UNDERCOVER

CHAPTER FOUR

(Contains an original character, Bel.)

Ethan's reign of terror continued. He stood in the queue for breakfast behind Zoe and Max and hissed:

"Who's got the ugliest babies in the world then?"

"Ignore him Max" Zoe advised although she would have gladly punched Raceheart. But the incentive of being able to see her twins weekly if they were adopted by Connie and Calvino made her bite her tongue.

Max hissed back at Ethan:

"Just be thankful I'm not a dirty b*gger or I'd spit in your breakfast."

"Try doing that with your mouth stuffed with quick drying cement" threatened Ethan.

He hated this; and couldn't wait for phase two of the plan, when he would finally be an active part of 'Operation Yellow Devil', instead of treading water at the prison.

Jeff Big Mac's hand shook as he served the porridge and a little slopped on to Ethan's tray.

"Clumsy moron!" Ethan snarled.

Jeff Big Mac decided to play it friendly.

"Sorry I'm edgy, man, it's just that I'm up to see Mrs Beauchamp today and I think it might be about my parole-"

"_No, it's about how you're walking round the place wearing a plateful of porridge."

Ethan overturned the contents of Jeff Big Mac's porridge bowl over the latter's head. As the porridge was still quite hot poor Jeff Big Mac howled in pain.

Jeff Collier leapt over the counter just like Tony sailing across the bar at the Copacabana, and punched Ethan hard, knocking him out.

Jacob threw Jeff Big Mac a towel.

"Have a quick wipe with that. I'm taking you to Dr Keogh."

"What about Raceheart?"

"Iain!"

Iain Dean appeared almost from nowhere and threw a jug of water over Ethan, who slowly came round wondering if promotion and career change was even worth it.

"Take him to my office, Iain, and write an inventory of anything he wrecks. Come on, Jeff Mac, let's get that face checked out."

"What about Collier?" asked Dixie.

"He ought to go on enhanced for hitting that rotten pig!" Robyn yelled.

But Jacob was already escorting poor Jeff Mac to the infirmary. Even with his face hurting, Jeff Mac hoped it would be Doctor Harrison who treated him.

"I'll nip along and tell Mrs B why Jeff's going to be late" Iain said.

Jeff Collier, for the time being, was left unpunished.

Jeff Big Mac was happier when he finally knocked on the door of Mrs Beauchamp's office. He had indeed been treated by pretty Jessica Harrison, and all he'd needed was his face and eyes carefully washing.

"Ah, Chalker. Come in. Sorry about the porridge incident. Didn't you get any breakfast?"

Jeff Big Mac shook his head dolefully.

"Don't worry, I'll get Rita to bring you a drink and a Nutrigrain bar. She's around here somewhere…oh Rita, there you are, I forgot you were cleaning under the table!"

"Drink and a Nutrigrain, Chalker?" beamed Rita. She suddenly whispered to him:

"I've got some really exciting news later, everybody'll be agog. Whatever a Gog is."

"That's enough Little Mary Sunshine for now, Rita. When you've brought Chalker's breakfast, go and start checking the stationery cupboard, I'll be along soon."

Rita skittered off as only Rita could skitter.

Mrs Beauchamp tapped a letter on her desk.

"Well, Chalker, you're up for parole at the end of the month. So you keep your nose clean and be a good boy and you'll be out of here soon."

Jeff Big Mac beamed, then realised what this would mean.

The Jeffs would be no more.

Jacob sat back in his seat, and looked up at Ethan:

"Raceheart, you're scum beyond belief. You're the dregs of society, you're…" Jacob lowered his voice "…A brilliant actor."

"I did make sure that porridge had cooled a bit before I threw it. But I was mean to Zax. Soppy old Zax, for goodness sake!"

"I know it's hard, Ethan. But if we can crack Operation Yellow Devil… look, this might convince you. You'd be helping people like her…"

Jacob passed a file over:

"Pretty girl" commented Ethan.

Jacob concurred: " Up to now. The thing is, she's up to her neck in the sh*t at the moment. Her name's Bel - can you believe that's short for Belissima - and up to a year ago she was her Mum's little pampered darling. Then Mum and Dad split up and the cash starts to run low. Mum starts maxing the credit cards and ends up owing money to some rather vicious men. They cut her a deal - they get Bel to use as they like and Mummy's face isn't cut to ribbons. So Bel's now sleeping with some very unsavoury characters who are putting her through goodness knows what. Now when you join the organisation, as a big shot, Bel becomes your property, so to speak. You can save her from what she's being put through as soon as the word goes out that you - or rather Darrin King - owns her. And young Bel is just one of the people you can help. Zax will get over this, but if Bel carries on as she is...
"What sort of mother would put her daughter through that just to save her own skin?" asked Ethan in total disgust.
Jacob's smile was twisted, but he said:

"See? Once you become Darrin King, you can help people. Under cover of being an evil crime boss."
"Okay" sighed Ethan, "I'm still in."

Just then Jeff Big Mac entered without knocking, wearing a tutu and hair ribbon.

"Whaaat?" Ethan and Jacob gaped.

"Mrs Beauchamp told me Iain was starting ballet classes at ten o' clock" replied the trusting Mr Chalker.

Jacob slapped his own thigh.

"Well, naughty Mrs Beauchamp!"

He glared at Ethan.

"You get out, scumbag!"

Ethan sniggered in Jacob's face, then swaggered out.

"So… there isn't a….?"

"…Ballet class? No Chalker, you've been had. Off to the garden. It's looking a mess since Ben Chiltern got his freedom."

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