‘Don’t you dare smile,’ Zara said, wagging a finger. ‘Although I’m in charge of matters of severe breaches of discipline, I have to follow guidelines laid down by the ethics committee. Under those guidelines, you have breached so many rules that the case for permanent exclusion from CHERUB is absolute.’

Zara paused to let this sink in. The twins avoided eye contact with each other and Leon’s breath juddered, like he was going to cry.

‘However,’ Zara said. ‘I do have slight wiggle room in cases where agents act out based on traumatic events they’ve seen while on missions. And I suppose you could argue that you were upset after encountering Brent Johnson and that is the reason why you acted the way you did.

‘So, I’m going to give you two choices. The first is that you’re discharged honourably from CHERUB. You can live with a member of staff near to campus, so you’ll still get to see your brothers Theo and Ryan.’

Leon’s jaw dropped. ‘I thought you said there was wiggle room …’

‘Let me finish,’ Zara said firmly. ‘Your second choice will be to remain on CHERUB campus, but you’ll face severe sanctions. Namely, two months of heavy drill and ditch digging, followed by a further two months during which you’ll be suspended from missions.’

The twins gasped. ‘Two months of heavy drill!’ Leon blurted.

‘I never heard of anyone getting more than two weeks,’ Daniel added.

‘You’ll also be expected to tell none of your friends what you’re being punished for,’ Briggs added. ‘Not even your brothers.’

‘No cherub is ever forced to undergo punishment,’ Zara said. ‘You can quit now, you can quit at any time.’

Leon looked across at Daniel. ‘I got twenty-four hours’ heavy drill that time I drank all the cider and puked in French class. It was full on. I’m not sure I could hack two months.’

Daniel had never been made to do heavy drill. ‘Worse than basic training?’

‘Way worse,’ Leon said.

Zara stood up and signalled Briggs to do the same. Then glanced at her watch.

‘Quit CHERUB, or two months’ punishment. I’ll give you ten minutes to make up your mind.’

Zara and Briggs headed out. The twins jolted as Briggs locked them in with a metallic clank. As the boys looked at one another, Daniel eyed a picture of Nigel Kinney on the desk.

‘We always knew there was a good chance we’d get caught,’ Daniel said sadly. ‘Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, just being an ordinary kid.’

Leon nodded. ‘There are so many hot girls at that Catholic school down the road.’

Daniel looked up at one of the cameras. ‘They can probably hear what we’re saying.’

‘But on the other hand,’ Leon said, as he flicked his cheek anxiously. ‘We’ve got the whole rest of our lives to be ordinary.’

4. MAGGOTS