Terror Kid Read online

  ‘I’m really sorry – Kim just doesn’t understand. She’s a good friend but sometimes she just thinks about herself.’

  ‘It’s OK,’ he whispered back.

  Lola released him and he put his bag in the footwell of the car and buckled his seatbelt.

  Lola spoke as she began to drive.

  ‘After you left, the police surrounded the house and questioned us. It was scary. It wasn’t normal police. They came with guns and everything. We didn’t say anything though – well, we couldn’t, we didn’t know where you went – but, Rico, they’re serious. I’ll help you as much as I can, but you’re in big trouble. They’re now saying that you might have left the country and gone to an Al Qaeda training camp in Yemen.’

  ‘What, Al Qaeda! This is really out of control. What next? Where are we going?’ asked Rico.

  ‘Not far.’

  Lola drove down a few side streets, checking her mirrors to make she wasn’t being followed, and after a short drive they arrived at a hotel. She parked the car in the car park.

  ‘OK,’ said Lola. ‘I’ve already checked in, we have a twin room, you’re my brother, and your name is Alex Robinson, and my name is Jill Robinson.’

  Rico was nervous. ‘Is it safe?’

  ‘It’s easy. You don’t need to check in. Just go where I go but look like you know where you’re going. It’s a big hotel, with a big reception, so no one’s going to notice you – unless you draw attention to yourself.’

  ‘OK.’

  ‘Right. Let’s do it,’ said Lola.

  They entered the hotel and Rico stuck with Lola as she walked past the reception to the elevator. Their room on the fifth floor was small, with two single beds, a television and a small table with two chairs squeezed in. Lola’s bag was already on her bed. Rico threw his bag on the floor and jumped onto the other bed, lying down and stretching as far as he could. Then, sitting up swiftly, he said, ‘I need to watch some TV.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because I want to know what’s going on. I’m so out of touch.’

  ‘You’re supposed to be. Where have you been sleeping?’ Lola asked.

  ‘I was in a horrible shed one night, and in a slightly nicer shed the next night. Turn the telly on.’

  ‘In a while – but tell me more.’

  ‘The first one was someone’s garden shed. I don’t know whose. Then last night I slept in a kind of cabin thing at the bottom of some guys’ garden.’

  ‘Which guys?’

  ‘Just some guys I met. They recognised me and took me in, but they wanted me to go robbing with them.’

  ‘Rico! As if you’re not in trouble already. You didn’t say yes, did you?’

  ‘Of course not. Well, I said yes just to give me a chance to get away. Look,’ Rico said, pointing to the bruise on the side of his head. ‘One of them punched me. They were weird.’

  ‘Are you OK now?’

  ‘Now that I’m away from them, yes.’

  ‘As long as you’re OK. Do you want something to eat?’

  ‘Yes, at last, some real food. Where from?’

  ‘Room service. Just make sure you’re in the bathroom when they bring the food in. We don’t want to risk any staff recognising you.’

  Lola ordered a large meal and when it arrived Rico did as he was told and hid in the bathroom. As they ate the meal Rico told Lola everything that had happened over the past couple of days, and how he had felt worried that she had not made contact earlier.

  ‘I had to make sure I wasn’t being watched or followed, so I couldn’t call straight away. And I couldn’t risk calling from my phone with my SIM card, so I had to buy a new SIM card and a cheap old phone. If I call you again it will be from that number. And I’ll be Woodpecker, just like in the old days.’

  ‘I understand. So how is Kim?’ Rico asked.

  Lola’s surprise was obvious.

  ‘You sound like you care.’

  ‘I do. I understand her too. She doesn’t know me, so she doesn’t know if I really did it or not.’

  ‘But she knows me; she should trust me,’ said Lola.

  ‘She doesn’t know me, and it’s her house, so I can understand her not wanting anything to do with me.’

  ‘You’re such a considerate guy,’ said Lola.

  ‘Apparently I’m a mass killer. Can I put the telly on please?’

