Kicked Out, page 16
“Yeah,” said Aadam. “We’re gonna run that way.” He pointed at the big lawn that led to the pool room.
“Okay,” said Sami, getting his arms in position to run for his life.
Chapter 34
Mark emerged at the top of the stone stairs and ran down in his tracksuit. “I told him you were here. He’s coming.” Mark stopped at the bottom of the steps and turned to check. “Here, this is the gate fob to get out.” He handed a plastic rectangle with two buttons on it to Sami. “I was just looking for it.”
So that’s why he took ages. Clever.
“Just press the left button and they’ll open. Run off as soon as you see him and get home.” Mark stepped aside near the staircase wall and pulled my arm. “Ali, come over here, so we can run up this side, away from him, when he comes down the middle.”
Sure enough, Callum appeared. He was wearing a bathrobe and slippers, so he definitely wasn’t armed and ready to kill us, phew! “WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING HERE? GEMMA, CALL THE POLICE! THEY’RE TRESPASSING!”
“Get ready,” I whispered.
As he got to the last-but-one step, Mark shouted, “Run!”
Aadam and Sami turned and split, and I raced behind Mark, up two stone steps at a time.
“GET BACK HERE!” Callum screamed.
My heart was pounding triple time as I got to the top, dashed across the porch, and through the double doors. Mark let me in and then grabbed the door handle. “You’re not coming back in, Callum!” he screamed, and slammed the door shut. He turned the key in the lock and pulled it out, shoving it into his tracksuit pocket. “Clever, eh?” he said, grinning.
I stared at the door, stepping back, expecting Callum to start pounding it any second.
“Looks like he’s gone after Sami and Aadam,” said Mark.
They did have a head start, but what if the gates didn’t open? I gulped.
“What are you—” Mark’s mum was at the top of the stairs wearing a black T-shirt and leggings, holding what looked like a bottle of red nail varnish like my sister wore.
“Mum, me and Ali need to show you the CCTV.”
“What?” She didn’t look happy. “Get him outta here. You’re in big trouble, Mark!”
“How much money went missing?” Mark asked his mum.
“The money that you think Aadam stole,” I added.
Mark clambered up the stairs and grabbed her arm. “Mum, I’m begging you, just come and see.”
She frowned and let Mark lead her down the stairs, all the while looking at me as if I was the dirt on her shoe.
He led her to the broom cupboard behind the central staircase. “Ali, come in,” Mark said, sounding muffled. I walked to where his Mum stood with her hands on her hips and watched Mark fiddle around with the settings.
He pulled out his phone and checked something, then entered the date and time before pressing play. He stepped back so we could see the screen, which sat on the third shelf from the top.
“Come closer,” he said to his mum.
“So this shows Aadam, does it?” His mum walked into the cupboard, which was lined with bare shelves, and folded her arms. I followed.
The screen showed the boot room at the back of the house near the pool room. No one was in it.
“It’s just an empty room. Stop wasting my time, Mark!”
“Shhh, Mum, just wait a few seconds. You’ll see.”
I folded my arms too, wondering if Sami and Aadam had made it out onto the street. Would Callum chase them the whole way in his slippers? He did look angry enough.
On the screen, the boot room door opened, and Callum entered holding a file box. He peeked through the open door and then nudged it shut behind him, holding the handle to close it quietly.
Mark’s mum leaned in closer, and I stood on my toes to see the screen more clearly.
Callum put the file box on the worktop and opened it, revealing what looked like cash.
“That’s my money for the building work . . . ,” said Mark’s mum.
Callum then picked up a rucksack with a Syria flag on it from the floor and dumped it next to the file box. Aadam’s bag.
I felt my jaw drop to somewhere near the top of my chest.
Callum unzipped the rucksack, then took a wad of cash from the file box. He put one wad inside and zipped the bag up, then dropped it back onto the floor.
“That’s the one thousand pounds we found in his bag,” said Mark’s mum, sounding wounded.
