Disclaimer: Once more, I do not own the rights to Alex Rider
Chapter Three
Alex was silent as Crawley led them down the carpeted hallway, past several dark wooden doors, their golden plaques glinting and gilded under the lights. His eyes travelled over the plain cream wallpaper, the polished doorknobs. The air smelt faintly of paper and disinfectant.
It seemed to take forever to reach the door marked 1605 which Alex knew would indefinitely be their final destination. But then they were there and Crawley cleared his throat before raising his fist and rapping three times on the door with his white knuckles.
"Come in." Blunt's voice was as monotone as ever, heavy and emotionless.
Jack glanced quickly at Alex but he ignored her holly-leaf green eyes and instead pushed open the door and stepped inside. Jack followed him while Crawley quickly set off back towards the lifts, his job was done, he was no longer needed.
The first thing that Alex noticed as he stepped into the office was that nothing had changed. There was the same desk, the same tasteful and uniform prints, the same filing cabinets and even it seemed, the same drab winged pigeons perched side by side on the windowsill outside.
And of course Blunt was the same as ever. Grey and holding an air of authority and importance. Miss Jones, sat on her usual chair in the corner also seemed unchanged, except perhaps a little paler in her deft and somber two-piece suit.
"Good evening Alex, Miss Starbright." Blunt's voice was mild, his ashen eyes blank. "Please take a seat."
Alex and Jack exchanged a glance, her gaze suddenly uneasy and hesitant. Her eyes seemed to widen a little as she took in Alex's detached and hollow stare. She wasn't used to seeing him like this, with all his defences thrown up and yielding an aura of unrelenting caution.
They sat down.
"What's going on?" Alex demanded, not bothering with any pleasantries.
Blunt considered them for a few long moments, his eyes unblinking, his slate-lipped mouth a firm, straight line.
"We think you could be in danger." In the end the sentence was deadpan and matter-of-fact. Jack seemed slightly thrown by his off hand manner and once again she glanced at Alex but once again he ignored her.
"From who?" His dark serious eyes were swathed with suspicion and rancor.
"We don't know." The response was as reserved and apathetic as before, slipping silkily between the grey lips.
"You don't know?" Alex's voice was scathing and a feeling of cold fury twisted inside his stomach. "What do you know then?" He continued without giving Blunt a chance to reply.
It was Miss Jones who answered, her voice as unruffled and controlled as always. "Yesterday we received an anonymous tip-off... A hint that you could be at some sort of risk..."
"It could be nothing," Blunt injected. "But it could just as easily be something and no matter what you believe, you're safety is a high priority of ours."
"Of course it is," Alex said with his voice carrying an edge of bitterness and sarcasm.
Jack looked from Alex to Blunt and could see the discord between them. Blunt wasn't exactly her favourite person either but she felt that this wasn't the best time for their... disagreement to mount.
"What are you going to do about it?" She ventured without irresolution and Alex and Blunt switched their attention to her.
Blunt blinked a few times and she couldn't help but think that he looked distinctly owl-like with his thick-lensed glasses and dark eyebrows.
"We are going to assign Alex a bodyguard."
Alex gave an involuntary movement as Blunt spoke and suddenly sat up a little straighter, all of his concentration fixed on the lined and pinched face.
"We're lucky that this incident came up in the holidays," Blunt continued. "Our man can give you protection without us having to pull you out of school. Hopefully when the new term comes, the threat should be lifted."
Alex was silent for a few long seconds. In her corner, Miss Jones untwisted the wrapper of one of her customary peppermints. The crackle of the metallic wrapper was gunshots in the quiet.
"A bodyguard?" Alex suddenly sounded tired, and looking at him Jack could see the strength flowing out of him as he resigned himself to MI6's command. She flashed a look at Blunt and saw something, some restless tangible something which stirred in the arduous eyes.
She suppressed a shiver and switched her gaze out of the window. The dark and the rain boiled outside like hot tar and as she looked a knife of white lightning cracked the sky.
"He's just returning to active service following a recent injury. He's someone you can trust." Blunt was attempting to sound reassuring but the tone didn't match his expression.
"The people I trust seem to end up wanting me dead." Alex replied sourly, thinking of Ash.
Blunt's lips twitched into what could have been a frown and then he pressed a button on his phone and spoke. "Send him in."
A moment later, the door opened to reveal someone Alex didn't think he'd ever see again.
"Ben!" He couldn't stop the exclamation of surprise that escaped his mouth upon seeing the ex-SAS soldier.
The last time he had seen Ben Daniels aka Fox had been on semi-submersible platform called Dragon Nine which had been at the center of a plot that would have wiped out the western coast of Australia. Ben had been shot by Major Yu, part of the executive board of the criminal organization Scorpia.
Tanned and brazen with square features and high cheekbones, Alex was glad to see the man looking so well.
"Hey Cub! I must say, I didn't think I'd be seeing you again so soon." Ben was grinning easily, his stance relaxed.
"Same here. How's your arm?" Alex couldn't stop a smile slipping onto his face as he greeted the easy-going operative.
"It's fine, perfectly healed." He replied, flexing his arm as if to prove it.
"Wait! You two know each other?" Jack interrupted quizzically.
"Oh, yeah! Jack this is Ben Daniels, Ben this is Jack Starbright." Alex made the introductions hastily.
"Pleasure to meet you Miss Starbright." Ben said affably offering his hand.
"Wait, Ben Daniels as in the Ben Daniels that you worked with in Australia?"
Alex nodded.
"Well then, Mr Daniels. I owe you a thanks. If it weren't for you Alex would be dead. And please call me Jack." Jack's voice was sincere as she took his extended hand.
"Only if you call me Ben."
"I take it that you understand your objective Mr Daniels," Blunt enquired stiffly, cutting across their introductions.
"Yes, Mr Blunt sir."
"Well, you can give Miss Starbright and Alex a lift home then."
Ben dipped his head in affirmation and Alex and Jack rose from their seats at the dismissal.
"One more thing before you go, Alex." Mrs Jones voice rang across the room as she stood and handed Alex a brown paper package.
"It's from Smithers. He was extremely happy to be designing for you again." She explained.
"Thank you Miss Jones." Alex said quietly and then followed Ben and Jack out into the hallway.
YAY 1325 words in counting! Whoop! Sorry, having a hyper moment. So, this chapter was surprisingly hard to write. Too much dialogue. But we're getting closer to the action! I hope you enjoyed this update as much as I enjoyed writing it - despite it's difficultness. (I know that isn't a word but it is now!!) Thanks for reading and yet again special thanks to my reviewers! MUAMU X