“Poor little guy.”

“He’s not deaf or nothing.”

“No.”

“We call him Blu-Tack Bill. He’s always playing with the stuff. Only thing that keeps him happy.”

Maxie smiled at Bill and noticed that he had formed the Blu Tack into a letter B. B for Bill.

“I suppose we’re all going to have to get to know each other,” Maxie said to Blue.

“Guess so.”

“I’m Maxie, by the way.”

“S’all right, girl. I know who you are.”

Maxie smiled awkwardly, not sure how to take this. Blue scared her slightly. He reminded her of boys from before, the ones that shouted at you in the street and laughed with their friends when you tried to ignore them.

“Are you, like, Arran’s girlfriend?” Blue asked.

“No,” said Maxie, a little too quickly and a little too indignantly. “Why would you think that?”

“Dunno. You’re, like, his second in command.”

“Is Whitney your girlfriend?”

“Whitney? No way.” Blue laughed.

Maxie made a face that said “Well, then.”

Arran came out of the shop, a dark look on his face.

Maxie went over to him. “No luck?” she asked.

“He won’t budge.”

“We could force him.”

“What’s the point? If he doesn’t want to come, he doesn’t have to.”

“We can’t leave him.”

“I don’t think we’ve got any choice.”

“Maybe I should speak to him,” said Maxie.

“Waste of time.” Arran approached Blue. “Any of your lot want to stay?”

“Nah. We’ve had enough of Holloway. We’re going to the palace.”

He grinned, and Arran couldn’t help grinning back.

It was hard to believe. They really were going to Buckingham Palace.

One of Blue’s deputies ambled over in a loose shuffle. He was tall and bony with a messy Afro and a sleepy look about him. He scratched an armpit.

“You ready?” he drawled.

“Yeah.” Blue nodded to Maxie. “Lewis, this is Maxie. Maxie—Lewis. He looks dopey, but don’t be fooled for a moment. He’s a killer. He’ll be protecting the left-hand side.”

Lewis smiled sleepily and lifted a hand in greeting to Maxie.

“Okay,” said Maxie. “I guess if Callum’s not coming, then we’re ready to go.”

Blue, Arran, and Jester had spent the morning working out a plan of action. As usual they would stick to main roads and stay in the middle, keeping well away from the buildings on either side. Arran and Blue were to lead the group along with Jester and the best fighters from each crew. Maxie was taking the right flank with a smaller gang, Lewis the left. Ollie was in charge of bringing up the rear with a motley crew of skirmishers. The remaining older kids would be in the middle, surrounding the little kids, who were being looked after by Whitney, Maeve, and some of the more responsible girls. Two of the kids had been assigned to take attendance, one for each crew. Josh was keeping it for Waitrose, and Whitney for Morrisons. It was their job to keep track of everyone, so that nobody got left behind. Josh took out his list and carefully drew a line through Callum’s name. He felt a bit bad about it. He had spent a lot of time with Callum up on the roof. They were friends. But Callum had been weird lately and, in a way, Josh was glad to be rid of him.