London Belongs to the Alchemist (Class Heroes Book 4) Read online

  “Tell us about Super D,” he said.

  A faint smile passed Al’s lips. James noticed how Lolly paused her filing for just a beat, and then carried on.

  “Never heard of it,” said Al.

  “People are taking it at your parties. Latest thing, I hear. Like some kind of cross between acid and a steroid.”

  Al pursed his lips.

  “People bring and take all sorts,” he said.

  “Not this stuff,” said Nicky Cairo. “You dish it out like it’s lemonade. What is it?”

  “Lemonade? It’s a fizzy drink, doesn’t taste much of lemons,” cracked Al.

  Nicky nodded, resignedly.

  “You’ve got a smart mouth, kid,” he mused. “I blame the parents. I thought your father was an upstanding member of the community who brought his sons up to respect their elders. Seems I was wrong. Now, I don’t hit kids. As a man, I have to take the issue up with your father.”

  Al looked up, frightened for the first time.

  “Zak,” said Nicky, casually. “Take Darius, go over to Al’s father’s shop. The kid must be stashing the drugs there. Tear the place apart until you find the gear. Give the kid’s old man and his brothers a hiding. Make sure they know it’s because of their big-shot superstar DJ here. Then torch the shop.”

  “No!” Al jumped to his feet, only to have Zak twist his left arm behind his back and slam his head down onto the desk.

  It’s time, thought James.

  Using his telekinetic energy, he pulled at the window behind Nicky Cairo. It burst inwards, showering Nicky and his desk with glass. The noise was terrific, and it provided the perfect distraction.

  Sam was already on her feet. She grabbed Zak’s arms and forced him to release Al. Then she pushed Zak against the far wall, where he banged his head and slid unconscious to the floor. Lolly rose casually to her feet.

  The two kidnappers were reaching for their guns. With a sweeping motion of her right hand, Lolly knocked the gun out of one guy’s grasp, then felled him with an elbow to the face. The second guy had a moment of indecision and look of disbelief. Before he could react, Lolly punched him viciously in the stomach, whereupon the man dropped to the floor. She swatted him across the back of the head, knocking him spark out.

  “What the—” began an astonished Nicky Cairo, but he was silenced as Sam punched a hole right through his thick wooden desk. Her face was red; she was as angry as James had ever seen her. Nicky Cairo was genuinely scared.

  “You are so lucky that we aren’t like you,” she shouted, trembling. “But I know who you are. I know where to find you. You touch him or his family again,” she said through gritted teeth, jerking her head at Al, “or if your wife forgets to say thank you when she goes to his dad’s shop, then you’ll be enjoying mango in a completely different way, do you understand me?”

  And I thought I was the angry one, mused James.

  Even Lolly was impressed.

  “That’s funny, getting a boyfriend always makes me less aggressive,” she murmured, under raised eyebrows.

  “How the hell did you do all that?” asked a shocked Nicky Cairo.

  “Like my sister said,” James piped up, “you’d better be careful what you do, because we’re not like anything you’ve ever seen before. Hurt our friends and we’ll hurt you back.”

  And with that, James led the way out of the room, along the corridor, down the stairs and out of the front door of the casino.

  Chapter 20

  James was sweating as he crossed the road. Sticking it to the gangster felt good, but his blood was up and his head was swimming. Lolly Rosewood looked cool and effortless as she strolled through the traffic, as though she’d just left a boring party. There was something compelling about her, and not just because of the way she looked.

  They crossed the street away from the casino. Lolly looked back over her shoulder and up at the top row of windows. James looked too. He could see Nicky Cairo staring out through the broken glass. Lolly blew him a kiss.

  “That was immense! Wicked! You guys are incredible!” cheered Al. “Nobody messes with you. This is how it’s going to be come the revolution.”

  That irritated James. He didn’t want Sam sucked into the world of drugs and drug dealers, and this kid was acting like he’d just won a gold medal at the Olympics.

  “You’re welcome,” said James, flatly. “Now, do you want to tell us what that was all about?”

  “I dunno, man,” protested Al, still on a high. “I never met the guy before. What can I say? I’m a big deal in this city and a guy like him just wants a piece of me.”

