Free Terror Kid by Benjamin Zephaniah

see from his computer records that it was Rico Federico who compromised our computer systems. After placing the delivery on the counter, the courier told the officer that he had to go back to his vehicle to call his office and notify them of a possible delay. We now know that this courier was an imposter, the real courier having been delayed by a deliberate accident. The imposter went back to his vehicle, but drove off, and exactly one minute later the bomb went off. Neither the imposter nor the vehicle can be traced. This was a well-planned, professionally executed operation. Rico Federico is a dangerous person. We believe he is still in the Birmingham area. The public are warned not to approach him if they see him, but to report any sighting of him to the police.”
    Rico put his hands together in front of his chest as if praying. ‘I didn’t know anything about a bomb,’ said Rico. ‘Lola, you have to believe me. Honest, I just thought it was a game. You know, hack in, close down their site, and have a bit of a laugh. I didn’t know anything about a bomb.’
    Lola saw that his tears were real. She could see his hands shaking as he pleaded to her. She put her arm around him. ‘I believe you.’
    â€˜What shall I do?’ Rico asked, looking at the carpet.
    â€˜First of all, take some time to think. Why don’t you call this Speech guy and see what he has to say?’
    â€˜He’s gone,’ said Rico. ‘And I haven’t even got a phone number for him. He said he didn’t have a phone.’
    â€˜Any idea where he lives?’
    â€˜No.’
    â€˜Email?’
    â€˜No,’ said Rico. ‘I haven’t got anything for him. He just used to meet me in the streets. It was like he just knew where I was all the time.’
    Kim came home, hurried through the door, and went upstairs, shouting down as she ascended.
    â€˜Lola. Can I have a word?’
    Lola ran upstairs.
    â€˜Lola,’ Kim said anxiously. ‘I got something to tell you. It’s about your brother.’
    â€˜I know,’ said Lola. ‘It’s complicated.’
    â€˜Complicated?’ Kim was shouting now. ‘Complicated? Nine people are dead, twenty in hospital. And your brother did it!’
    â€˜He didn’t,’ said Lola. ‘I know him. He wouldn’t do something like that. He is my brother. Come downstairs. He’ll talk to you. He’s got nothing to hide.’
    Lola persuaded Kim to calm down and go and listen to Rico. Downstairs, Rico retold the whole story again. It was tedious, but he wanted to make sure he got every detail right. Kim was convinced by Rico but she was also convinced that he should give himself up straight away.
    â€˜It’s the most honest thing to do,’ said Kim.
    â€˜But who’s going to believe me?’ said Rico. ‘I’ve been set up. I’ll be on my own.’
    Lola looked at Kim, then she looked at Rico.
    â€˜You are not alone. You have us. Kim will be here tomorrow, and I’m going to take the day off, so let’s all get some sleep and we’ll decide what to do tomorrow.’
    â€˜Good idea,’ said Kim. ‘My head’s hurting.’

 

Chapter 16
Blood is Thicker Than Water
    Rico slept on the couch but got very little sleep that night and in the morning he had stiff shoulders, a stiff neck and a headache. Kim and Lola weren’t feeling much better either. They had slept in their beds, but they had also spent many hours talking about the situation they had found themselves in. As they sat eating breakfast from plates on their laps they compared the strength of their headaches then, for the first time, Lola asked how her parents were.
    â€˜They were OK the last time I saw them,’ said Rico. Then he thought about how panicked his mother sounded the last time he heard her, and of how confused his father would be. His head flopped down and he continued to speak with his