Alex sat back and mused over the last three days on the train back to Paris. He had, against all odds survived, his visit to Dusseldorf and had come to an uneasy truce with Dieter Sprintz. James was away on holiday and during the meeting with the financier, Alex had told the truth about the bonds, his time in France and saving the lives of the Commander and the retired SAS Sergeant and the fact he was returning the bonds to their rightful owners, the Russian government. Dieter Sprintz had known this boy had worked for the British Government after the Point Blanc incident, but the man had been truly shocked that Alex had been blackmailed to work for MI6 as teenager, but these facts had explained and rationalised Alex's problems at school. From Grade A student to Grade A fuck up, all it took were his uncle, Blunt, Jones and a dash of Scorpia.
The German financier had known the bonds were hot, practically untraceable and worth several million dollars. The reward for their return alone would be over one hundred grand. Alex had also made Dieter aware that his relationship his friend James had cooled. Enough was enough, either James wanted Alex as a real relationship or they were just friends, no casual sex anymore. Alex was moving on to date, to explore his sexuality fully and not keep hiding behind the easy and frankly damaging on again off again thing the pair had been screwing with for two years. Alex had also decided on his future. No matter what, now he was making the decisions, not anyone else. His freelance work would have to fit into his life and not the other way round.
Andrei Dubrev read the note on his desk on Monday morning. A telephone message requesting a meeting with Alex Rider, about the 'stuff discussed with Sir Charles, you know'. Teenagers and their vague way of speaking. He knew the boy had immediately left London to stay with his friend James Sprintz the previous week. The Russian Security Officer had interpreted that as the boy putting as much space between himself and his former employers as possible. For him to request a meeting with a member of the Russian Federal Security Service spoke of the boy truly seeking freelance work, something that would not go down well with the Head of SIS in Vauxhall. Maybe Alex was like his father, a man happy to juggle several employers at once. That thought brought a smile to the spy's face.
Alex was dressed in his best suit, designer sunglasses, black shoes and carrying a briefcase borrowed from Dieter Sprintz. Dressed to blend in as a banker or some other professional, Tom had stated mockingly that Alex looked more like a model than any mere mortal. He shifted on his feet as he waited in the public entrance hall of the embassy, uncomfortable just with the fact he was couriering such a large amount of contraband. The bonds had already travelled across Europe with no one the wiser that he was a smuggling items worth more than Ian's house in Chelsea.
Andrei had ordered tea to be served, wondering what the boy wanted. His superior's in Moscow were curious over this 'teen' agent, the product of conditioning and grooming from a young age. A young man still trying to break the mould his uncle had crafted for his nephew, shaping a child into a weapon to bring down Scorpia. Alex had fulfilled beyond anyone's expectations, but Andrei had read his journey from being Blunt's tool to broken ex-MI6 agent haunted the eighteen year old deeply.
Alex noted the fine furnishings and paintings in this opulent office as he drank tea from the antique silver tea glass holders. He savoured the hot sweet black tea and was for a moment transported back to his short time in Cuba with General Alexei Sarov. Andrei Dubrev entered with a wide smile and warm greetings. Alex stood and they shook hands. They sat and the Russian was patiently observing Alex, waiting for his move. Alex had been through two sets of security. He was not a visible threat, apart from the fact his training meant even unarmed he was a fully capable assassin. Alex opened the briefcase and pulled out the plain brown folder. "Your misplaced property. I had a friend look after it. I'm kind of glad I did, rather than the Commander's people getting hold of all the dosh. They would have kept the items and I would have been none the wiser to the potential reward possibilities."
Andrei immediately knew what had been passed to him. He took the envelope to his secretary for the items to be appraised.
"I cannot thank you enough for keeping these items to yourself. You have again proved to be a true friend to the russian people."
"Out of ignorance I sent the bonds to a friend to keep safe. I had no idea of their value. I only acted to help Harry out." Alex said truthfully.
"There will be a reward."
"Dieter said there would be."
"Ahh, so I have your address and your contact details. The reward of £290,000 will be with you in about four days. So, are you starting university this year."
"Well, I'm off to see about a place to train as an Emergency Medical Technician. After Sir Charles stated I could do Arabic Studies at Cambridge, I've kind of gone off the idea of going to uni. So, I guess I'm off house hunting again. Nice flat in South London is now a possibility even without Ian's dirty money."
...
"This place is really nice, in fact super. Whats the catch, Tom?" Alex asked. Tom had asked all his work mates about a decent new build, even out East and Steven Pritchard, a friend of a friend had converted thus former warehouse into six flats. As of last week the units were being offered for cash sale to dig the poor bloke out of his substantial debts. Only the show flat was unsold.
"Cash sale." Tom said frankly. "My mate Steve needs the moola pronto, so he'll sell you this lovely fully furnished former show flat for £260 grand."
"Its worth at least 400, its got a deck balcony. Close to Vauxhall Bridge, its perfect. I saw a two bedroomed basement flat in Clapham for this much last week and it needed a new bathroom. This is just everything we could ever want. Two double bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, open plan living room/kitchen. Its a definite. Sign over the leasehold by next week. We are moving in by the end of September."