‘Idiot.’ Maeve shook her head, but didn’t let go of his hand. He wasn’t the best-looking boy. He was short and stocky, and put horrible gel in his hair, but she liked him. He was one of those boys who’d talk to you. She hadn’t been expecting this, though.

‘I like you, Maeve,’ he said. ‘I like you a lot.’

‘Yeah, and I like you, Robbie, but this conversation is getting us nowhere. We’re going round in circles and you’re ignoring the main point. The fact of the matter is – you can’t walk anywhere.’

Robbie struggled off the bed and eased himself into his wheelchair.

‘Come with me, Maeve,’ he said, scooting towards the door. ‘I want to show you something …’

Chapter 86

86

Kids were gathering in the Hall of Gods, taking their places on the seats between the two rows of statues. Maxie was sitting next to Blue. If she thought she could get away with it and not be laughed at by everyone she would have been holding his hand. Since Blue had got back from the expedition she hadn’t left his side. The two of them showed a strong front to the other kids, accepting no criticism for either the deaths here at the museum or the ones at Heathrow. In private, however, when they were alone together, they shared their doubts and fears and pain. Blue told Maxie how shaken he was by Big Mick’s death, and Maxie told Blue how terrified she’d been to wake up and find Paul about to kill Cameron. It helped to talk things through. It helped not being alone.

Justin had called this meeting, despite the fact that it was Maxie, Blue and Jackson who had worked out most of the plan to catch Paul. Justin was the guy in charge, though, and wanted to be the one to explain it.

He’d only told the fighters to come to the meeting. Those kids who could look after themselves. The rest of them were back in the minerals gallery with the doors securely locked.

Justin waited until he was sure that everyone was there and settled in their seats and then he raised his hand for silence. The local kids fell quiet pretty quickly, but some of the Holloway crew ignored him and carried on chatting. The loudest of them was Achilleus, who was telling a dirty joke to Paddy.

‘Oi,’ Blue shouted. ‘Give the man some respect. Shut it, the lot of you. We got to get this crap sorted.’

In a few seconds they’d all stopped talking, though there had been some laughs and insults thrown around along the way.

‘Thanks,’ said Justin. ‘This shouldn’t take too long, I hope. Now you know the purpose of this meeting is to discuss the plan for finding Paul.’

‘Yeah, we know, nerd,’ Achilleus called out. ‘Can we go now?’