A/N: This story is something I've been meaning to write, a brain-child that was waiting to be born. I'm slow to update, but will try to do so at least once a week. Please be patient with me. Thank you.

Chapter 2: Interrogation

Thud! Thud! Thud! Footsteps were coming down the hallway.

"You know Colin," Alex said. "You have chosen a really bad room to capture. The windows on the left, your left, are open to the oval, and the doors are open windowed too."

"Shut up!"

The police negotiator opened the door cautiously and began with the usual talk.

"Stay calm. I am Inspector Cadwell. As you can see, I am unarmed…"

But that was as far as Inspector Cadwell got for Colin had grunted, then collapsed in a dead faint. Alex had pivoted and struck Colin in the stomach with a Karate backlash. Then as Colin had fainted, Alex stepped back and looked at the Inspector who was gawping at him.

"Is everyone OK?" Inspector Cadwell asked as soon as he recovered. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Alex answered.

"We're surviving." Mr. Donovan spoke for the first time since the attack.

"Well, I'll need to ask all of you to come to the police station with me." Inspector Cadwell cuffed Colin and radioed his colleges saying that everything was under control, and the perp was secured.

Alex and his classmates nodded, and followed the inspector out.

In the police station that he had visited after the incident with the crane, Alex and the rest of the class including Mr Donovan were showed into a private office of a high-ranking official.

The office was square with a neat desk, and hanging on the wall behind the desk was a squared framed, landscape painting. The room was set up in such a way that immediately made Alex think Royal & General. There were just enough chairs set up for everyone to have a seat.

Then, after a minute's wait, John Crawley walked in. Why am I not surprised Alex thought.

Crawley was dress in his usual 'boring businessman' style clothing of a suit and a cheap tie.

"Hello everyone, I am Detective John Crawley. Make yourselves at home. Would you like anything to drink?"

"Err…No thanks sir. We're cool."

"Right. As you can probably tell, I am in charge of this case. So, I'll need to be asking for some details about the incident." Everyone nodded. "Well who's first?" Crawley said, scanning the room, eyes lingering on Alex.

"What about you Mr. Donovan? You are after all the teacher."

"Ok, sir. Usual maths lesson, I was teaching stuff on the quadratic formula when the man burst in and shot the gun into the air. Everyone, me included, fell to the ground, hands over our heads. Except for Alex Rider over there. He walked towards the man and started talking to him. Alex got the man to tell him his name – which is Colin by the way – and the reasons behind his actions. Alex seemed to have intimidated Colin. He seemed so unsure. Well I suppose that you know the ending. Inspector Cadwell came in to negotiate with him, but Alex knocked Colin out with a kick and Colin was arrested. And we were brought here." Mr. Donovan retold the happenings.

"Great! Now Mr. Alex Rider. Seeing that you were the one to wheedle out the information from this Colin. Would you do the honours and tell me the reasons behind his actions?"

"As you wish Mr. Crawley," Alex sighed. "Colin's reason was because his boss said so. And his boss' reasoning is that he wanted to make a statement, control the government, and manipulate the Chief and Deputy of the MI6."

"Crawley looked amused at the last reason Alex gave, and said. "Thank you! The information you have given us will be invaluable. You may now return. Alex Rider. Will you and Mr. Donovan stay behind? I wish to talk to you further about this. Please be patient while I escort the rest of your class out.

Crawley left the office, closing the door behind the class as they trundled out, leaving Alex and his maths teacher alone.

"Alex. I could have sworn that Crawley looked amused when you mentioned the boss wanting to manipulate our spymasters." Mr Donovan started.

"I agree."

"I was planning to talk to you after class, but I suppose I should just tell you now."

"Ok, go ahead sir."

"Alex, how would you like the idea of going to CalSci College in the US to work with prodigy maths professor – Charlie Eppes? I think that you'll do really well, otherwise I wouldn't ask."

"I don't know, I'll have to think about it sir."

"Sure thing."

"I say, it's a wonderful opportunity Alex." Crawley had just come in.

"Yeah, it would be, but school?"

Mr Donovan stared at Alex. Did he just mention he was concerned about school? If he was, they why all the absences?

"It doesn't matter. I'm keeping the two of you behind for more questioning. This time I want every single detail you can remember. Mr Donovan, you were the only adult victim and Mr Rider, you were the one to stand up to him."

So, Mr Donovan and Alex told Crawley what had happened in detail.