‘You awake?’ Daniel asked quietly, as he stepped across the hallway and put his head inside Leon’s room.

The only light came from a laptop standing on the desk, but it was enough for Daniel to see his brother sat in bed with his phone.

‘Show us,’ Daniel said.

‘None of yours,’ Leon tutted. ‘I’m talking to Rhea on WhatsApp.’

‘Just make sure she doesn’t hit you over the head and steal your wallet,’ Daniel warned. ‘Why don’t you invite her over?’

‘She’s locked up in secure until morning.’

‘Can I sit?’ Daniel asked.

Leon nodded, and pulled up his legs so his brother could use the end of the bed.

‘So what do you make of Oli?’ Daniel asked.

Leon shook his head. ‘I think the cops were right. He’s a massive bullshitter. No way he’s connected to any terrorists.’

‘Not seeing much potential as a CHERUB agent, either,’ Daniel said.

‘Nope,’ Leon agreed. ‘CHERUB recruits a lot of kids who are messed up and rough around the edges, but I don’t think Oli has a sympathetic bone in his body.’

‘He started on Wes the Weed again after we brushed our teeth.’

‘Hard punches,’ Leon nodded. ‘Wes had tears in his eyes. Before this is over, I might have to accidentally break the little shit’s nose.’

Daniel laughed. ‘You bust his nose, I’ll break his thumbs. And that story about winning a trip to see the Taj Mahal in a poetry competition.’

‘He didn’t even know what country it was in,’ Leon grinned. ‘Talk about Captain Bullshitter.’

‘Thing is, bro, if we’re completely honest …’

Leon finished his brother’s sentence. ‘If we tell James what we really think about Oli, we’ll be back on campus doing heavy drill by Monday.’

‘So we lie to him?’ Daniel asked.

‘Not lie exactly,’ Leon said, giving a conspiratorial smile. ‘We just need to be economical in how rapidly we deliver the truth.’

Daniel smiled. ‘String this thing out for at least two weeks.’

11. UNIFORM

Two days after arriving at Nurtrust, Daniel came out of his titchy room wearing the uniform of St Andrew’s Catholic school. Oli sat in the home’s cramped dining area, scoffing Nutella toast.

‘Was it today you’ve got History with Mr Cunningham?’ Oli asked. ‘Tell the old fart that I said hello.’

‘That the guy who got you expelled?’ Daniel asked, as he filled a bowl from a giant box of Asda-brand wheat flakes and topped it off with mixed nuts and milk. ‘Seen my brother?’

‘Saw him disappear with Rhea.’

Leon had spent the previous evening in the TV room making out with Rhea. She was hot stuff, and Daniel was jealous.

‘So, you all set for lunchtime?’ Daniel asked. ‘Bunk off and head over to our cousin’s place?’

‘Course,’ Oli said. ‘I’ve bunked a million times. Anything to get out of Games.’