Read Urban Outlaws for Free Online Page B

when he was three. He was in the car with them at the time, but had no memory of it.
    ‘So,’ he said, ‘how did Wren wind up on the streets?’
    ‘She came home from school one day and found her mum on the sofa, not breathing. There was nothing Wren could do for her.’
    Jack grimaced, imagining the scene.
    Charlie leant back in her chair. ‘Social services came, did their usual bit and tried to trace her dad.’
    ‘They didn’t find him?’
    Charlie shook her head. ‘Wren’s mum left no details on the guy. The birth certificate even had a made up name on it.’
    Jack frowned. ‘Why?’
    Charlie shrugged. ‘No idea.’ She cleared her throat. ‘Anyway, social services put Wren into care. No one wanted to take her on. Blah, blah.’
    ‘OK.’ There must’ve been more to the story. A cute kid like Wren not finding foster parents?
    ‘There was an older girl . . . Hmm, Tracey something. Anyway, she used to bully Wren. Y’know?’
    Jack nodded. He knew all too well. Growing up in a children’s home was tough. Understandably, a lot of the kids had serious issues. ‘So she ran away?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘And that’s when you found her?’
    ‘A couple of weeks later.’
    ‘ Weeks? ’ Jack said, surprised. ‘How did she survive?’
    ‘Begging. She’s a good pickpocket too.’
    Jack pointed at the laptop. ‘So, what’s the missing kids site for?’
    ‘I was kinda thinking that Wren’s real dad might have heard what’s happened to her, maybe even tried to track down his lost daughter.’
    Jack cocked an eyebrow at her. ‘That’s a long shot.’
    Charlie glanced at the screen. ‘I know.’
    ‘He might be dead too.’
    ‘Maybe. Anyway, if he’s not looking for her, then social services will be. It’s a place to start.’ She spun to face the laptop and continued to scroll down the screen. After a few minutes she said, ‘Got it.’
    Jack leant over to see the display clearly. In the middle of the screen was Wren’s real name:
     
    Jennifer Jenkins .
     
    Charlie was right. Social services were looking for Wren. ‘Now what?’ he said.
    ‘I need to see if I can get a lead on where her dad is. Put out the word. See if anyone’s tried to find her. Get a name. An address. Anything.’ Charlie looked at the screen, then back to Jack. ‘Don’t tell her.’
    Jack held up his hands. ‘I won’t say a thing.’
    ‘Hey, guys.’
    Charlie slammed the laptop shut and spun round.
    Slink stood in the doorway and he looked excited.
    ‘What’s up?’ Jack said.
    ‘Obi’s got something.’
    •   •   •
    Back in the main room, Jack and Charlie grabbed slices of cold pizza and gathered around Obi. He had the same CCTV image on the screen as before, but now there was movement, a lot of movement.
    Several trucks and vans had backed into the alleyway and it was a hive of activity. The roller door was up and twenty or so men bustled about carrying boxes.
    A forklift was unloading crates from the side of a truck.
    Whatever those men were doing, Jack’s initial hunch had been correct. It was big.
    ‘What is all that stuff?’ Charlie said.
    Jack said, ‘Prepping for World War Three?’
    Slink’s eyes lit up. ‘You think it’s guns?’
    ‘Whatever they’ve got,’ Jack said, ‘I don’t think it’s office supplies.’ His attention rested on the corner of the image as a black SUV with tinted windows pulled up to the kerb at the end of the alleyway.
    Two men and a woman stepped from the car. They were dressed in black suits and wore sunglasses. This was England – people hardly ever needed to wear sunglasses, especially at night.
    ‘Oh, no,’ Jack said, his stomach sinking.
    Charlie looked at him. ‘What?’
    ‘Game over.’ He walked to the living area and flopped on to one of the sofas, defeated.
    Charlie sat opposite. ‘What’s over?’
    He waved a dismissive hand at the screen behind him. ‘They’re government agents.’
    Slink laughed. ‘Only in films. They don’t dress like that in real