Disclaimer: I do not own Alex Rider. Or anything else you recognize.
AN: Dedication to Arry the Banana and J'aime lire for reviewing so much! :)
Chapter 10: Missing (2660 words)
Four hours later, Ben was still missing.
Alex was honestly worried by this point.
Only two of the six other bodyguards were still with them, just coming around from being knocked out cold. Something had gone terribly wrong.
"We should ditch the party, Jason. We need to report them as missing if they don't show up soon.", Alex whispered to the singer next to her.
Jason nodded. He put on a great happy front whenever he was filmed but otherwise he looked as worried as she felt.
"Let's get out of here. And take a cab. It won't be as noticeable.", he replied.
She squeezed his hand lightly in a vain attempt to calm him. "I am sure everything will be fine.", the teen tried to soothe him.
It was a lie but he didn't need to freak out on her.
"Thank you.", he whispered back.
The show was finally over and they could leave.
A security man discreetly approached them and led them to the room where the two others were slowly waking up.
"What happened?", Alex asked them, putting on a frightenend front.
"Someone ambushed us. They took Ben and the others. I am so sorry, Miss Dibson. They wanted me to give you a message. 'Look over your shoulder and leave as long as you still can. This is no business for a young lady.'", bodyguard two muttered.
"Was that everthing? What exactly did they say?"
"Ben must have seen them before or something because one minute he was calm and collected and the next he has this blank look on his face. It was scary.", the other bodyguard elaborated with difficulty.
That was not good. At all.
Only few people manage to pull that one look on Ben.
"What happened next?", she pressed on.
"Ben was shot with one of these stupid darts. Before he went out he screamed something about tattoos.", bodyguard two said thoughtfully.
The spy in her saved her fake confused and frightened expression to melt into a pale mask that gave nothing away.
'Just a litte surveillance' had just become 'Scorpia'.
And Alex didn't know where Ben, her surrogate big brother, was.
Instead of searching for him, she had to stay and protect JB. There had to be a traitor somewhere. How else would they have known where they were?
"What exactly did they say? How many men were there?", Alex ploughed on. The more details the better.
"I can't remember... I think the man who made me messenger also said to tell you: 'Do not alert your peppermint friends. We know AR is not MIA. We killed him. Because we never forgive and never forget.'"
The room went silent for a minute.
Jason looked slightly green-faced.
The two men appeared to be shocked and ashamed of their failure. At least they hadn't noticed her tranquility.
Inside, the girl was furious. Her cover had been blown. At least they didn't know who she really was. Hopefully.
"Do you know who could have taken Ben?", she asked with a shaky voice, almost childish.
"No. The people were fast, very strong. We were vastly outnumbered. They looked like ninjas.", the first man answered.
"Like ninjas? Are you crazy? I'll call the police.", Alex decided. She got out her Smither-ized phone and dealt his number. Alex asked, seemingly insecure: "Hello, am I talking to the police?"
Luckily he caught on very fast. "Yes, how may I help you?"
"I want to report an incident in front of The Atlantic four hours ago. Four men have been missing since then. Bodyguards. One of them said he'd be right back but never returned."
"What is your name young lady?", a stern Smithers asked, sticking to police-protocol.
"My name is Felicity Dibson. The missing men are Ben Smith, Julio Andres, Gregg Worms and Luke Nagel."
"Do you have any evidence for that?"
"Well, it happend right outside the building, in front of a hundred fans or so and a couple paparazzi. One of the other bodyguards said 'they looked like ninjas'."
"Alright. We will send someone over for further questioning. Do you have a safe place to sleep for tonight?"
"No."
"Where have you been staying at?"
"The Four Seasons. Ben provided that."
"We will arrange Witness Protection for now. Two officers will come by in a few minutes. Stay where you are and keep calm, okay?"
"Yes. Thank you. We are still at The Atlantic."
"Good. Stay where you are. Bye."
"Goodbye."
The four didn't have to wait long.
Two MI6 agents dressed as German policemen entered the hotel. The receptionist pointed them their way.
Alex was on high alert, but nothing showed on her face. Outwardly, she acted like a shocked teenager. Inwardly, she analyzed the situation.
The agents flashed their police badges and asked the two bodyguards questions about the attack.
Alex thought it weird, because this kind of publicity was not Scorpia's style.
They wanted them dead? There were countless good opportunities for snipers.
No, they wanted something else. They had not come to kill.
Scorpia had wanted to capture Ben.
