That night, Alex sat in his room, trying to make sense of the message from sniper82. You're in danger. Being in danger was nothing new to Alex, but how did this total stranger know? Alex then realized how little he knew about this sniper82. She was nineteen, British, used to live in Chelsea, and wants to be a military sniper. And how could Alex know all that was even true?

Alex looked over at his clock. It was 9:55. Jack should be home soon. Alex envied her. She had gone out with someone named Greg. She didn't have to be alone on a Saturday night. Alex could have gone out with Emily tonight, but he knew he had to stop seeing her. Then the door opened down stairs. Alex left his room and went down the steps. The front door hung wide open. There was no one around. Alex stepped outside into the darkness. The streets were empty. Jack's car wasn't back in the driveway.

Someone jumped out of nowhere and grabbed Alex by his throat, pushing him back inside the house. The door slammed shut. Before Alex could comprehend his situation, he was lying on his face with his arms pinned behind his back. Another person walked out of the kitchen. Alex forced his face upward so he could see. The barrel of a gun was pushed into the back of his head.

"Don't kill him," Daisuke said. "Not yet. Tie him up. Then put him in the basement."

Alex's arms and legs were bound. He was heaved up and carried down to the basement. He was thrown down on the hard floor. Stars exploded in his eyes when his head hit the floor. Whoever had attacked him left the basement and closed the door. Alex couldn't believe he was being held prisoner in the darkness of his own basement. He lay in silence for a few minutes, letting his eyes adjust to the dark. Soon enough, he could make out the dim shapes of boxes stacked on top of each other. He had to find a way out. That shouldn't be too hard. Besides, it was his house. Alex sat up and began to think. What was in his basement that he could use to get out?

Daisuke and Hughes sat in the kitchen of the Rider house, drinking beer. Daisuke smiled to himself, proud of the extravagant plot he had twisted together. All he had to do now was wait for Emily to arrive. Then he could carry out the next part of the plan. About ten minutes later, the door opened. Daisuke didn't bother to get up. He waited for Emily to walk into the kitchen with a silver briefcase in her hand.

"Where's Alex?" she asked.

"In the basement."

Emily handed Daisuke the briefcase and sat down at the table beside her father. Daisuke offered her a beer, but she refused.

"Do Nick and your mother know where you are?" Hughes asked.

Emily shook her head. "I slipped them sleeping pills. They won't wake until morning."

"Good."

Daisuke went down to the basement with the briefcase in hand. He flipped on the light switch and walked down the steps. At the bottom of the steps, a cardboard box fell over his head. He dropped the briefcase and flailed to get the box off him. Alex tackled him to the floor. Daisuke groped for the gun holstered to his hip. Alex knocked the weapon from his hand and punched him in the face. Daisuke finally managed to get the box off of him. He threw his fist into the side of Alex's head repeatedly. It only took three punches to knock the boy out cold. Daisuke stood up and picked up his gun. He put it back into its holster. Then he dragged Alex up into a chair. He tied Alex's wrists behind the back of the chair. Then he tied the boy's ankles to the legs of the chair. He opened the briefcase and took out a small white stick. He cracked it under Alex's nose. Alex gagged and coughed as he woke up.

"What do you want with me?" he gasped.

"Camryn. Where is she?"

"I told you, she's dead."

"Alex, don't lie to me. If you don't cooperate with me, I can make you a very miserable boy."

"I'm already miserable, thanks."

"I have proof that your little wench is still alive. You're going to tell me where she is."

"Why are you so obsessed with finding Camryn?" Alex demanded angrily.

Daisuke pulled a folder of papers out of the briefcase. He pulled one out and showed it to Alex. It was a satellite photograph. Alex studied the girl in the photograph. She had a beautiful face framed by blonde hair. Her shimmering silver eyes looked wary and paranoid. It was, without a doubt, Camryn. She had died her hair. There was a twinge of chestnut at the roots of her blonde hair. Alex's heart went wild, and his mind raced. How could this be possible? He had seen Camryn die. But it was Camryn in the picture. Tears filled Alex's eyes. How could she be alive all this time without Alex's knowing? She lied to him. She left him. She, in a sense, betrayed him.

"She left you, Alex."

"No…" Alex croaked. Tears began streaming down his face. "No…"

"I know it's hard to believe. You thought she loved you. She deceived you. She betrayed you. She lied to you all this time."

"No," Alex sobbed. "She's trying to protect me."

"That's what you think."

"Shut up!"

"Where is she, Alex? I know that you know."

"I don't know!" Alex protested.

The basement door opened. Footsteps came down the stairs. Alex looked up. His insides twisted. He felt sick.

"We found her," Emily said.

Daisuke smiled. "Good. Looks like we won't be needing you, Alex."

That could only mean one thing.

"Kill him. Slowly," Daisuke said as he walked passed Emily. Once he was gone, Emily came to stand before Alex.

Alex looked up at her. He was shocked, sad, angry, and confused. "I can't believe you," Alex said quietly, turning his serious brown eyes to the floor.

Kate was back in the locker room, changing into navy mesh shorts, sneakers, and a dark gray T-shirt. Once she finished changing, she went downstairs to the arsenal. She grabbed a gray backpack and began picking out weapons. She took a McMillan TAC-50 long-range sniper rifle, and two Glock handguns. She threw the weapons into the backpack and turned to leave the arsenal.

"Where are you going?"

Kate ran head on into Cade Thompson and squealed. "God, Cade! You scared me! Don't ever do that again!"

Cade smiled. "Sorry." He put his arms around Kate and kissed her.

"Stop it, Cade."

"Why? Am I being unprofessional?" Cade mocked playfully.

Kate smiled at his remark and kissed him. Cade was twenty-one, dark-haired, and gorgeous. Many women in the agency had flirted with Cade at least once, trying to get his attention. But Kate was the only one who attracted the gaze of his blue eyes.

"I thought you were finished with your field shift," Cade said.

"I am, but I'm going back out. Alex Rider-"

"Not him again! I swear, Kate, you've got a thing for this boy."

"No, I don't," Kate denied. "Look, I have to go."

"You're always running off to somewhere. What do you do in the field anyway? What's going on with you and Alex Rider?"

"Nothing. Cade, I was assigned this case. I'm sorry you don't like it. You need to trust me."

Emily leaned over and whispered into Alex's ear. "I'm going to get you out of here."

"Once we're out, you're going to kill me anyway, right?" Alex asked.

"Alex-"

"Look, I'm sorry I said 'no' to you, but I did it for a reason. I didn't want to."

"I know. I found out what my dad's been doing with Daisuke. I only got involved so I could get you out of this."

Alex looked up at Emily again.

"Alex, I know this looks bad, but I'm really trying to help you. Please, you need to trust me."