Chapter Three
More questions

Raisa sighed as she sat down at the dark grey table in the pale grey room. Her eyes darted around; quick, hunter's eyes, flicking across the four members of security, then finally resting on Blunt, and his two other agents.

Mrs. Jones was, of course, one of them. The other, though, she did not recognise, and watched him closely for a moment. A well-toned, muscular body was visible under the white shirt, which was a little tight, but not too much. Black hair was styled in a modern way, though he watched Raisa closely. Coldly. He'd heard of her, at least.

Blunt sat, looking across at her.
"Who's the mutt?" she asked, nodding her head at the unknown agent, who glared at her.
"My other agent's name is Stephen Hill. He has been debriefed about you; he helps Smithers with equipment, but more often, he is in the field."
Raisa nodded, eyes never leaving the man, who shifted uneasily under her gaze. Eventually, she sat back, attention on Blunt again.

"What do you want to know?"
"I want to know the real reason you're here, Raisa."
She sighed quietly.
"I told you…I came to find Alex. I thought he ought to know everything."
"That's not all you told us," Mrs. Jones replied stubbornly.
"Yeah, there was something about revenge…Scorpia…y'know, avenging my father's death…blah, blah, blah…Well, it has been nice answering your questions, but I've got plane to catch…" She said it all exceedingly fast, and stood up at the last word.

Stephen watched her stand up. Her gaze flicked across to them, and as Blunt opened his mouth to speak, Stephen got there first.
"Sit down, Miss Gregorovich."
She looked back at him, and the whole room seemed to hold its breath, as she gradually smiled. Shaking her head, she sat back down.
"I think…well, I think that Mr. Hill here, might actually make a good agent," she said slowly. "Though, perhaps he needs to realise that he won't always be in control of every situation."

Mrs. Jones looked a little surprised. It was the first time that Raisa had ever praised a member of MI6, except, of course, for Alex and his father. Shaking it off, she turned back to the file in front of her.


Alex and Jack managed to convince the doctor that he was well enough to go home, and Alex was at once glad to be back in that familiar place. It seemed a lifetime since he'd last even been in his bedroom, and he was happy just to sit around. Though he had a few phone calls to make first.

As Jack pressed the answering machine, Tom's voice sounded over the speaker.
"Hey, Alex, it's Tom…um, I heard about what happened…oh god, I hope you're all right. Just, call me when you get back home, would ya? Thanks, and see you at school. Soon, hopefully."
Alex smiled, picturing Tom's worried face in his mind. He was about to pick up the phone, when the tape spat out another message.
"Alex, it's Sabina. WHAT THE HELL'S HAPPENED TO YOU! My mom heard that you got shot, and I don't know if you're dead…or injured, or whatever. Make sure you ring me, okay! See you soon."
Alex resisted laughing, but was still smiling as Jack walked in with a sandwich for him.
"What is it?" she asked, handing him the plate.
He reached over to rewind the tape, but there was one final message to be heard.

"Mr Rider. This is a call from the secret organisation known as Scorpia. We know where you are, and will find you. However, if you decide to leave the country, by whatever means, we have to warn you. Sabina Pleasure and Thomas Harris are currently in our…care. We do not want to have to harm them, of course, but if there are no other options… We expect to meet you tomorrow, at noon, at the phone box near to the East entrance of the Underground. You may bring Miss Gregorovich with you, if you wish. Someone will pick you up. Be there, or something…unfortunate…may happen."

Alex dropped his sandwich back onto the plate, and grabbed the phone, dialling a number, whilst Jack took the tape out of the machine.


"Mr Blunt, there's a phone call for you."
The young agent that had just walked in looked apprehensively at the figures dotted around the room. Raisa still looked bored, leaning back on the wall.
"Tell them I'm busy right now. I'm in the middle of an important interview," Blunt snapped.
"Sir, it's Alex Rider. He says it's extremely urgent."
"Rider?" echoed Hill, looking at Blunt, who stood.
"We will resume this interview in ten minutes," he barked, and Raisa smiled a little.

Blunt took the phone from the agent, who scuttled off again.
"Yes, Alex?"
"I had a phone call from Scorpia. They're gonna kill Tom and Sab if I don't go to them, and they know Raisa's here too."
Blunt stopped. "How can they know that?" he hissed down the mouthpiece.
"I don't know," Alex replied. "I've got the tape, if you come and pick me up, I'll give it to you."
"Alright," Blunt replied slowly. "I'll send someone to pick you up."

After ordering four agents to pick up Alex Rider and Jack Starbright, he went back into the interview room.
"Our interview will continue…as soon as possible," he uttered to the silent room. "For now, Miss Gregorovich, you need to come with me."
She nodded, seeing that something was wrong, and stood. Stephen glanced at her, somewhat angrily, as she brushed past him, following Blunt out of the room.


A.N: Thanks for all the reviews guys, and sorry for the lack of updates.

Questionablelight: Thanks, and, I will.
Gunner10: Thanks. Here's the next one for you!
Becca: Now you can find out! Thanks for your review too.