Homeward Bound

by juliasejanus

Sixteen year old Alex Rider has lived for two years in Russia, as the son of adopted son of the late General Sarov. The CIA wants to tie up the loose ends from Skeleton Key. Alex is going back to America. What will they make of the young man that has survived political games and MI6's aborted kidnapping. Continuation of A General's Son and followed by Sleeper Awakens

15. Chapter 15

Epilogue

The Head of SIS reread the file passed to him by the US Embassy. All confirming suspicions over Special Operations mismanagement, corroborating concerns passed to him by the FSB. The Black Ops Division based at the Royal and General Bank operated outside Government Channels for plausible deniability, with only very loose ties to MI6. He now had to clear house to keep their allies happy. In 2001, a teenager had been successfully used for three operations. After a problem with the triads, Blunt leant the same child out to the American's equivalent, in Cuba of all places, to spy on a Russian exile. Highly illegal, it stank to high heaven but most in his position, had no qualms and fewer morals.

The Russians had played their hand perfectly to keep the kid out of the great game, only for Blunt to attempt a swap. General Sarov had died and for nearly two years, they had no idea what had befallen Aleksandr Sarov, then the sixteen year old had been traded back to the Americans.

The fact Alan Blunt had used a teenager, involving the Russian's was not the problem. Trying to eliminate a loose end, no matter how young was expected. Operating illegal operations in the US and getting caught was, however, not. Someone had sent the CIA a gift; a mercenary, who had sung like a canary about being paid to kidnap, torture and break the sixteen year old Sarov. An internal audit had now uncovered a real paper trail of payments between the mercenaries to Blunt. The big problem was that young Aleksandr was now the adopted son of a Senator and a US Army General serving in the Pentagon. Blowback from this could destabilise the whole security of Great Britain.

The easiest solution was a short illness and early retirement. A closer audit over Blunt's tenure was also justified. Too bad, Blunt had slipped up and the man had been muted to be his own replacement next year. Alan was still well connected to the right sought of people, he would just have to make a new life for himself on the Boards of few Quangos. The threat assessment from Byrne over Gregorovich was put in the shredder. If Blunt had an unfortunate accident in the near future, that would be better for all concerned.

…..

The story continues in Sleeper Awakens.