  ‘OK,’ replied Lola. ‘But remember you’re a compassionate guy, and not the guy they are making you out to be.’

  Rico turned on the television and began to flick through the channels. The bombing was the number one issue on all the news channels, and the commentators seemed in no doubt that Rico was guilty. Not a participant in a bigger plot, not someone who had been used by people more experienced, but the planner, the organiser and the executioner. When one of the stations began to show interviews with relatives of the dead and injured, a photo of Rico appeared. Of all the photos that could have been used, like school photos or personal photos, the photo they chose to show was one of him looking very tired on an anti-war demonstration. Rico stared at the image, hardly recognising himself and the evil personality they were describing. Lola told Rico to turn the television off. He turned it off and stared at the blank screen but in his mind he could not stop seeing images of the bombing victims and that image of himself.

  ‘What shall I do?’ he said.

  ‘I’ve given it lots of thought and I still don’t know. It’s up to you. I don’t want to sound like Kim but why don’t you just consider giving yourself up and just telling them the truth?’

  ‘I’ve thought about it, but no way. If I give myself up they’re going to charge me as if I’m a big murderer. I’ll go to prison for the rest of my life. I can’t give myself up. I have to wait until they get Speech, then they’ll understand, everyone will understand. They need to find Speech.’

  Lola pleaded, ‘Rico, they’re not even looking for Speech, they’re not looking for anyone else, they’re only looking for you.’

  ‘There must be something I can do.’

  ‘If you give yourself up at least you can try to prove your innocence. If you don’t you can’t.’

  ‘Lola!’ Rico shouted. ‘Are you saying that I should give myself up?’

  ‘Well,’ replied Lola very gently, ‘I’m just saying you should think of all the options.’

  Rico thought for a while and Lola watched him thinking. The silence was long. He then turned to look at her. ‘I’m not going to give myself up. I can’t. Are you still going to help me?’

  ‘I’m your sister, and I’ll support you in whatever you want to do.’

  ‘Thanks, that’s good, that’s really good. Just what I want to hear. But you know what? I don’t have any idea what to do.’

  Lola leaned forward and began to stack the empty plates on the table.

  ‘If you really want to lie low for a long time, I think I can sort something out, but I need a bit of time. I’ve booked this room for two nights. I have to go to work tomorrow; the next day, Saturday, is when we have to check out, but I won’t let you go back on the streets.’

  ‘Where can I go then?’ Rico asked.

  ‘Leave it to me.’

  The next morning Lola left for work, putting the DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door as she left. Rico spent most of the day in bed watching television. At first he watched news reports about him, but when he had had enough of himself he went to a film channel for escapism. Lola came back at six o’clock straight from work. She had an Indian takeaway and some fruit with her, and as they ate, Lola began to speak.

  ‘Today’s my last day for two weeks. I’m taking my annual leave. I have to rush home now – I have some things to do, and Kim is expecting me – but I’ll be back tomorrow morning to check us out and take us away.’

  ‘Take us where?’

  ‘That doesn’t matter now, but we’re going to get far away from here, up north. I’ve rented a really remote place for a couple of weeks and we can go there for a while.�
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  ‘And then what?’ asked Rico.

  ‘I don’t know, but let’s get away from here first and then think what to do next.’

  Rico rushed over to Lola and hugged her. ‘Thanks so much. I don’t know what I’d do without you. I really don’t. Just get me out of here so I can sort out my head.’

  Chapter 21

  My Name is Rico Federico

  Rico spent the evening alone, and although he spent much of the time watching news stations he was more relaxed. In the morning he woke up refreshed. After getting his things together he sat on his bed waiting for Lola. Using the remote control he turned the television on and began to watch the news again. The first thing he saw was a weather forecast, and then the next item rocked him.

  “A young girl has been arrested in the case of the police headquarters bombing. Police have taken the unusual step of getting permission from a court to name the juvenile girl in the hope that it will jog people’s memories. It is now believed Karima Yussuf used her extremist ideas to inspire Rico Federico. She has been arrested several times previously by the local police, including recently in the Birmingham riots. She was arrested in the early hours of this morning. Witnesses say it took a number of officers to restrain her. Although she was unarmed she violently resisted the arrest.”

