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match. ‘What I did was . . . sort of cheating, wasn’t it?’ I stammered.
    Jack pursed his lips. ‘Well, I suppose if you call giving the ultimate underdogs a fighting chance against a big shot team with more money than they know what to do with then, yes, it wasn’t particularly fair. But life isn’t. Come on.’
    He offered the money again, but I shook my head. We stared at each other for a few moments. Jack frowned.
    ‘It’s . . . I mean . . .’ I hesitated. ‘I’ve got no problem really . . . I mean Sweeton scored one of their goals all by themselves . . . It’s just . . .’
    ‘Just what, Nico?’ Jack said, his voice tight. ‘Were you listening to what I said earlier? Your mother died for your gift. She would want you to use this amazing ability you have. She hated the fact that she was going to leave you all alone in the world. I know she would see what you did today as a small step towards helping you survive.’
    I stared at him. ‘Even if it meant cheating?’
    Jack’s eyes blazed. ‘Using your talents to get ahead isn’t cheating. It’s just common sense . . . making the most of the cards you’ve been dealt in life.’
    I held up my hands. ‘Okay, okay, keep your hair on,’ I said. ‘This is all just really new for me.’
    Jack smiled. ‘I know. I’m sorry. I should give you more time to adjust.’ He folded over the stash of bills in his hand. ‘Look, you don’t have to take it. I’ll give it to charity.’
    ‘Er . . .’ I stared at the money, working out how much must be there now that Jack had taken out his original bet. ‘That’s got to be two hundred and forty pounds,’ I said. That, surely, had to be enough money for Ketty to enter the marathon and find somewhere to stay in Scotland.
    Jack chuckled. ‘The boy can add up.’
    I swallowed. My throat was dry. Jack held out the money again. ‘Go on, take it,’ he said. ‘You can always give it away later.’
    Well, giving it away was exactly what I was planning. I took the cash and shoved it into my pocket.
    ‘Thanks,’ I said.
    Jack got out of the car. ‘No, Nico, thank you. ’
     

    We went inside, to the kitchen, where Jack made me a large cheese sandwich. I was sitting at the table, wolfing it down, when Dylan walked in, carrying a shopping bag.
    ‘Hey.’ She smiled at me . . . a cool, slightly aloof smile.
    Jack looked up. ‘Hey, Dylan. What d’you buy today?’ He turned to me. ‘Dylan’s only in London with her relatives for two weeks but I’m not sure there’ll be anything left in the shops by the time she goes home.’ He laughed. ‘I’ve had to give her a key so she has somewhere to stash it all!’
    Dylan rolled her eyes and took some sort of floaty green top out of the bag. She held it up in front of her. ‘Like it?’
    I grunted, feeling a bit embarrassed.
    ‘Lovely,’ Jack enthused. ‘A great colour for your eyes.’ Dylan shrugged, but you could tell she was pleased he liked the top. ‘How did he do?’ She pointed to me, though her question was clearly directed at Jack.
    ‘Brilliantly,’ Jack said. ‘He has an amazing gift.’
    I frowned. What was Jack doing? My telekinesis was private.
    Dylan turned to me, twisting her long, red hair round her hand. ‘So what’s your thing?’
    I stared at her. ‘My thing ?’
    Jack cleared his throat. ‘She means your psychic ability, Nico.’
    My mouth fell open.
    ‘It’s okay,’ Jack went on, quickly. ‘Dylan knows all about the Medusa gene.’
    Dylan glanced at him. ‘You haven’t told him?’ she said.
    Jack shook his head.
    ‘Told me what?’ I put down my cheese sandwich. ‘What are you talking about?’
    ‘Er . . . when William Fox created the Medusa gene,’ Jack said, ‘he didn’t just implant the synthesis in you.’
    I stared at him. ‘You mean there are others ?’
    Jack nodded. ‘Three others, all your age.’
    ‘Where?’ I turned to Dylan. ‘Who?’
    Dylan’s face curved into a mysterious smile. She picked up a box of