pack.’
‘We’re mates,’ Maya confirmed. ‘We both got expelled from school, so we don’t see each other every day now. But we message all the time and do socials.’
‘What type of person is Georgia?’
‘Ordinary messed-up teen, like the rest of us,’ Maya laughed. ‘She’s really clever. She was like, class super-swot until her sister died. That’s what made her stop and think about how the world works.’
‘A lot of people won’t be happy, seeing someone who attacked a democratically elected prime minister celebrated as some kind of folk hero,’ the newsreader suggested. ‘Isn’t it simply an act of terrorism?’
‘I don’t for one second believe she’s a violent person,’ Maya said. ‘Georgia resonates because everyone is mad frustrated. We gave one useless government the boot. Then a new lot comes in, saying everything’s gonna be better, but works out just as crummy. And like, with a two-party system, we keep the idiots we’ve got or bring back the idiots we kicked out. How is that a democracy?’
‘Exactly,’ Rolf agreed, desperate to get a word in.
The newsreader paused for a message coming through his earpiece. ‘I’ve just heard from inside the court that the key people are now in place and that the preliminary hearing has been scheduled to start at ten minutes past twelve …’
FIFTY-FOUR
Because Georgia was charged with terrorist offences, she’d done nine days in a maximum-security cell, rather than a young offenders’ unit. She’d spent most of that time in hoodies and trackie bottoms, but John brought a blouse, skirt and black tights for her court appearance.
A chill went down Georgia’s back as the tiny tank-like Megan Seebag led her into court number one. The space was designed for big jury trials and the raised seating gallery was eerily like the council chamber where she’d made her famous leap.
I’d be in school if that photographer hadn’t clicked the shutter …