  As the newsreader read the bulletin a picture of Karima appeared on the screen. Rico couldn’t stand it. He turned the television off. The hotel phone rang. It was Lola.

  ‘I’m in the reception. I’m just about to check out. The car is right in front of the hotel entrance. Just cover up, come down, walk straight out and get straight to the car. It will be unlocked. I am checking us out. Rico … Rico … are you there?’

  Rico was still thinking about Karima and could barely focus on what Lola was saying. After a short silence Rico replied.

  ‘Yes.’

  Lola could sense that something was wrong but all she said was, ‘OK. See you in the car.’

  Rico did exactly as he was told, and it wasn’t long before Lola appeared. She jumped into the seat next to Rico and turned the car engine on before she spoke. She was pumped up and ready. ‘Right. That’s all done. Let’s go.’

  Rico turned to look directly at Lola.

  ‘Take me to the police station.’

  Lola turned the engine off and hit the steering wheel with her fists. ‘What?’

  ‘Take me to the police station. I want to give myself up.’

  ‘Have you gone crazy or what? You kept telling me you didn’t want to go there. I’ve made all these plans to keep you out. And now you want to go there?’

  Rico didn’t take his eyes off her. ‘Sorry, but this is important. I’m not crazy, I’ve just had enough. I’m really sorry for messing you about. You’ve done so much to help me. You’ve always done loads to help me, even when I was a little kid. But now too many people are getting involved. They’ve arrested my best friend, and she hasn’t done anything.’

  Lola started up the engine again. ‘Are you sure you don’t want to wait …’

  Rico screamed, ‘I said take me to the station. If you don’t, I’ll just go by myself. I’ve got to go now! Right now!’

  Lola interrupted. ‘OK, Rico, calm down. It’s cool. I just want to make sure you know what you’re doing. Don’t worry. If you want to go, I’ll take you there.’

  She began to drive. ‘How do you know about your friend?’

  ‘I saw it on the telly. Her name’s Karima. She’s like my best friend and she hasn’t done anything.’

  ‘Yes,’ said Lola. ‘I heard something about her on the radio, and something about the shop you worked in being raided.’

  Rico shook his head in despair. ‘You see? It’s too much. The people who are being hurt by this are the people who are least guilty. So let’s go, and not just to any station – take me where they know me, close to home. Take me to Summerfield Police Station.’

  Lola stopped the car a block away from the station and turned to Rico.

  ‘How do you want to do this?’

  ‘I just want to walk in – alone.’

  ‘Let me come with you.’

  ‘No. Too many people are being dragged in already. If you come in with me they’ll probably arrest you too. No, leave me here and I’ll go in alone.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘I really mean this. I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life.’

  Lola leaned over and hugged him. He gave Lola the bag with his clothes and the phone and charger that she had given him. As he got out of the car Lola also got out and went round to the passenger side to hug him again. This was a long, tight hug. They were cheek-to-cheek and Rico could feel tears running down her face, and as she spoke, the movement of her jaw spread the tears onto his face.

  ‘I believe everything you say, and no matter what anyone else says, the truth shall set you free.’

  Rico’s cap was on, but his hood was down, and still no one recognised him as he walked to the station. He walked straight up to the desk. The Enquiry Officer put down what he was doing and addressed Rico.

  ‘Yes, young man, what can I do for you?’

  ‘My name is Rico Federico. I’ve come to give myself up.’

  The desk sergeant leaned forward and took a good look. Without taking his eyes off Rico he picked up the phone in front of him.

  ‘I need officers out here to make an arrest.’

  He put the phone down and pointed to Rico.

  ‘Now you stay right where you are,’ he said.

  Rico was nervous but calm. ‘I’m not going anywhere.’

  A side door opened and two plain-clothes officers came out. They were mid-conversation when they looked at Rico. Without saying a word they both ran towards Rico and took him down to the ground. Rico was struggling to breathe under the weight of the two officers.

