Edward Pleasure put the phone down and rubbed his eyes. The update from Interpol was not hopeful. Edward now knew that Alex had run away last December with no back-up plan. He'd been on the streets and had been picked up by Marco Spinelli, a hood known for taking in runaways and offering them work as thugs or whores. It sounded like Alex had been sold as a teenage virgin to a rich russian pedophile. Alex, when he lived with them, had been aloof and had shied away from all contact and comfort. The boy had withdrawn into himself and become cold and emotionless. Therapy had been an utter disaster after the shrink had told Alex off for lying. Alex's relationship with Sabina also cooled to the point they were strangers, rather than friends or family.

Edward had gotten hold of Harry Bulman's extensive files detailing Alex's work for MI6 and others, which listed operations at Port Tallon, the French Alps, Cuba, the whole mess with Damian Cray, Alex running off to join Scorpia and then Arkangel. Edward knew there had been other, missions, something had happened to Alex after the accident in Scotland, when Alex had been badly burned. The strong independent, lovely boy that had befriended his daughter had been destroyed by the events in Egypt. The culmination of over a years abuse by MI6. Alex had told Edward about Cairo. Razim had been an internationally recognised terrorist and war criminal. Tried in absentia in Iraq and sentenced to death. Edward had decided he would go to London and follow Alex's trail, try and talk to Marco Spinelli.

Edward returned to another open document on his computer and began to put the finishing touches to his piece on Child Trafficking and Prostitution. A problem all over the world that had now touched his family. He had personalised the piece with just generalised details of Alex's descent from perfectly normal 14 year old to fifteen year old depressed and alienated runaway falling foul of the seedier elements of London's underbelly.

Edward lastly checked his mail. Tom and Jerry Harris had separtely posted enquiries for updates. There was a message from Dieter Sprintz. The reclusive billionaire had suggested a large reward for information and an even larger amount of money for the return of Alex. Then there was a cryptic message from a strange hotmail account. Edward then realised the words were crossword clues. It took him 40 minutes to decipher that Alexander sold Russian Assassin Air Force One. Edward's blood ran cold. Yassen Gregorovich was alive. The man who had threatened to cut off his daughter's finger's had survived Damian Cray's bullet.

Edward hated travelling alone, he had persuaded Liz and Sabina to take a holiday and they were relaxing at a five star resort in Hawaii, while he worked. Edward's first port of call was to interview the woman who had reported Alex missing. Patricia Morcroft worked as an escort based at an agency owned by Marco Spinelli, renting a flat also owed by the same man. They met for lunch at the Ivy. Alex's room had already been cleaned out and they had a new flatmate, another girl. Trisha was lovely and friendly, formerly in care, saving money to go to university. She spoke of a quiet, neat and clean flatmate who was very private and who disliked his work but it was a means to an end. The pay was good. She had then looked nervous and stated Alex did more than strip. He did other jobs for Marco. He would go out at odd times. He only worked the club on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Trisha then added that Alex had lived with Marco. "You know Marco. He likes his boy toys quiet, well behaved and submissive. He fucks girls but gets off on boys. Marco liked Alex."

Edward mused on this. "Do you think Marco would talk to me?"

"Be honest with Marco. Tell him about Alex. His an OK guy if you're straight with him." explained Trisha. "You know Alex is probably dead."

"Yes. But I have to know. He was a great kid. I want to understand what went wrong. We tried to help him, but we failed to connect." Edward then said goodbye to the girl. Neither of them had eaten very much of their lunch.

Marco read the files the journalist had handed over. "This is for real?"

"Yes. The notes on Cairo and about Damian Cray are word for word from Alex." Edward explained. "The other notes are from Harry Bulman, a journalist who disappeared last year."

"MI6 blackmailed a kid to work for them. This is fucking unbelievable. Horrific even. Jesus. Alex was running from them. Where the hell does this russian fit in?"

"Assassin. Former Scorpia. Now takes contracts from anybody and everybody. The week he was in England, a former KGB man was poisoned in Oxford. Nasty slow death. You gave Alex to Yassen Gregorovich. Alex met him at least four times in 2001." Edward noted the thoughtful expression on Marco's face.

"You fostered Alex?" Marco had checked out Edward Pleasure. The man had survived a bombing in France two years ago. Marco had read his book on Damian Cray. The club owner had not expected such an exchange of information.

"Yes. Alex hated San Francisco. He had an awful time at High School. I think he was very depressed when he ran away." Edward looked heartbroken, his failure to help Alex prayed on him.

"What do you want from me?"

"Any information you have. First tell me about Alex. Trisha said you liked him."

Marco smiled. "He was a firecracker. I first saw him at Kings Cross. He was hustling, picking pockets. Three of my girls had asked for protection. Their pimp had been arrested. Four guys were threatening them. I was about to sort it out, you know. When Alex, looking like a frail kid confronted them allowing the girls to back up. I don't know what was said to him but I think they threatened to rape him. He was brutal. Two of them ended up needing parts of their legs to be reconstructed. I offered him a place to stay. He was jumpy as hell. After three days he settled down and we got on. I never fucked him, but he had no objections to BDSM. He was a hard worker. I wanted to move him up. Protection you know. He never asked questions. He reminded me of myself. " Marco smiled. "You have contacts in Moscow?"

"Yes, a few." Edward said cagily.

"Antonin Brushkin hired me to supply that Yassen bloke with an 16 year old white virgin with blond hair and brown eyes."

Edward collected together his files "Thank you for your help."

"Two creeps from that MI6 were here. I didn't tell them about Antonin. You find Alex. I'll pay for his medical expenses OK. I promised to look out for him. " Marco then looked at Edward. "Odds are he's pushing up daisies."

"Alex is very resourceful. I hope his luck has not run out. Thank you again Marco. I'll let you know what I find out." At that Edward left, he had a trip to Moscow to plan.