  He was cut short as James grabbed his jacket.

  “Don’t give me that,” he warned. “My sister could have been killed because of you.”

  “James!” said Sam, with an edge to her voice, but James ignored her. Sam placed her hand on James’s shoulder. Eventually he released his grip on Al’s jacket.

  “We’ve just come halfway across London to rescue you,” said James, through gritted teeth, looking at his sister. “Because of him.” James jerked his head at Al. “Dad is worried sick; so was I. I want to know what it’s all about.”

  “Then ask me,” said Sam.

  “I’m asking him,” replied James.

  “Look, man,” protested Al. “I didn’t mean to get your sister in trouble. I didn’t know anything about Nicky Cairo. I promise I’d never put her in danger.”

  “You’re a drug dealer,” said James. “And I don’t want you anywhere near Sam, you hear me?”

  “James, stop it!” Sam demanded, stepping between the two. Al looked ruffled; James was fuming.

  “A drug dealer, Sam? Seriously? Can’t wait to see what presents he brings over at Christmas.”

  “James, man. You don’t understand. It’s not like that. I’m like you and your sisters. I got a power.”

  James’s jaw dropped. He was aware of Lolly taking a small step forward.

  “What sort of power?” she asked, eagerly.

  “I can copy stuff. I can turn one thing into another thing.”

  “What sort of stuff?” pressed Lolly. “Have you been copying Super Drug?”

  “That’s none of your business, Lolly,” said Sam, now placing herself between Al and Lolly.

  “Leave her alone, Sam. She’s entitled to ask,” snapped James.

  “Why are you protecting her?” demanded Sam. “Just because you fancy her?”

  “Oh, sorry, little miss druggie lover,” James scoffed.

  “Guys, please,” pleaded Al. “Look, there’s a McDonald’s round the corner. Let’s go there, eat, and talk about this.”

  “Good idea,” said Lolly. “I’m starving.”

  “No,” chorused James and Sam.

  “I’m taking Sam home,” said James, adamantly.

  “And you need to tell your family about your power and what happened with Nicky Cairo,” said Sam, addressing Al. “They have to know.”

  “The drug dealer won’t hurt anybody now,” said Lolly, dismissively. “And it won’t matter if we spend half an hour talking. We all need to eat, don’t we? Besides, I’d like to get to know Al better,” she flashed a smile at him.

  “Tough, I have to get home — and if you’re living with us, you need to come too,” said Sam, curtly.

  James felt a pang of jealousy. There was something about Lolly that he didn’t want to share with anybody. Clearly, Sam felt the same about Al.

  “Ok,” said Al, reluctantly. Lowering his voice, he leaned in to Sam. “I want to see you again. Maybe without the kidnapping, and minus your entire family in tow.”

  “I said I’ll text you, and I will,” said Sam, and James groaned to see her smile coyly at the druggie boyfriend, then kiss him on the cheek. When did Sam get so forward? And so stupid?

  “Nice meeting you, Al,” said Lolly, and took James’s arm. “Ready to go, captain. My hero,” she added, kissing him on the lips. James nearly exercised all his superpowers at once. He forgot wha
t he was supposed to be doing.

  Al smirked at him, conspiratorially.

  “I kind of guessed she wasn’t really your sister. Good work, man.” That comment only earned Al a scowl from Sam.

  James acknowledged the compliment, slightly mollified. In fairness there was something quite likeable about Al.

  “Yeah, cheers mate,” said James. “Sam?”

  With obvious reluctance, Sam moved away from Al and stood on the other side of her brother from Lolly.

  “You make sure you tell your family,” said Sam.

  “I will,” said Al.

  James, Sam and Lolly walked away, turned left down the nearest alleyway, checked to make sure nobody was about, and James teleported them home.

  Chapter 21

  When Lolly opened her eyes, she was standing in James’s bedroom. The journey had felt equally amazing the second time.

  “That’s so cool,” she marvelled. “I could get used to travelling that way. Kind of makes you tingle all over, doesn’t it?” she asked James, enjoying the boy’s look of embarrassment. He really was quite adorable.

  “Shut up,” grumbled Sam, taking her hand off her brother’s arm and flashing Lolly a look of disgust.

