Johnny Mackintosh and the Spirit of London (36 page)

“You can improve him?”

“Definitely. There is a minor difficulty.”

“What's that?” Johnny asked.

“My new hardware will have to be added in person.”

Armed with what Sol had called a “quantum processor,” Johnny ran out of the London Gherkin, past several security guards and through crowds of people in smart suits to reach the front of the taxi rank. He opened the door of what looked like a regular London taxi and dived inside.

“'Ere—steady on little fellah. What's the rush?”

“Wh … what?” said a startled Johnny. “Who are you? Where's the Jubilee?”

“Well I'm Jack and, see, you're in my cab. And I don't know nothin' 'bout no Jubilee.” Johnny stared, horrified, at the man in the front seat, who continued, “D'ya mean Jubilee Street? Down Stepney?”

“No I don't, sorry,” said Johnny. “I didn't realize you were a taxi.”

“What d'ya think I were? A flyin' saucer?”

“Something like that,” said Johnny, opening the door and stepping out onto the pavement.

As he closed it he heard Jack mutter what sounded like “kids.” What had happened to the Jubilee? Johnny backed away from the taxi. The other shuttles were both inside Sol—he'd have to take one of those. He turned and started to run, but instead bashed straight into someone, sending the unfortunate person's mobile phone flying out of her hand and knocking her to the pavement.

“Sorry,” said Johnny, automatically. He picked up the mobile and turned to hand it to the red-haired woman now sitting upright and smiling at him.

“Thanks, Johnny,” said an American voice as the woman took the phone from his outstretched hand. “Aren't you going to help me up?” Dumbstruck, Johnny reached out a hand and helped Miss Harutunian to her feet. “What do you say I take you home?” she said.

Johnny had no choice but to be led through the crowds by his social worker, who kept a very tight grip on him as she steered him in the direction of Liverpool Street station. Soon they were speeding out of London toward Castle Dudbury New Town.

It could have been worse. At least now Johnny wouldn't have to break into Halader House to upgrade Kovac. Miss Harutunian was seemingly on the phone to everyone—Mrs. Irvine, a doctor, someone over in America—to tell them all that Johnny was safely in her care, so he sneaked the opportunity to tap a little message into the games console so that Sol would be able to tell the others what was happening. Then he shut his eyes pretending to be asleep, to buy a little time to concoct a cover
story. Although it seemed a lifetime ago that he had left the children's home, he reminded himself that he only had one day to account for. Even so he was struggling, and why was it time seemed to pass more quickly when you need that little bit extra for thinking? Before he knew it, Miss Harutunian was gently shaking his shoulder as the train pulled into Castle Dudbury station. As the two of them walked across the long tarmacked car park to the back of Halader House, Johnny's heart sank. A panda car was parked at the rear of number 33 Barnard Way, where Mrs. Irvine stood between a policeman and a police-woman, peering toward them through her pointy glasses. Worse still, a little crowd of residents had gathered around the entrance to see what was going on. Spencer Mitchell even applauded as Johnny came closer but Mr. Wilkins stood in his white chef's coat and hat, slowly sharpening a knife, with his tiny beetle eyes following Johnny across the tarmac. As they reached the welcoming party, Mrs. Irvine raised her tartan umbrella and started bashing Johnny over the head with it.

“I was so worried … disappearing like that … you thoughtless, thoughtless boy.” On the second “thoughtless” she gave Johnny quite a heavy thwack and the burly policeman made to place himself between her and Johnny, so she finally stopped hitting him. Instead, she burst into loud sobs which, if anything, made Johnny feel even worse.

The policeman said, “Let's get the lad inside, shall we?” and steered Mrs. Irvine, now clamped hold of Johnny, toward the back door of Halader House and inside. Mrs. Irvine led Johnny, the two police and Miss Harutunian through the building and up the stairs to her office. They entered, with Miss Harutunian closing the door behind them. Johnny plunked himself down on one of the wooden chairs around the little table and stared at his trainers.

The policewoman crouched down on her haunches in front
of him. “Johnny—my name's PC Stephanie Gee and this is PC Steven Starkey. You're not in any trouble—we just want you to tell us what happened.”

It was excruciating. At least he'd had the train journey to try to make something up, but Johnny felt himself going redder and redder as he told a rather lame story of leaving for London, going to look at the Gherkin, Bentley running off chasing another dog down a side street and spending the rest of the day trying to find him. He said he slept on a bench in a park he didn't know the name of.

“Anything could have happened,” cried Mrs. Irvine, taking a tissue from the sleeve of her dress and giving her nose a massive blow.

The policewoman sympathetically described a park in London near to the Gherkin and Johnny nodded, as though that was the one. Then he carried on and said that he'd kept searching today, hoping Bentley might be there, when he ran into Miss Harutunian. He looked up at his social worker who was standing behind the policewoman with her arms folded and her lips pursed.

“And just as well you did,” said Mrs. Irvine. “If Katherine hadn't been there … I was so worried after that journalist's accident … and the school's been on the phone asking where you were … today of all days.”

