CHAPTER FOUR: Three Inches

Alex felt the tap on his shoulder, a gentle, light touch. Almost nostalgic, a feeling he didn't remember but always knew. His eyes flittered open and then squinted shut again, the lights were on. The person he didn't see came close to his face and spoke softly.

"Wake up Alex." She said quietly, Alex smelled the peppermint in her breath. He opened his eyes again, the lady had stood up.

He sat up and rubbed his eyes. "Hello, Ms. Jones." He replied. Ms. Jones was the co-head of operations for MI6; she genuinely cared for Alex. And it was his closest thing he had to a mother.

Four guards lightly armed with pistols escorted Alex home. They sat in a black BMW with windows tinted. The guards were dressed casually. Alex opened the door and stepped out into the street. He turned and looked at his house. He just wanted to get home. He opened the door and the warm air brushed across his face; making it hard to breath for a moment, he walked in.

"Who is it?" called a distant voice.

Alex knew at once it was Jack. "It's me, Jack." He called out. There was a pause and the sound of glass shatter on the floor. Jack ran in her eyes glittering, tears rolling down her cheeks. She hugged and squeezed him. He groaned quietly, she pressed against his wound.

"I can't believe it, I thought you were dead."

"It couldn't have been that long." He said.

"Alex, it's been two and a half weeks. Where have you been?" She said changing moods quickly.

"Training." He lied, but he didn't want to get her worried.

He showered and went to his room and got dressed, his back stinging. He had on his pants and socks when Jack entered with a cup of tea. He had his back turned and she stared at the circular scar that appeared on his back.

"What in the world is that?" She asked, placing down the tea on the dresser and focusing totally on Alex. Alex kept his back turned and his head down. The words wouldn't come easy, but they had to be told; he didn't want to lie anymore.

"It's a bullet wound."

"Who shot you?" She asked shaking with anger, though he couldn't tell it in her voice; she sounded calm, cool.

"I don't know but I am going to find out." He said finally turning around revealing that the bullet had gone right through him leaving the same round scar.

"When are they going to leave you alone, Alex?"

"After this…I promise."

Alex got dressed and smiled to Jack. She wished him luck, she hoped she'd see him soon; alive that is. He left and entered the BMW and drove off.

After a five-minute drive they stopped at Royal & General Bank, there was a warning sign and two guards posted at the entrance, they stood in front of where a door should be.

Alex took a seat in Mr. Blunts office. Ms. Jones was sucking a peppermint as usual she wore a casual dress, nothing out of the ordinary for "assistant manager of Royal & General".

"Lets get started shall we?" asked Blunt

"Fine." Replied Alex. "What happened to me?"

Ms. Jones would be happy to answer this. "Scorpia doesn't like to lose and when they do someone dies, you were marked for death. They hired a sniper to kill you; luckily he missed your heart by only three inches. What we want to know is who ordered Invisible Sword. They said it was an over seas client."

Invisible Sword was a weapon far more dangerous than any bomb, invisible to the naked eyes, transmitted only by shots. Flu shots, polio shots, anything. Radio waves would burst open a small tablet in the vaccination emitting lethal drugs to kill you.

Ms. Jones continued. "We have reason to believe the man to blame is Omar Kascef, an Arab oil tycoon. We have certain contacts that tell us he hates anything English and definitely anything American. But he wouldn't go around telling everyone; it's not good for business. The U.S. has been working on a deal with Kascef and we want you to go in with them. There will also be two civilians on this mission, so try not to endanger them."

Alex listened intently, but he still had questions and he was going to ask them.

"How will I get in there?"

"The civilian is a reporter for the California Times, he'll be working on the story for the paper on the deal. You'll be going in with his daughter. You'll pose as her best friend, on a small vacation to the Middle East." Ms. Jones answered.

"We'll give me the file on the girl, so I can get to work."

For the first time in a while Blunt spoke, "I don't think you'll need them, the girl is Sabina Pleasure, and she's in the other room. The party leaves in three days and you'll spend them learning everything about her. And by the way see Smithers, I am sure he has something for you.""