Page 42 of Mercury Rising

Mercury closed the door.

“Honestly,” Nick said. “Those kids.”

“You are going to have to tell them, you know,” Mercury said. “Hopefully when I upload this interview, we’ll start getting some attention.”

Nick sighed. “You’re right. I’ll do it after this.”

Mercury fiddled with the focus one last time. Nick looked great. It was hardly a stretch to achieve that.

“Rolling,” Mercury said. “How about you begin by telling us about Bodhi House?”

“Bodhi House provides somewhere for teenagers to go that isn’t the streets,” Nick began. “Gang culture is the biggest threat facing our young people. They think they’re adults yet parents still treat them like kids. Here, we recognise the transition can be difficult.”

It was straight out of the brochure. Whilst it might be true, Mercury intended to dig deeper. He wanted to shine a light on the commitment that Nick and the other people who worked there felt toward the House.

“Why does this mean so much to you?”

Nick seemed taken aback for a second. Mercury nodded.

“Because if I’d had something like Bodhi House when I was growing up, I would have avoided a lot of trouble. I experiencedthe horror that is gang culture and it almost destroyed my life. I’ve buried many friends who weren’t so lucky. I want to be the difference that matters.”

Once they’d finished, Nick got up and stretched. “Bloody hell, that’s hard. I don’t know how you do it all the time.”

“It’s a bit different on a red carpet, pestering people about what designer labels they’re wearing. None of that matters. Not like this. Don’t worry, you did great. And you looked good enough to eat.”

Nick spun around. “Is that right?”

“Oh, I didn’t mean…well, it all helps.”

The glint in Nick’s eye suggested he was enjoying Mercury’s discomfort.

I guess it’s payback for making him sit there and be interrogated.

“I’d better go and do the deed then,” Nick said.

“What do you mean?”

“Tell the kids. They have to know.”

“I’ll stay here.”

Nick took hold of Mercury’s hand. “No, please come with me. The kids love you. I think it’ll be easier if you’re there.”

If they shared any more of these intense moments, Mercury would seriously have heart failure.

He followed Nick out into the main room.

“Okay, gang,” Nick said, clapping his hands together. “Cinema room, please. I have something I need to talk to you about.”

“Sounds dodgy,” Eddie said. “I told you they were up to something in there.”

“What is it?” Brooke asked.

“All will be revealed when you go through,” Nick said. “Anna, can you get anyone from outside?”

A worried Anna did as she was told.

“Is it bad?” Eddie asked. The colour had drained from his face.