Callum then took a jacket from a coat hook and four more wads of cash from the file box and stuffed them all into different pockets.
He put the jacket over his arm, grabbed the file box, and opened the door, peeking left and right, before leaving and shutting the door behind him.
“I was wondering why he was getting his winter jacket dry-cleaned in the middle of May. We do everything together . . . It was the only way he could get away with it . . .”
Mark rubbed his mum’s back. “How much cash was it, Mum?”
She turned to look at him. Her face was paler than I’d ever seen it, and tears brimmed in her eyes. “Five thousand pounds,” she whispered, as if her voice was stuck in her throat. She swallowed and cleared it. “It was cash I’d taken out to pay the builder for the work he had to do on the swimming pool shower room. But we only found one thousand pounds in Aadam’s bag and the other four thousand pounds was missing.” She tucked her hair behind her ear. “Callum said that Aadam must’ve been taking chunks each time he came . . . but he stole it in one go and made it all up.” She looked down and shuffled her feet. “I knew something was off. He kept talking about getting married next month and I kept saying it’s too soon.”
“Married?” said Mark, his eyes wide with shock.
Mark’s mum straightened her shoulders. Her nostrils flared, and her hands trembled. “He took the money and was willing to get an innocent young boy in trouble for it! He told me I shouldn’t call the police because it’d take too long if they went through the courts ’cause he’s not legal and we might get in trouble for employing an illegal immigrant!” She pushed past Mark as she stormed out and up the stairs, bashing each step as she went.
I looked at Mark. “Well done, mate. You cleared Aadam’s name.” I patted him on the arm.
Mark closed his eyes. “I did it . . . finally. Mum knows what scum he is now.” He looked at me. “Come on, we better go and see what’s happening outside!”
Mark reset the screen to show the live cameras, and I watched, fascinated by all the various rooms that were covered.
“Come on,” said Mark when he’d finished, and we headed out of the broom cupboard, Mark closing the door behind him.
We’d just made it to the front door when his mum shouted, “Mark!” We both turned. His mum was stomping downstairs with a black plastic bag in her hand. “Callum’s clothes.” She went into the kitchen and came back with some scissors, then she started cutting up the contents of the bag. Snipping every piece repeatedly.
Mark looked at me and grinned, and I couldn’t help but grin too. Callum was getting wrecked!
“Throw this outside the gates for me.” She twisted the top of the bag. “I’m just gonna get his phone.” She chucked the balled-up black bag at Mark and headed into the kitchen.
Mark locked eyes with me, and we both ran to the front door. I took the black bag from him as he unlocked the door, and we raced down the stone steps. “Ali, call the police!”
“Eh? For real?”
“Yeah!” He panted as we ran. “Mum’ll be out in a second. Tell the police he’s gonna hit us or something to make sure they come straightaway. They won’t come if we tell them he stole money weeks ago. We need to make it sound urgent. Oh, and tell them we’re only thirteen.” He put his hand out to take the black bag from me. “I want to make sure she shows the CCTV to the police while she’s angry, and not to him. He could delete it, and this is our chance to get him arrested for stealing from her and framing Aadam!”
“Okay.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed 999.
Chapter 35
"Where is he?” Mark’s mum stormed towards the front gate, focused straight ahead.
I backed up into the hedge. “Uhhh . . . I have to go . . . He’s gonna hit us. We’re only thirteen! Please help and come soon!” I pressed the red button and finished my call to the emergency operator.
“WHERE ARE YOU, CALLUM?” Mark’s mum’s arms swung like two pendulums as she marched down the long driveway with his phone in her hand.
I ran after her, and soon spotted Mark hovering near the exotic-looking palm trees about three meters from the gate. He was recording Callum swearing at Aadam and Sami, who were on the road side of the gate. Aadam was holding the gate fob out, and it looked like he was pressing close every time Callum punched the code in to open it.
Callum stood with his legs planted wide, one hand fisted by his side.