  ‘Don’t move,’ said one officer.

  ‘I can’t,’ said Rico.

  ‘Good,’ said the officer. ‘Well, you’re under arrest for terrorism and murder. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you say may be given as evidence. In other words you’re nicked.’

  Chapter 22

  More Questions than Answers

  Rico sat impassively at the desk as the officer who’d arrested him walked into the room and sat down in front of him. He was called Detective Inspector Kennedy. They were alone in the room, but Rico knew that the small black balls on the ceiling, in the corners, were cameras, and they were probably being watched and filmed by a much bigger group of people. The officer slowly leaned over until Rico got a strong whiff of stale sweat and old aftershave.

  ‘Come on, let’s start a conversation here.’

  Rico didn’t move. ‘Come on, let’s get me a lawyer here,’ he said.

  ‘No problem. We can do that.’

  ‘Well, do it,’ said Rico. ‘I know I have the right to one, or an appropriate adult. So let’s do that.’

  ‘Of course, I’ll sort that for you, but it doesn’t matter who’s here – your people or my people – first of all, me and you have to have a rapport going on. We’re going to have to trust each other. After all, we’re going to be spending a lot of time talking to each other.’

  Rico turned to look at the officer. ‘I don’t trust you, and you don’t trust me; we are not friends, associates or anything, so just give me my rights. I’m a juvenile. I want a lawyer and my parents, and that’s it.’

  ‘OK,’ said DI Kennedy, straightening up. ‘That’s the way you want to play it.’

  The officer left the room to join his colleagues – eight of them – in an adjoining room.

  DI Kennedy had lots of experience in questioning terrorists and hardened criminals, but none in questioning intelligent fifteen-year-olds. He talked to his squad outside the interview room for a while and then agreed that it was time to call Rico’s legal representative. DI Kennedy to
ok a pad and pen from his shirt pocket and went back in to see Rico.

  ‘OK. So what’s your lawyer’s name then?’

  Rico was silent. He tried to look confident. He knew his rights, but he didn’t know any lawyers.

  ‘Come on, what’s your lawyer’s name?’

  Rico looked up at him. ‘I haven’t got one.’

  The officer laughed. ‘So after all the big talk you don’t even have a lawyer. Don’t worry, we can get one for you.’

  ‘No way,’ shouted Rico. ‘I’m not having one of your lawyers.’ Rico’s words echoed around the room. He wanted his parents to get a lawyer for him, but he was also worried about what his parents would think. Would they believe him? Would they stick by him? He needed help, but he wasn’t prepared to accept it from the police. ‘Give me a phone call,’ he said. ‘Let me call my parents, and they’ll get me a lawyer.’

  Rico was allowed a phone call. He called his father and tried to start explaining what had happened, but his father told him not to say a word, and in less than thirty minutes his mother and father arrived at the station. He could hear his father before he could see him.

  ‘If any of you put a hand on him I’m having you. He’s no terrorist and you know it. I’m telling you lot, treat him with respect.’

  When they entered the room Lena ran straight to Rico and hugged him. Stefan continued to speak loudly.

  ‘Rico, have any of them touched you? Don’t be afraid to say, now. Have any of them laid a hand on you?’

  ‘No,’ replied Rico over his mother’s shoulder.

  ‘Right,’ said Stefan. ‘We’re going to get you a lawyer and we’re going to get you out of here.’

  ‘Have you eaten?’ asked Lena.

  ‘Yes, Mum,’ replied Rico.

  ‘Are you sure?’ asked Stefan.

  ‘Yes, Dad,’ said Rico. ‘I don’t need anything to eat, I just want you to know I didn’t blow that place up.’

  ‘We know,’ said Lena. ‘You don’t have to tell us that.’

  ‘That’s right,’ said Stefan. ‘You don’t have to tell us that.’

  ‘I’ve got nothing to hide,’ said Rico. ‘I’m going to tell them everything I know. I didn’t do it.’