visit?”
“Then why’s he rocked up in a bloody
police
car?”
“I don’t know!”
“He knows it was us who hacked the system,” Kenny panics. “He must have found some evidence. He’s figured it out. We’re going to jail!”
“Calm down!” I tell him firmly. “Panicking won’t help anything. I’ll handle Neil. You take Vix out like you planned. Just keep her well away.”
He nods, pale-faced, as he follows me out of the room. “What about Christian? Shame you’ll have to cancel your date,” he remarks snidely.
“Shit. He’ll be here any minute.” I grab my phone from my pocket and call Christian’s mobile, but it goes to voice mail.
“Christian, hi, it’s Lou,” I say quickly. “I’m really sorry, but there’s been an emergency...”
Kenny smiles as we head down the corridor.
“...
so don’t come and meet me, but if you text me the address of the party, I’ll meet you there as soon as I can, okay? Really sorry. Bye.”
Kenny shakes his head. “You’re crazy.”
“Lou!” Vix bounds up the stairs. “Look who I found in reception—your godfather!”
“Surprise!” Neil beams behind her.
“Neil!” I force a smile as I hurry to hug him. “What are you doing here?”
“And what are
you
doing up here, Kenny?” asks Vix. “I thought we were meeting downstairs?”
“I was trying to convince Lou to come for that fry-up, but it’s a lost cause,” Kenny says, grabbing Vix’s hand. “Let’s go!”
“Lovely to meet you, Neil!” Vix calls as she’s dragged away.
“Nice to meet you too!” Neil watches them go, then turns to me. “Hope I didn’t scare them away?”
“Don’t be silly!” I smile brightly as I lead him quickly back to my room. “What brings you all this way?”
“Aren’t you pleased to see me?”
“Of course!” I say, hastily picking up an empty coffee mug and stack of books and clothes so he can sit down on the only chair. “Sorry about the mess—if I’d known you were coming, I’d have tidied up a bit!”
“You’re a student.” He shrugs. “It’s expected.” He glances at the posters and photos on my walls. “Nice room you’ve got here.”
“Thanks... but how did you know I’d be in?”
“I have my sources.” He raises an eyebrow. “Grace tipped me off that you were heading back to halls.”
I nod. “Right.”
“Anyway, can’t a guy visit his favorite goddaughter without an inquisition?” Neil protests.
I smile weakly. “I’m your
only
goddaughter.”
He shrugs. “Semantics.”
“So you came all this way just to say hi?” I ask nervously.
“Well, no...
,
” he confesses.
Shit.
“Actually, do you fancy going for a coffee or lunch or something?” I say quickly. Whatever he’s here for, it’ll be better if Christian doesn’t suddenly turn up. “I’m sick of the sight of these four walls—it’s like a cell!”
I wince. Bad choice of words.
“First things first,” he says gravely. “Some information has come to light that I seriously hope you can refute, despite the compelling proof.”
I swallow hard. This is it. Kenny was right. We must have left some evidence....
“I just can’t believe it’s true,” Neil says, his eyes pained as he looks at me. “But I have to ask.”
He takes a deep breath and my skin prickles.
“Are you, young lady—my goddaughter—guilty of turning
nineteen
years old today?”
“What?” I freeze.
“
Please
tell me it’s not true—it can’t be. That would make me
old
!” He cringes.
I smile tentatively. “ ’Fraid so.”
“Ugh,” he groans. “Then I guess lunch is on me, eh?”
“Definitely.” I smile. “But I’ll drive.”
“On your birthday? Wouldn’t hear of it. We’ll get a cab.” He jabs at his mobile.
“No need,” I insist, “my car’s just downstairs.” And Christian could arrive any second if he hasn’t got my message....
“But you can’t have a drink if you’re driving,” Neil argues. I start to protest, but he
“Then why’s he rocked up in a bloody
police
car?”
“I don’t know!”
“He knows it was us who hacked the system,” Kenny panics. “He must have found some evidence. He’s figured it out. We’re going to jail!”
“Calm down!” I tell him firmly. “Panicking won’t help anything. I’ll handle Neil. You take Vix out like you planned. Just keep her well away.”
He nods, pale-faced, as he follows me out of the room. “What about Christian? Shame you’ll have to cancel your date,” he remarks snidely.
“Shit. He’ll be here any minute.” I grab my phone from my pocket and call Christian’s mobile, but it goes to voice mail.
“Christian, hi, it’s Lou,” I say quickly. “I’m really sorry, but there’s been an emergency...”
Kenny smiles as we head down the corridor.
“...
so don’t come and meet me, but if you text me the address of the party, I’ll meet you there as soon as I can, okay? Really sorry. Bye.”
Kenny shakes his head. “You’re crazy.”
“Lou!” Vix bounds up the stairs. “Look who I found in reception—your godfather!”
“Surprise!” Neil beams behind her.
“Neil!” I force a smile as I hurry to hug him. “What are you doing here?”
“And what are
you
doing up here, Kenny?” asks Vix. “I thought we were meeting downstairs?”
“I was trying to convince Lou to come for that fry-up, but it’s a lost cause,” Kenny says, grabbing Vix’s hand. “Let’s go!”
“Lovely to meet you, Neil!” Vix calls as she’s dragged away.
“Nice to meet you too!” Neil watches them go, then turns to me. “Hope I didn’t scare them away?”
“Don’t be silly!” I smile brightly as I lead him quickly back to my room. “What brings you all this way?”
“Aren’t you pleased to see me?”
“Of course!” I say, hastily picking up an empty coffee mug and stack of books and clothes so he can sit down on the only chair. “Sorry about the mess—if I’d known you were coming, I’d have tidied up a bit!”
“You’re a student.” He shrugs. “It’s expected.” He glances at the posters and photos on my walls. “Nice room you’ve got here.”
“Thanks... but how did you know I’d be in?”
“I have my sources.” He raises an eyebrow. “Grace tipped me off that you were heading back to halls.”
I nod. “Right.”
“Anyway, can’t a guy visit his favorite goddaughter without an inquisition?” Neil protests.
I smile weakly. “I’m your
only
goddaughter.”
He shrugs. “Semantics.”
“So you came all this way just to say hi?” I ask nervously.
“Well, no...
,
” he confesses.
Shit.
“Actually, do you fancy going for a coffee or lunch or something?” I say quickly. Whatever he’s here for, it’ll be better if Christian doesn’t suddenly turn up. “I’m sick of the sight of these four walls—it’s like a cell!”
I wince. Bad choice of words.
“First things first,” he says gravely. “Some information has come to light that I seriously hope you can refute, despite the compelling proof.”
I swallow hard. This is it. Kenny was right. We must have left some evidence....
“I just can’t believe it’s true,” Neil says, his eyes pained as he looks at me. “But I have to ask.”
He takes a deep breath and my skin prickles.
“Are you, young lady—my goddaughter—guilty of turning
nineteen
years old today?”
“What?” I freeze.
“
Please
tell me it’s not true—it can’t be. That would make me
old
!” He cringes.
I smile tentatively. “ ’Fraid so.”
“Ugh,” he groans. “Then I guess lunch is on me, eh?”
“Definitely.” I smile. “But I’ll drive.”
“On your birthday? Wouldn’t hear of it. We’ll get a cab.” He jabs at his mobile.
“No need,” I insist, “my car’s just downstairs.” And Christian could arrive any second if he hasn’t got my message....
“But you can’t have a drink if you’re driving,” Neil argues. I start to protest, but he
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