Just and investigation. That's what they had told him two times before, and each time, he had almost been killed and uncovered a plan for world domination.

"So, are you the new kid?" asked the boy. He was chewing gum with his mouth open and made large smacking sounds with his lips each time he bit down.

"Yeah," said Alex. He wasn't in the mood for talking.

"Where did you live before you moved here?"

Alex was really getting annoyed. "Chelsea," said Alex, trying to stay calm.

"Cool, my uncle lives there. It's nice. Do you like the football club?"

"Yes, they're my favorite team," replied Alex. He was about to tell the kid to just shut up.

"Who's your favorite player?"

"John Terry."

"Do you play football?"

"Yes," said Alex, his voice was becoming recognizably louder.

"What position do you play?"

"Striker."

"But isn't Terry a fullback?"

"Yes! He is, but I like him because he's a great player. Now please be quiet!" yelled Alex at the boy.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know you didn't want to talk," said the boy. "You just must be nervous from your move."

"Yes, that's it. I don't want to talk," said Alex, trying to calm down.

"You know, it's a bit odd that as soon as a boy disappears, another shows up a day later."

Alex suddenly was interested. "Do you know anything about his disappearance?"

"Well, I didn't know the kid very well. He's a friend of a friend. Even if you asked my friend he wouldn't know. The last anyone saw of him was when he had to go to the nurse because a bloody nose during English."

"What do you think happened?"

"Well he couldn't have just fallen down a rabbit hole. Why are you so interested? What are you a secret agent?"

"No, just curious." Alex new he couldn't ask too many questions. He wasn't really scared of the kid getting suspicious; he just didn't want people to think of him as an intruder of privacy.

"Look, if you're really interested, even though I can't see how anyone could be, I suggest you going to my friend. His name is Harry Robinson, the boy with red hair and a ton of freckles on his face," said the boy.

"Thank you," said Alex "and sorry once again for yelling."

"That's all right. My name is Richard by the way. I don't believe catching yours."

"Alex, Alex Rider," he said before getting up out of his seat. The bus had arrived, and so had Alex's next mission.