“I'm really sorry,” said Johnny for what seemed the millionth time, but he really did mean it. “What did the school want?”

“What did they want? They wanted to know why you're not playing football. They've given all the classes the afternoon off to watch the match.”

“What's all this?” asked the policeman.

“Johnny's meant to be in a soccer game today,” said Miss Harutunian. “What is it again?”

“County final,” Johnny mumbled.

“Crumbs. You're missing a cup final,” said PC Starkey. “Who are you playing?”

“Colchester Grammar,” said Johnny.

“Really … against the posh boys, eh?” The policeman looked down at PC Gee and said, “You know who goes there, don't you?”

She rolled her eyes and said, “There are some things a little more important than football, Steve.”

Mrs. Irvine, sounding a little more composed now, carried on. “They held the bus, waiting for Johnny. It only left half an hour ago, I think.”

“You any good at football then?” the policeman asked Johnny. “Where d'you play?”

“Midfield general,” he replied, pleased the conversation had moved away from his imaginary day out in London.

PC Starkey laughed. “Well, I reckon the lad needs a bit of cheering up. Why don't we try and catch that school bus up, eh?”

“You mean I can play?” asked Johnny, scarcely believing his luck.

“Ever been in a panda car? We'll slap the sirens on and you can be there in no time.”

“Steve—you know that's against regulations,” said PC Gee.

“Come on Steph—give the lad a break. I'd love him to put one over on Colchester.”

“Well, if it's OK with Mrs. Irvine,” said the policewoman.

Johnny looked up toward the Halader House Manager. “I don't know why I'm going to say this,” she said, “but go on. Get your stuff—you'd better hurry.”

Before she could change her mind, Johnny ran out of the office and along the corridor until he turned the corner to see the little spiral staircase leading up to his attic bedroom. Everything looked almost as he'd left it. Very quickly he spoke into his wristcom and a relieved Alf replied in his ear. Bentley
was already much better and was going to be OK. Johnny punched the air with joy. He tried to explain about the football match, but it sounded as though Alf didn't follow a single word. In the end Johnny gave up and said to tell Clara when she woke up. He threw his boots and a tracksuit top into a carrier bag. Then he pulled out the box from underneath his bed and rummaged around inside until he found the small rusty penknife he'd been looking for. Quickly, Johnny gathered up the bag and crept down the staircase, along the corridor and down the stairs to the computer room. He could hear pots and pans being flung around as he tiptoed past the kitchens, a sure sign Mr. Wilkins wasn't happy. Johnny crept by and confidently placed his hand over the swipe card reader to open the computer room door. He walked over to the central table and said, “Hello, Kovac.”

“Hello, Johnny,” replied the computer.

“Kovac—pause search: Michael Mackintosh, location.”

“Search paused.”

“Kovac—prepare for central processor upgrade.”

“Quarantining higher operating functions,” Kovac replied. “System ready.”

As quickly and quietly as he could, Johnny opened the penknife and used its screwdriver to undo the box around the Halader House computer. Very carefully he removed the original CPU and pressed the quantum processor Sol had devised into its place. He screwed the box back together and said, “Kovac—initiate hardware upgrade.”

“Upgrade in progress,” said Kovac. “Interesting … that feels much better, Johnny.”

“Glad you like it,” Johnny replied. “Kovac—resume search. Add a new search: Louise …” Poor Kovac wouldn't have a lot to go on as Johnny didn't know her surname. “Louise, unknown last name, age fifteen or sixteen, from Yarnton Hill.”

“Is that all?” Kovac asked in a tone that suggested the task was very much beneath him.

“What?” said Johnny. “Yes that's all … and correlate results … and camouflage mode,” he hissed at the computer that was projecting some very complex calculations on its monitor. Johnny jumped to his feet, picked up his bag, said, “Laters, Kovac,” to the computer and ran out of the room, leaping up the stairs three at a time before practically falling through the door into Mrs. Irvine's office.

“OK, let's go,” said PC Starkey.

“You be careful, Jonathan,” said Mrs. Irvine, giving Johnny a stare as though playing football were the most dangerous activity imaginable.

“I will,” said Johnny, nodding to her and Miss Harutunian and following the two police out of the office. They walked quickly through Halader House and out of the back door.

Spencer and his mates were still there. He shouted, “Nice one, Mackintosh,” as Johnny walked toward the police car and climbed into the back seat, looking for all the world as though he was being arrested. Under strict orders from PC Gee, he made sure his seatbelt was tightly fastened.

“Everybody ready?” PC Starkey asked. “Colchester, here we come.” The sirens above the car howled into life and Johnny sat back to enjoy the ride.

The final of the Essex Football Association's Under Thirteens Cup was to be played at Layer Road, the home ground of Colchester United FC. The panda car, lights flashing and sirens blazing, overtook Johnny's school team's blue minibus about a mile from the stadium, indicating for it to pull over. “Stay here,” said PC Starkey, winking at Johnny and getting out of the car. He walked over to the window next to where Johnny
could see his PE teacher and football coach, Mr. Davenport, sitting in the driver's seat.