Disclaimer: I do not own the Alex Rider series.
Rocheford Police Department Missing Person Report For:
ALEXANDER JOHNATHAN RIDER
Case Number: 289102
Last seen: 2/10/2001
Description: Alexander "Alex" Rider is fourteen years old and of Caucasian heritage. He is 5'7" and fair haired with brown eyes. Rider is well-built but slim and has a birthmark on his left shoulder. Rider is athletic and was last seen wearing his school uniform. Uniform consists of grey jumper, blue and yellow striped tie and grey trousers.
Rider was last seen at precisely eleven minutes past noon. Witnesses report that Rider was very distressed. Rider got up and ran from the school in the middle of his third period class. His teacher, a Michael Dent, confirmed that Rider had been fidgety and restless throughout class. Dent also described Rider as being distracted and distant.
Rider was last seen by school secretary, a Jane Bedfordshire, who pursued Rider out of the school but lost sight of him as he exited the grounds.
Rider's housekeeper/guardian described his behaviour of recent times as "unusual". She also stated that in past weeks Rider had become distant and withdrawn. She described him as having "Pulled back from me and his friends". She stated that Rider had "Started spending a lot of time in his room. He'd play loud music that I didn't even know he liked. His room was always freezing cold too".
Rider's friend, a Tom Harris, described how Rider had drifted toward the wrong crowd in school. Harris alleged that one Michael Ryan had offered Rider drugs and described the two as being "all of a sudden thick as thieves".
Ryan has a police record and is known around the locality as "a smart-alec, pain in the neck, trouble making drug dealer". When confronted with Harris's allegations, Ryan stated that Rider had approached him looking for a favour. He said nothing else about the matter.
On the 9/10/2001, several days after Rider's disappearance, Sergeant Adam Flint (P4160) found a backpack (Exhibit A) containing a school tie (Exhibit B), a school jumper (Exhibit C) and a pair of black shoes (Exhibit D). All of the above have been confirmed as belonging to Rider. The evidence was uncovered on the Cochram Estate.
Flint also discovered a black jacket (Exhibit E) which Ms. Starbright confirmed did not belong to Rider.
Residents of the estate have so far proved totally uncooperative with investigations. One woman, whose identity is unknown, told PC Samuel Davitt (P4231) that she'd seen a boy matching Rider's description arguing with a blond man. Before PC Davitt could question the woman further, she was pulled away by a man who is reported to have told PC Davitt "Don't listen to her. She's had Alzheimer's for ten years. Raves half the time".
The woman is wanted for questioning. She is described as being a Caucasian female, between the age of eighty and ninety with white hair.
Rider is to be approached with caution.
CASE FILE DEEMED TO BE COMPROMISING OF MILITARY INTELLIGENCE. REQUEST FOR IMMEDIATE CLOSURE TO POLICE GRANTED BY A. BLUNT (MISO) ON THE 11/10/2001. CASE TO BE INVESTIGATED BY MISO DETECTIVES.
QUERY. WHY HAS THIS FILE NOT BEEN REMOVED FROM THE SYSTEM? TO BE DONE IMMEDIATLY. RIDER INVESTIGATION GRANTED PRIORITY 1 STATUS. RIDER IS TO BE FOUND ASAP. BLUNT.
Alan Blunt rubbed his eyes wearily and closed his laptop. Alex Rider's disappearance was disturbing, to say the least. His mind was whirling rapidly, turning over ideas constantly, crossing out possibilities.
The police had butchered the case. If he'd had his way, the file would've been seen by four people. Instead, half of Rocheford Police Deparment had seen it and had most likely spread around the news. Alan had come to a few ideas on the case already.
Ryan would be put through an interrogation process. It was harsh, but necessary. Rider's behaviour would be investigated thoroughly. That woman on the Cochram Estate would come forward whether she liked it or not. And Alex Rider would be found.
Blunt smirked to himself. He'd always liked a challenge.
Finished. Next chapter won't be up for three weeks, at least. Plenty of time for you to review (hinthint nudgenudge).