Alex knew 'AR' wasn't dead. AR meant 'Alex Rider' and even though 'he' was virtually dead, she was very much alive.
One of the agents led them outside of the hotel. "We will bring you to a safe location where you will be in good hands. At least for the night."
"Thank you. Can we get our stuff from the hotel?", Jason asked, timidly. Maybe the shock had that effect on him?
"Sure. Your...friends will need to spend the night in hospital though.", the agent shrugged.
"Okay. Jason will attract too much attention if he misses his events. They are important for his job. He needs to continue working. Can you arrange something?", Alex mentioned.
"I will talk to my superiors about it. If they think it will be alright, then he can go ahead. If not, tough luck. Those people that attacked you today are not to be taken lightly. They are merciless killers. So please respect their decisions. It's only for your best."
If he had not said all that in a patronizing tone, Alex might have been okay with being lectured.
Maybe not.
She bristled slightly and her whole aura changed. She did not exude insecurity and fright anymore.
Instead there was anger, only for a second, then she controlled herself again.
In that single second however, the agent felt that she was not one to be messed with.
"Listen here, Mister, I know that these people are dangerous. They took Ben! Ben is the best bodyguard I know. And I will not have you slack off so you won't find him. If there is one crooked hair on his head, I will sue you personally to hell and back.", she treatened. "Got it?"
"Y-yes.", the astonished agent stammered.
"You know, I am very glad to be your boyfriend right now.", Jason muttered with a half-grin.
Alex's mood lifted a little at that but she was still worried sick and angry about certain people's incompetence, Ben's capture, her current state of helplessness and the situation in general.
"Come along.", the first agent said.
Alex didn't trust any of them, but she had to follow anyway.
Because a good frightened girl did that without questioning the authorities.
After packing yet again, they left the hotel. Jason fell asleep in the car and his head landed somehow on her shoulder.
Alex knew that the agents were watching.
She let him sleep.
They arrived at a small house after a fourty minute drive. It had a small garden and was fenced.
'That won't keep them out for long or at all.', Alex thought.
"We have called for backup. Your agency sent four bodyguards to replace the others as long as we don't know what happened to them.", the first agent explained when they entered the house.
"Thank you.", Jason said simply. He was still a bit shaken, but coped better than formerly thought. Alex squeezed his hand reassuringly, like a good girlfriend.
They had stopped in the living room.
Four highly trained men awaited them there.
Alex recognized them instantly. 'This day just has to get worse, doesn't it?', the teenage spy sighed mentally.
"Jason, Felicity, this is Wolf, Greg, Lars and Robert.", the agent introduced them to Wolf, Eagle, Snake and Robin, then he left.
The four men nodded with blank faces when they were mentioned.
Jason not-so-secretly checked them out, Alex noticed - which improved his mood dramatically. Hers not so much.
"You know, if nearly getting kidnapped several times in the course of one day is all what it takes for the agency to send us high quality eye candy, I think we should do it more often.", Jason whispered, loud enough for all agents and the soldiers to overhear.
He forgot that they were not like his stupid incompetent bodyguards.
But his words had an amusing effect either way.
Wolf flushed pink, Snake lifted his eye brow up, Eagle grinned at her and Robin almost choked on his own tongue.
"Well, they are friends with Ben so we don't need to get kidnapped to see them.", Alex replied with a huge smirk on her face.
Her words made them realize who she was - despite the accent.
Eagle chuckled while the others kept their amusement - or lack thereof - in control.
"You know them and haven't introduced me? Shame on you!", Jason declared mock-hurt. Then he grinned. "Probably didn't wanna share, huh?"
At this Alex blushed faintly. "No! Ew! Yuck! Please!"
"Later, Gator!", Jason whispered mysteriously. 'Oh Lord! What have I done?', Alex thought. "Anyway. Since you seem to know Fe already, I am Jason Beaver. Very nice to meet you all."
K-Unit stared at her, then back at the boy and back at her.
When she rolled her eyes, they grinned slightly. "Watch it. JB is usually worse than Greg if you give him sugar. Or just about anything.", the girl explained.
Jason protested mock-hurt: "How can you say that? You are supposed to be my nice friendly girlfriend that I love and adore!"
"And you are supposed to check me out not your temporary bodyguards. Anyway, that's beside the point. We need a plan for tomorrow."
"The masquerade! Shoot!", Jason exclaimed.
"Yes, well. I think we have to root out some of the grass in the rose bushes before we go. This place is a mess.", Alex complained in a snobbish tone.
