Fortune Cookie by Jean Ure

bin nickin’ stuff?” I turned, and stuck up a finger. “Honestly!” I said, “Just cos he’s been done for—” And then I stopped. It hadsuddenly come to me: the solution to our problem!
    â€œWhat, what?” demanded Cupcake.
    I said, “Shane Mackie… maybe he could sell it for us!”

CHAPTER SEVEN
    Â â€œBut he’s a criminal!” said Cupcake.
    I explained that that was the very reason he could be useful to us. “We could sell the ring to him, and he could sell it to… someone else! He knows people.”
    â€œ Criminal people,” said Cupcake.
    â€œNot necessarily,” I said.
    Cupcake looked at me, like, You don’t really believe that .
    â€œWell, all right,” I said, “maybe some of them might be. So what? So long as he gives us the money… it’s nothing to do with us what he does with the ring. Is it?”
    â€œSuppose not,” said Cupcake.
    â€œWell, it’s not! I vote we go and talk to him.”
    â€œWhat, now?”
    â€œWhy not? Hey, Shane!” I turned, and waved at him. He stayed where he was, slouched against the wall.
    â€œWhat d’you want?”
    â€œI wanna talk to you!”
    â€œSo talk.”
    He obviously wasn’t going to move. I’d have rather he’d come to us, cos where he was it was like this really narrow alleyway between two buildings. Still, if you’re dealing with criminals I guess you have to be prepared to lurk about in dark places. And, anyway, it was only Shane. I set off towards him, with Cupcakecreeping after me. Shane said, “What d’you wanna talk about?”
    â€œThis.” I fished the ring from out my sock and held it up for him to see, not getting too near in case he tried to grab it and run. “Thought we might do some business.”
    â€œBusiness with you? You’ve gotta be joking!”
    â€œI’m not joking,” I said. “I’m dead serious.”
    â€œYeah? Well, sorry. Not interested.”
    â€œYou haven’t even looked!” I took a step closer, Cupcake hovering and quivering at my side. Daringly, I stretched out my hand, palm upwards, ready to snatch it back if he made a move. “See?”
    He dismissed it with a curl of the lip. “Junk!”
    I said, “That shows how much you know. It’s not junk, it’s an antique. Solid silver.”
    â€œSo what you showing me for?”
    â€œThought you might like to sell it for us.”
    â€œAnd why’d I wanna do that?”
    â€œI dunno! Make some money?”
    A gleam came into his eye. I could see that he was tempted. “You mean, like, take a cut?”
    I said, “Something like that.”
    â€œIt’d have to be at least fifty per cent if I’m running all the risks.”
    â€œThere aren’t any risks,” I said.
    â€œSo why not sell it yourself?”
    I said, “Cos I’m only eleven, and they’d cheat me.”
    â€œWhat makes you think I wouldn’t?”
    â€œI expect you would,” I said, “if I let you.”
    â€œYeah? And how’d you propose stopping me?”
    â€œJust cos I’m eleven,” I said, “doesn’t mean I’m stupid! I’d want the money up front.” I thought that was a good expression, up front . I’d heard my dad use it. It made it sound like I meant business. Which I did!
    Shane said, “Up front? Who are you kidding?”
    I told him that I wasn’t kidding anyone. “This ring’s worth at least
£
300. All we want is
£
225!”
    His eyes had gone all shifty. He said, “Let’s have a proper look.”
    Cupcake gave a little squeak.
    â€œIt’s genuine,” I said. “It’s got hallmarks. And we’ve had it valued!”
    He sneered. “You think I was born yesterday? I don’t part with the cash till I’ve examined the goods!”
    Just for a minute I