Free Class A by Robert Muchamore Page A

Beckett’s criminal file and have it destroyed, so no fingerprint or DNA evidence would ever be linked back to James’ real identity.
    James bought a roll of tin foil in one of those everything for a pound shops. They locked themselves in a disabled toilet. James gave Junior the stuff out of his backpack and lined it with a double layer of the shiny aluminium.
    ‘What does it do?’ Junior asked.
    ‘You know those alarms that go off when you take something out of a shop?’
    Junior nodded.
    ‘They’re metal detectors,’ James explained. ‘They put those sticky metal tag thingies on everything, and the alarm goes off when it detects them.’
    ‘So, won’t the metal foil make it go off?’
    ‘It only goes off when it detects the right-sized piece of metal. Otherwise, it would ring for every umbrella and belt buckle. So, as long as you wrap the security tags inside something made of metal, the alarm thinks it’s something different and doesn’t go off.’
    ‘Genius,’ Junior said, breaking into a grin.
    ‘All we need is a shop where they keep the Playstation discs in the boxes, not behind the counter.’
    ‘ Gameworld does,’ Junior said.
    ‘We’ll have to go in separately. I’ll go up and stick the games in my pack. Your job is to distract the security guard, or any staff that come near me.’
    ‘How?’
    ‘Anything to take their attention off me. Just walk up and ask where something is.’
    ‘You’re sure this isn’t going to go wrong?’ Junior asked excitedly. ‘If we get caught, my dad will crucify me.’
    ‘Trust me,’ James said. ‘Besides, you’re only a lookout. I’m the one taking the big risk.’
    James felt confident as Junior led him through the shopping centre towards Gameworld .
    The security guard stood in the entrance. James went straight up the back to the Playstation games. His foil-lined backpack was already unzipped. He found four of the games Junior wanted, then realised he might as well grab a few for himself while he was taking the risk. It was dead easy: the security guard was picking his nose and the guy at the checkout was texting on his mobile.
    James zipped the pack up and slung it over his back. Junior stood in the doorway, with the security guard pointing out the DVDs to him. James headed towards the exit as nonchalantly as he could, but his heart was thumping. As he passed through the detector, an alarm went berserk and a mechanical voice boomed out:
    ‘ We’re sorry, an inventory tag has been left on your item. Please return to the store. We’re sorry, an inventory … ’
    The guard took hold of James and tried to drag him into the shop. Junior could have kept his head down and nobody would have been able to prove he was involved, so James was impressed when he charged towards the security guard and punched him in the side of the head. James kneed the guard in the stomach and started running, with Junior a few paces behind.
    The security guard in the store opposite had seen the whole show and came after them. When James glanced back over his shoulder, the guard was shouting into his walkie-talkie, requesting back-up.
    ‘You tit,’ Junior shouted, as shoppers dived out of their way. ‘What a great plan.’
    James couldn’t work out what he’d done wrong. Two security guards came out of a department store up ahead, blocking their path and forcing them to cut into a women’s clothing store. A woman with a buggy went flying into a display of leggings as James crashed into her. The store was crammed with rails of clothing that brushed against James as he ran. Junior stumbled. One of the security guards got a hand on him, but he spun away and recovered his balance.
    James burst out of the fire exit at the back of the shop, setting off another alarm. He’d hoped the door would lead out on to the street, but he’d emerged into the central concourse of the shopping centre. There was a big fountain and a stand where they did temporary exhibitions. The yellow