“YOU LYING SCUMBAG!” Mark’s mum screamed, and Callum turned. His face was the color of raw salmon.
“Gemma, get me the gate fob, these bloody illegals have somehow got one and aren’t letting me get through. In fact, switch off the electrics and I’ll get through manually.”
Mark’s mum walked right up to Callum. Her nose was almost touching his.
“Mark, pass me the bag.” She stuck her arm out, and Mark ran up and put the black bag in her hand.
“What are you doing, you silly woman?” Callum said, his lips pressed together in a white slash. “We haven’t got time for this!”
“Seeing right through you.” Mark’s mum stepped back and opened the top of the black bag. She lifted it over his head and spilled his cut-up clothes all over him.
Callum’s jaw dropped, and he stepped back, looking at Mark’s mum and then at Mark and me.
Sami and Aadam cheered from behind the gate.
“What have they told you? IT AIN’T TRUE!” His arms were splayed, and the color was draining out of his face.
Mark’s mum pressed her gate fob, and it clacked and started opening. “I know you’re a LIAR! I know you’re a THIEF and I know you’re SCUM!” she screamed, and lunged forward with each word while Callum stepped back in shock until he was on the private road.
Just then, a police car with blue flashing lights but no siren screeched to a halt. They came!
I let out a breath. Sami blew out too, and Aadam put his hand to his chest. Mark ran out onto the road.
“Ah, about time too,” Callum said, turning to the police officers. “They were trespassing!” He pointed at Aadam and Sami.
A bearded police officer stepped out of the front passenger door and looked at Callum in his fluffy blue bathrobe.
“We’ve been told you’ve been exhibiting threatening and violent behavior towards these kids,” he said, while a female police officer got out of the car and came round to join him.
“You what? Nah, it’s them you want,” Callum said, laughing nervously.
“Oh, I’m so glad you’re here!” Mark’s mum rushed up to them. “I’ve got CCTV evidence and everything. He stole a lot of money from me—five thousand pounds to be precise—and then accused these innocent kids. He’s made a fool of me!” Tears welled in her eyes, and her voice broke.
“WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, WOMAN? I HAVEN’T BEEN STEALING FROM NO ONE!” Callum sprang at Mark’s mum, his arms fisted, and she jumped back.
The two police officers got in between and pushed him aside. As the male police officer put his hand around Callum’s wrist, Callum slapped it away. “GET OFF ME!”
“Sir, if you don’t calm down, we’re going to have to arrest you.”
“Arrest me for what?!” Callum shoved the officer hard in his chest.
The female officer clasped her handcuffs and grabbed one of Callum’s arms, while the bearded officer grabbed the other, then they pulled them behind his back and cuffed him.
Callum started squirming. “I haven’t done anything! You can’t do this!”
Mark locked eyes with me and smirked.
The bearded officer gripped Callum’s arms to stop him from moving. “You are getting violent, and for your own and our safety, I am arresting you for assaulting a police officer.”
“I was just defending myself!” Callum wriggled. “I ain’t done nothing wrong!”
The female officer opened the back passenger door and said, “You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defense if you do not mention when questioned something which you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.” She shoved Callum’s head into the car and then nudged his back. It was like a scene from Traffic Cops.
Mark ran up to his mum and put his arm around her. She put her head on his shoulder.
I closed my eyes and breathed out, grateful that Callum had got himself arrested without any of us getting hurt.
And I’d actually helped.
And got something right.
Chapter 36
Friday, 4 p.m.—we were ready. It was finally the charity penalty shoot-out day and the whole school was buzzing with excitement. The last two days had whooshed by, with meetings with the student council and teachers to get everything sorted in time. Mark had taken Wednesday and Thursday off to be with his mum after what had happened with Callum. Even while he was dealing with all that, he’d managed to ask David if he’d sign a few certificates. It was good to see Mark back in school, his blue eyes sparkling and that cheeky grin back on his face again.
