A/N: Many thanks to my first reviewer, Albany.

Chapter 2: Seeing Madam Peppermint and Agent Creepy Crawlie

As Alex and Ben stood outside the Royal and General Bank, Alex found himself staring at the exact same spot where he was shot. He involuntarily shuddered at the sight of the brown spot on the cement. His blood.

"Let's go inside," he said too quickly to Ben. He sensed that there was something bothering the 16-year old, something that was related to that brown spot which looked suspiciously like dried blood. He had no idea what it was as he had never been given Alex's full file and he didn't want to pressure the boy so he simply said "Let's go."

Inside the bank, as soon as Ben showed his ID, they were allowed through. As they waited inside the lift to take them to the top floor, Ben finally gathered the courage to ask Alex what was bothering him.

"Al, just now… outside the bank you were staring at a brown spot on the ground, what was it about?" he asked a little apprehensively. After a few seconds, he said "it's nothing. Oh look, we're here."As he got out quickly, Ben hurried after him. It was a clear sign that whatever it was with the brown spot, Alex did not want to talk about it.

Ben knocked on the wooden door and when the occupant in the room said "Enter," he and Alex went in, Ben closing the door behind him softly. The occupant in the room, no, occupants, were a black woman with what one would say a potato-shaped head, sucking on a peppermint and impeccably dressed as usual. Her name was Mrs Jones, the head of MI6 and the man standing next to her John Crawley could only be described as too normal to the extent of creepily normal, although these two people were far from normal. Alex presumed that Crawley was the new deputy head of MI6 after Mrs Jones took over from Alan Blunt, who retired. Alex was glad that Blunt had retired, he would have made the whole room seem grey, with his grey hair, grey eyes, grey spectacles, grey tie, grey suit, grey shoes, hell, even his skin seemed grey. Alex was very very glad that Mr Grey was NOT here.

"Alex, Agent Daniels, please have a seat." As they sat she continued, "The reason I called the both of you here today is because of this," she signaled to Crawley and he handed her a piece of paper, "threat from Scorpia to you, Alex, although they are now under a new leadership and name. They now call themselves Stramonium, a type of poisonous plant." Alex interrupted, "It's a type of flower, how intimidating," he said sarcastically. "Alex, let Mrs Jones continue," Ben said, sending a stern look to said boy. Alex just shrugged and motioned for her to continue. Mrs Jones handed the paper to Ben and Alex. Ben turned pale after reading it.

Alex Rider,

You can run, you can hide, you can go to the furthest corner of the Earth but we will find you.

We will send an assassin after you. You may think it stupid of us to warn you that we will be coming but even if you prepare, our assassin will get you, for sure.

The wheels of fate have turned. Enjoy while you still can.

Tata!

Yours sincerely,

Stramonium

P.S Spend some time preparing your will too for you will not know when will be your last.

"This is bullshit! From the looks of it, whoever who wrote it is an amateur. How can you be sure it's a real threat?" he scoffed. " We believe it's a real threat because we caught a sniper on the roof of the house opposite yours aiming at you. She managed to take down twelve of our own men before we subdued her," Mrs Jones said. "Her?" both Alex and Ben asked incredously.

A knock sounded on the door. "Enter," said Mrs Jones. "Here she is Mrs Jones, the little she-devil," a man escorting a young girl in handcuffs said. "You are dismissed," Mrs Jones replied. "Gentlemen, this is Catrina Howell, the Stramonium sniper," she said. "Wait, as in Anthony Sean Howell, Ash?" Alex asked shocked. "Yes, Ash, she is Ash's daughter," was Mrs Jones reply as she continued, "for your protection, you and Ben will be sent to the SAS Camp Brecon Beacons, Wales. Catrina will go along with you until we decide what to do with her. She is a year younger than you Alex, so she is also a minor. If that is all, you may leave. A car will be taking you to your house to pack whatever you need. Have a nice day." Alex and Ben were still shocked and they blindly followed Crawley out of Mrs Jones office to the car along with Catrina.

A/N: My idea for Catrina was the veryintroverted, very quiet type so she did not say a word in this chapter but I promise she will say something in the next chapter. Please review.