  “You’re welcome, Sam. Anytime you need rescuing, let me know,” said Lolly. “I’d better tell Roger that we’re back,” she added, deliberately needling Sam.

  “Don’t call my dad ‘Roger’. He’s Mr Blake to you, he’s not one of your friends,” retorted Sam.

  There was something about Samantha’s righteous anger that made Lolly want to antagonize her all the more.

  “Chill out, Sam,” said James. “Lolly just helped save your neck. Or at the very least, saved you a long bus ride home.”

  “James? Sam? Is that you?” It was Roger Blake’s voice and he was hurrying upstairs.

  “In here,” Lolly called.

  Seconds later the twins’ father entered the bedroom. He was holding the house phone, the notepad and a pen. He took in the sight of the three of them and gave Sam a big hug.

  “Are you all right? What happened?” he asked.

  “They’re fine,” Lolly assured him.

  “He was asking me,” said Sam, angrily.

  “Lolly,” said Roger, gently. “Would you mind waiting for me in the kitchen?”

  “Sure,” said Lolly, and trooped down the stairs.

  ***

  In the kitchen, Lolly helped herself to some cake from a tin and a glass of milk from the fridge. Roger’s phone was lying on the kitchen table. She picked it up and checked the recently dialled numbers. He’d dialled Sam, James, Mrs Blake and then — there, the number that Lolly was after. It was dialled at 13:51, the time that he had telephoned his MI5 contact. The name in the contacts list was simply ‘Stannard’. And he had called her ‘Jennifer’. Lolly stored the number in her own phone for later use.

  She ate cake and sipped her milk while planning her next move.

  She strongly suspected that Stannard would come to the house, possibly tonight, to find out why Roger had been in contact. If that happened, Lolly had a choice. She could try and overpower the woman and then force her to confess where Lolly’s father was being held. But that would inevitably result in a fight with the twins, and the chances of beating them both and getting the information from the woman was remote.

  The other option was to follow the woman once she’d left, then overpower her, or wait until she led Lolly to her father.

  Despite all her powers, Lolly knew it would be difficult to follow Stannard if the woman left this house and drove away. She needed help. Lolly was accustomed to her father’s security people carrying out her orders. She needed to buy in some help, and she had a good idea how to get it. There was an unformed plan floating around in her brain at the moment. She wasn’t used to having to think so much for herself. Daddy always did the planning, he took care of everything and Lolly got to do the fun bits. Now it was Daddy who was reliant on her to rescue him. She missed him terribly.

  Being here at the Blakes’ house jarred, and she didn’t quite know how she felt about it. Daddy had always hoped that they would be friends with the Blakes. A part of her longed for that. She’d never had a proper friend, never had a proper boyfriend, and she’d never known her mother. This family home, so small and cosy, was like a poison to her purpose.

  ***

  Lolly heard the thumping of petulant feet on the stairs. Sam entered the kitchen, ignoring Lolly, her face composed but unhappy. James came in next, still buzzing and high from his adventure.

  Sam made herself a cup of tea and sat at the kitchen table opposite Lolly.

  “You’re loving this, aren’t you?” Sam accused.

  “Loving what?” asked Lolly, sweetly.

  “Getting me into trouble. Telling my dad that I was out of school and that I was meeting Al.”

  “Getting you out of trouble, actually,” replied Lolly. “Sam, I’m just grateful to have somewhere to live. I’ve always wanted to be friends with you. We three,” she looked at James, too, “share a bond, don’t we? We need to look out for each other.”

  Sam sighed theatrically. James helped himself to some cake, sat down next to Sam and said:

  “Come on, Sis. At least give her a chance.”

  Sam ignored him.

  “Where’s Roger?” asked Lolly, casually.

  “My dad,” replied Sam, pointedly, “is on the phone.” And with that, Sam took her cup of tea and left the room.

  “Sorry about that,” said James.

  “Don’t be. She has many reasons not to trust or like me,” replied Lolly. “Which makes me wonder why you do,” she teased, stroking James’s hand lightly. James was about to reply when Roger came down the stairs. Lolly withdrew her hand.

  Roger replaced the phone handset in its cradle in the hallway, then entered the kitchen, looking sombre. Lolly got up from the table and made him a cup of tea.

  “Thank you,” he said, gratefully. “Sam, could you come into the kitchen please?” he called out.

  Sam trudged back in a few moments later.

  “I just spoke to Mrs Stannard. She’s the lady from MI5 who I telephoned earlier, Lolly,” he added. “I explained that the crisis was over and that Sam was safely back home. However, she wants to come over tonight to talk.”

  “What about Lolly?” asked James, a little too quickly.

  “Lolly can wait in her bedroom until Mrs Stannard has gone,” replied Roger. He turned to Lolly. “I apologize, but it’s for your own good. I would just like to add,” he said, and Lolly detected how his voice thickened, “how much I want to thank you for what you did today. I can’t honestly say I’ve forgiven you yet for all the things you and your father have done to us in the past, but your help today was appreciated.”

  “That’s ok,” said Lolly, simply. “I know I’ve turned your lives upside down, and you’ve all got different feelings about me, but I am very grateful to be here.”

  “Mrs Stannard won’t stay long,” Roger promised. “To be honest, I’ll be trying to get rid of her as soon as I can. Hopefully when she sees Sam is safe, she’ll go back to her more important work.”

  The seeds of an idea that Lolly had been toying with earlier started to come together in her head. Daddy had always tried to teach her about forward planning.

  “I think you’re going to need Mrs Stannard’s help,” said Lolly. “So will Al.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Sam.

  “I mean with Nicky Cairo,” Lolly clarified.

  “He’s way too scared now,” boasted James. “He won’t go near Al and he has no idea who we are.”

  “Men like Nicky Cairo aren’t playground bullies, James,” explained Lolly, patiently. “You don’t stand up to them once and they back down. They’re tough, resourceful, hard men who’ve built up empires with only their fists, guts, and a desperate need to be top dog. Cairo won’t be intimidated by a bunch of teenagers, no matter how many holes we punch in his desk.”
r />   She let that sink in.

  “He thinks Al has something that he wants. So I’d say Al is still in trouble. We can’t protect him all the time, so I’d say your friend at MI5 might be his best hope.”

  “You seem to know a lot about those sort of men,” observed Sam, acidly.

  “Ok, Sam, that’s enough,” snapped Roger. “You might be right, Lolly. But I don’t want to put Al on Mrs Stannard’s radar too. The question is, do I tell Mrs Stannard that Al has a power?”

  “No,” said Sam, “we don’t have the right. Just tell Mrs Stannard to get Nicky to back off.”

  “He may not listen to her,” said Lolly. “But I agree with Sam. You have to try.”

  “Oh, you’re so the grown up, worldly-wise person, aren’t you?” scoffed Sam.

  “Daddy and I have a lot of experience dealing with people like him,” said Lolly.

  “I bet,” muttered Sam.

  “And in Nicky Cairo’s case, the best approach is to offer him a deal.”

  “What sort of deal?” asked Roger.

  “Money,” explained Lolly. “As I told you, I still have cash. A lot of it. I can come to an agreement with him. I’ll go and see him tomorrow.”

  “I’m going, too,” insisted James.

  “You are not,” cut in Roger. “You’re going to school. I’ll go with Lolly.”

  “No, you won’t,” said Lolly. “I’m sorry, Roger, no disrespect, but you don’t know these men and it is best that they don’t know you. They’ll never be able to trace me, and I’m more than a match for them. Let me deal with it.”

  “I can’t let you risk your life for this family,” protested Roger.

  “I’m doing it to pay my way in this house. And also because no matter what has happened between me, James and Sam, we’re all connected by our powers and we all need to protect each other. The same goes for Al. I’ll go alone.”

  ***

  Yvonne Blake arrived home at five thirty that afternoon. Lolly was in her bedroom when she heard the shouting. Evidently, Mrs Blake was unhappy that Mr Blake hadn’t told her about Sam’s disappearance that day.

  It was strange, reflected Lolly, how with Daddy there had never been any arguments with anyone about anything. He’d always done as he thought best and he had the power to convince everybody he was right. It was a lot harder to make things happen without that kind of influence.