Stitch-Up by Sophie Hamilton

You don’t know the rules. You’ll get us both nicked.” He turned back to the river. “It’s too risky with the feds crawling all over the city. That’s why you’re going home.” His words dropped like stones onto the riverbed, smashing my hopes.
    In a panic, I tried to think of alternatives.
    Deep breaths. Okay. Okay. Think! I could revert to my old plan. No. No that was hopeless. Scarlet was as clueless about civilian life as I was – if not more so. We’d both been raisedin the celebrity intensive-care bubble so hooking up with her would get me nowhere fast. I looked up at the luminous moon for inspiration.
    It was then that it hit me, and with a force that took me by surprise: Latif’s help was crucial for my mission. Without him I might as well give up and go back to the Golds. I knitted my brow.
    So what now?
    I had to find a way to stop him dumping me.
    I glanced over at him. My hopes bombed.
    His face was fixed in a steely mask.
    â€œI can’t go back,” I said in a tiny voice. “Or else my life’s going to get really dark.”
    â€œNot my problem.” He shrugged. “You’ve picked a bad night for private adventures, Dash.”
    â€œFine. But you have to help me out of here. You owe me that.” I heard the sulky tone in my voice, and seeing him frown, I realised that I’d hit the wrong note.
    â€œLike I’m going to leave you here, bubblehead. You’d probably die of fright.” His tone was gruff. “But you need to stop whining or I just might. Trust me!”
    I stared at the river. I’d run out of ideas.
    â€œGetting emotional won’t work this time. As soon as we’re out of here, I’m giving Mum a bell and she’ll take you home.” His expression remained steely. “Accept it, Dasha. You’re in too deep.”
    â€œYou think I’m a real loser, don’t you?” I forced a smile, realising I had to lighten up, ditch the spoilt brat routine.
    â€œA liability, more like.”
    â€œThanks a bunch!” I kept the smile blazing. On the inside I was scowling.
    â€œPleasure.” He took a coiled rope from his rucksack.
    â€œSnakes alive! Since when was cluelessness a hanging offence?”
    â€œI wish,” he said, but he was smiling again. “Tricks of the trade,” he continued with a wink. “We’ll be safe down on the riverbed. It’s below the radar. Off the grid.” There was a glint in his eyes.
    â€œRadar? Grid? It’s like being in a spy thriller.” I grinned. The excitement of the adventure had him in its grip again. He was back onside. Better still, being off the grid was exactly where I wanted to be right now.
    â€œStay still. I’m gonna rope you down.”
    Latif tied one end of the rope around my waist in a simple pulley knot. I watched silently, my stomach contracting at the thought of a spot of amateur abseiling. He looped the other end around the rust-red safety railing, which ran along the top of the river wall, and said, “Walk your creepers down the side. It’s easy.”
    â€œIf you say so.” I heard the wobble in my voice.
    I climbed over the railings, and then, holding the bottom railing with both hands, I pressed my feet against the river wall, as if taking up position for a backstroke race. My stomach tumble-turned, and for a few seconds, I couldn’t face pushing off into the darkness.
    â€œMove it, Dash, or the tide will catch us,” Latif hissed.“See the chains running along the wall? Use them as footholds.”
    I grasped the rope and started to inch down. Although it burned my palms and cinched my waist, I carried on, desperate to prove to Latif that I wasn’t a complete loser. Luckily the wall wasn’t as steep as I’d anticipated, so, in a matter of seconds, the riverbed squelched beneath my trainers.
    â€œWhat took you so long, bubblehead?” Latif threw