Chapter 3
It was Monday morning at Brookland and Jessica was hurrying along to Nancy the school psychologist with Alex Rider's paper graded with an A to show her. She knocked just in case the psychologist was talking to someone and Jessica didn't want to interrupt if she was helping someone. Maybe even Alex had gone to get help all on his own. Jessica hoped so it would make her job so much easier if the boy had already gone for help. But apparently no one was in before the school day had even started.
'Come in,' called Nancy.
Jessica entered calmly feeling much like a school child having to go home sick. She looked around at the plain white walls and the small bunch of purple flowers on the psychologist's desk. Everything was perfectly neat for the psychologist. Jessica located the psychologist herself who was reading Child Psychology by Doctor Anupriya Chadha. Nancy looks very absorbed in her reading even though having called Jessica in. But she looks up her violet eyes and smile lines crinkling when she looks at Jessica.
'Jessica,' smiles Nancy as they weren't in the presence of pupils more than happy to call Jessica by the first name, 'is everything all right?'
'I set an essay on heroes. This is what Alex Rider wrote,' Jessica said.
Jessica hands over the essay and Nancy takes it. Jessica watches as the motherly psychologist frowns obviously not liking what she's reading. And for good reason thought Jessica sadly remembering what Rider had wrote about heroes. Did that mean that she would help him? Jessica hoped so and thought so. The grey haired, violet eyed women usually with a smile plastered all over her old face, was for once looking old and weary a sad look in her eyes. Jessica saw the woman sigh to herself and face Jessica.
'I've noticed something off with Alex since his uncle's death,' admitted the psychologist, 'but it is only now that I know how bad it is. Where is he first?'
Jessica watched as Nancy typed Alex's name into the computer and school database located where Alex was.
'Yes, he's in P.E.,' Nancy said. 'I'll call him to talk first thing.'
Alex was in the toilet in the boys changing rooms. Alex knew that everyone but Tom thought this was odd as they all changed together. But Alex didn't want anyone seeing the mass of scars and fading bruises on his body. Not even Tom knew the full extent of his injuries. That was left down to Snake his unit medic and Ben his partner. They were going to be doing running today. Alex who had done SAS training and was going back there for the holidays (but was allowed a few days break around Christmas) could run the circuit without breaking a sweat.
This made him even odder to his peers as he was apparently a sickly child who was physically fitter than the rest of them put together. It was that which made them disbelieve Alex. Luckily Alex's P.E. teacher liked the fact that when he was here he was so fit so turned a blind eye to his mysterious absences. He walked out of the toilet and to his surprise saw Mr Teague standing in his grey trackies and white top. Alex thought he was a bit early as Alex was one of the first to be dressed. He thought that something must be wrong so instinctively began to observe all possible exits.
'Alex,' Mr Teague said. 'I have been asked from Dr. Kaspar if you could go and see her.'
Alex knew who Nancy Kaspar was. The whole school did. She was the school psychologist. But Alex had never felt any need to go and talk to her. And even if he had it wasn't like she could have done any good. Seeing a psychologist would only help Alex if he could and was willing to be honest. But it would put the old woman in a lot of danger if he told her the truth. Anyway one of Mrs. Jones' conditions on giving him a job was that he got a psychologist which he saw before and after each mission and as long as Fabian Murray saw fit.
Alex heard the whisperings of the students about him. This wasn't anything knew to Alex. There had been whispers about him ever since his first mysterious absence two years ago in March. At first it had died down pretty quickly. But as he missed more and more school the whispers became more and more pronounced. This didn't bother Alex; he had faced bigger things than school gossip. He'd heard all the rumours. The students may think they were being subtle but they clearly knew nothing about subtlety.
There were ones about Alex being a drug addict. Alex hated these rumours mainly because he hated drugs. Then those who saw Alex and realised he was no addict had started to think he was dealer. This particular rumour had lead some addicts trying to get smack off him. Alex had told them quite clearly that he hated drugs and would have nothing to do with them and advised the older boy to get help. This had lead to him being hit. Alex could easily have fought back but didn't want to hurt the other child who had no experience with real fights.
Unlike Alex who could take on several assassins at the same time nowadays. This was thanks to both SAS and SCORPIA training. It was strange to think that the ones who had murdered his whole family had actually helped him in some ways. But for some reason this rumour still circulated. Then there were the rumours about him being involved with some sort of gang because of the bruises and cuts. Alex ignored these. Then there were the rumours about him being a criminal and mentally disturbed. Alex supposed it was only a matter of time before he was forced to see a psychologist by the school as well as MI6.
'Told you he was mentally disturbed,' whispered Carl Lane.
'So he really is getting help,' whispered Troy Jackson.
'Heard he's been sectioned,' added John Stevenson.
Alex just rolled his eyes at all the immature mutterings going on. And the boys said the girls were gossipers. But he supposed spies could be just as bad. He completely ignored them not even blushing at this. