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her,’ Vanessa said.
    Kevin laughed. ‘Yeah, Jake’s really gonna sit through a wedding with Siobhan. He can’t stand her. I’d bet my last quid he only said that to wind her up. It was Jake’s idea that we all went to the swimming pool while everyone else was at the wedding.’
    Vanessa and Rhiannon exchanged shocked glances. ‘So none of you lot are going?’
    Kevin managed to laugh. ‘Not if we can help it. Who wants to dress up and sit through some boring church service?’
    There was a sharp crack as Rhiannon slapped Kevin across the cheek.
    ‘What was that for?’ Kevin shouted indignantly.
    He didn’t get an answer, but he did get an identical slap from Vanessa.
    ‘You’re a total pig,’ Vanessa hissed. ‘And you’d better warn Jake to be on the lookout. When Siobhan hears that he’s going swimming she’s gonna beat the crap out of him.’
    ‘Let’s ditch this immature loser,’ Rhiannon told Vanessa.
    As the two girls walked down the corridor, apparently on the best of terms, Kevin rubbed the red welt on his cheek and looked up at James.
    ‘Have you got any idea what just happened?’ Kevin asked.
    ‘Women are insane,’ James explained. ‘Don’t even try to comprehend what’s going on in their heads.’
    *
    Now that James was seventeen he had a real driver’s licence and was allowed to use the campus pool cars when he wanted to go out. A condition of using the cars was that James had to take on some duties shuttling younger cherubs around when they wanted to go out bowling, or to the shops or whatever.
    This was usually a drag, but he was happy to join a mini convoy of Volkswagen people carriers making the short ride out to the station to pick up guests arriving for the wedding. James’ first pickup was a bunch of retired CHERUB agents from Isaac and Chloe’s day and he didn’t know any of them. The train an hour later brought another two dozen wedding guests, including some of James’ old friends.
    He knew that his best friend Kyle was on the train, but was astonished when he saw the long blond hair and tanned body of Amy Collins. Amy had been James’ mentor when he’d first arrived on CHERUB campus and he hadn’t seen her for nearly three years.
    ‘Holy shit!’ James shouted, ignoring Kyle and pulling Amy into a huge hug. Amy’s older brother John stepped out behind her.
    ‘Quite the hunk!’ Amy giggled, as she stepped back and looked James up and down. ‘Bit different from the chubby little brat that arrived on campus five years ago. I’d go as far as to say you’re a catch, but the real question is, are you man enough to take me down?’
    Amy launched a fairly genteel Karate kick. James dodged it easily enough, but in doing so clattered into a plastic dustbin and skinned his elbow. Kyle, Amy and John cracked up laughing as James grabbed his wound.
    ‘Bastard arm,’ he shouted. ‘Jesus.’
    ‘Sluggish response, low situational awareness,’ Amy teased. ‘Looks like you’re still my bitch.’
    ‘I didn’t even know you were in the country,’ James said, smiling through gritted teeth.
    Amy’s brother John explained. ‘Chloe Blake and I go back a long way. We did basic training and a couple of missions together. We’ve always kept in touch and it seemed like a good excuse to get on an aeroplane.’
    ‘And how’s your diving-school business going?’ James asked, as they began walking towards the car park.
    ‘So-so,’ John said, with a shrug. ‘I get lots of work with the Japanese because I speak the language, but there’s brutal competition. It’s hard to make it pay.’
    ‘I’m working in Brisbane now I’ve finished university,’ Amy said. ‘I mostly do translation and close protection work.’
    ‘What kind of thing?’ James asked.
    ‘Oh all sorts,’ Amy explained. ‘Visiting business people. Pop stars doing Brisbane concerts, sports teams. It’s not very exciting but plenty of people will pay lots of money to have a young female