The PTA was here and had set up stalls selling drinks and snacks that parents had donated. The PE teachers were letting in the spectators and separating them from the kids who were going to take the penalties. People were sitting on the grass with their juice cartons, fizzy-drink cans, and crisps packets at least five lines deep all around the football pitch; some had brought foldable chairs and made themselves comfortable. The drama department had even put up a little stage for speeches. I looked around, wondering who was going to speak.
Aadam was on the sidelines, beaming, even though we hadn’t made the full target. We’d all felt really bad about it. We needed a miracle to make up the money now.
David hadn’t arrived yet, but we still had half an hour to go before kickoff.
Mark pulled his phone out of his pocket. “It’s Mum,” he said, looking at the screen and then swiping. I looked at Sami, but he was busy waving at his little sister in the crowd.
“Yeah,” said Mark. “Just come in through the normal car park and you’ll see loads of people. Head this way and I’m standing near the goal . . . okay.” He put the phone back in his shorts pocket and looked at me and Sami. “She was at the police station giving her statement.”
“Seriously?” said Sami, his eyebrows high.
“Yeah. Callum was locked up for two nights ’cause of the way he kicked off when the police came and then again in the car, so they’re definitely charging him for assaulting a police officer. And now she’s given her statement and dropped off the CCTV recording, he’s gonna be charged for theft as well.” He smiled and looked at me. “Thanks for calling the police, by the way. Mum’s finally seen what Callum’s really like, and after seeing him push that police officer, she was determined to tell them everything about what a nasty, racist bully he is as well!”
“Mate, it was all your brainpower.” I shrugged.
“Yeah, Aadam said he wants to get you something to thank you for clearing his name,” said Sami.
“I don’t need nothing!” said Mark, his cheeks going pink.
“Yeah, I should be giving Aadam something.” We all turned to see Mark’s mum in a floaty pink dress and strappy heels that were digging into the grass as she walked. “Where is he?” she asked.
“Uhhh . . . over there,” said Sami, pointing to Aadam.
“I just have to say sorry . . . to you all.” She took off her big black sunglasses. “I was tricked into believing some really bad things about you kids, even though I knew you were good and loyal friends of my Mark.” She looked down at her shoes. “I was so stupid to have listened to him.” She looked up at us. “Anyway, I just wanted to say I was wrong for how I treated you.” She put her sunglasses back on and unclipped her big leather handbag. “I want to donate two thousand pounds to the fund for Aadam.”
“No way!” I grinned.
Sami’s mouth fell. “This means we’ll have raised enough money to pay for his fees and have extra left over! Thank you!”
“Yesss!” Mark pumped his fist. “Thanks, Mum!”
“It’s the least I can do. Maybe he can buy something nice for himself if there’s any spare.” Mark’s mum smiled.
I looked into the crowd for Aadam and waved him over. He was now sitting with Ahmed, my mum and sister, and Sami’s parents. Someone waved from two rows behind.
It was Dad.
He was here too . . .
But Mustafa . . . was away on that school trip to France. And Dad wasn’t with Ahmed either.
Was it possible he’d come . . . for me?
Just for me? My spine tingled. Whoa. He was here just for ME! Maybe he really did want to be my dad too.
“Hey, guys!” We all turned to see David in his yellow goalie kit. “Ready to score some goals?”
“YEAH!” Mark, Sami, and I said together.
Mrs. Webster ran over. “Hi, David! Would you like a drink?”
“Maybe later, thanks.” He waved his bottle of water. “I’ve got this for now.”
“Ah, no worries. We’ve also prepared some cold towels if you get too hot!” She pointed at a cooler box near the stage.
“Oh, perfect, thanks!” He smiled.
Mrs. Webster stared at him as if she wanted to ask something. “I’ll just go back to seating the spectators.” She stopped and looked at him, holding out her phone, opened her mouth and closed it, then jogged off. Was she going to ask him for a selfie and now was trying to play it cool? It was so funny seeing the teachers losing their minds over David.