Luckily, Snake caught on. "I think you should occupy yourself with a bit of gardening then. It can help you to calm down."
"I thought so as well.", Alex smiled. She pecked Jason on the cheek and said sweetly: "But right now we need to sleep. Jay, darling, you can have the bathroom first. I'll be up in a sec. I just need to drink some water before bed."
"Alright. Don't be long, babe.", he retorted, grinning suggestively, and actually kissed her square on the lips before he went upstairs with Robin.
Eagle, Wolf and Snake stared incredulously at Alex.
"He's your boyfriend?", Eagle said, catching himself first.
"Jay?", Alex smirked. "Something like that."
"But...", Eagle stuttered.
"He is obviouisly gay.", Wolf growled, not happy about her choice in boyfriends.
"I know. That's why I get paid to be here.", Alex grinned. Then she let the whole happy/shocked front drop, getting back to business with her 'spy mask'. "Ben's been captured. Approximately six hours ago. They said it were 'ninjas'."
She pointed loosely at her tattoo. Snake's eyes widened in fear when realization hit him.
Alex finished her report: "They left a message for me. 'Look over your shoulder and get the hell away while you can but don't alert your peppermint friends.' or something like that. And they know Alex is not MIA. They claim to have killed him, because they 'never forgive and never forget.'"
Now, the rest caught on. Shock, fear and rage, displayed on all three faces.
"So they know you're not some crazy model?", Eagle managed, somehow sounding serious for once.
"Yes. There's a mole.", Alex confirmed.
"How are we supposed to find him?", Wolf wondered.
"You can't.", Alex replied calmly. "But I can. There is someone acting a bit too suspicious, for their own good. Just promise me to keep this between us four. I'm not so sure how Ben will react to my plan. Or my...uncle for that matter."
Three incredulous stares were sent her way when she elaborated on her plan of action to get Ben back safely and further protect Jason. The longer she talked the more their incredulity increased.
"Do you have any idea what Ben will do to us if we let you do this? He will hunt us down, make us suffer mercilessly and kill us in a very sadistic manner.", Eagle exclaimed fearfully.
"And that's just Ben.", Snake added gravely. "Your...uncle will not be as nice."
"It was his idea.", Alex pointed out.
"No. That's it. You are not doing it.", Wolf ordered in his best gruff voice and leader-ish posture.
"Good night then, gentlemen. My boyfriend waits for me...!", the teen said chirply, ignoring their protests.
She swayed her hips a little with every step and the skirt of the short black dress was pushed up slightly but noticeably. Before she vanished completely from their view, she bent down to get rid of her heels.
Somehow she had gotten a little used to wearing them. Or a lot. (Running around in them all day tends to do that to a person.)
All three SAS soldiers got a nice show of her gracefully bending down which only emphasized her long, lean, beautiful legs and slowly removing her strappy heels. Clinking her now foot-free shoes together, she sent a look through half-lidded eyes over her shoulder.
That was the moment they realized she would do it anyway, with or without approval, to get Ben back. Maybe they could administer damage control if they played along?
"Alright. You win.", Eagle caved. "Just take full responsibility for this - preferably before we get killed."
Alex turned her head around so they could see the Cheshshire-cat grin on her face. Winking, she blew Eagle a flirtatious kiss by way of thanks.
And because it was fun to mess with them.
K-Unit stared at her. Then they collectively sighed.
Ben would so murder them when he heard about this.
"You promise to set my goldfish free, right?", Eagle asked, still looking at the stairs, determined to avoid any eye-contact with his team members.
"Promise.", Snake said in an equally grave manner.
"Thanks."
"Get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a very long day.", Wolf ordered his team mates.
Exactly how long that day was going to be, they had no idea.
Somewhere, someone asked for the twentieth time: "Where is Alex Rider?"
And for the twentieth time the answer was: "He is dead."
"Is that so? Well, then maybe we should kickstart your memory, eh? We heard you have recently adopted a very beautiful daughter..."
Ben's impressive glare intensified. "Don't you dare touch her! She has nothing to do with this!"
"Attached already, Daniels?", the stranger mocked. "Well, I hear she's quite attractive and a bit stupid. She'll be easy prey."
'You wish...', Ben inwardly grinned. 'I just hope she can get away from them. Or someone is there to protect her.'
The stranger barked out the command to have 'Agent Daniel's airheaded adoptive daughter' brought in.
'Oh, Alex. I'm so sorry...'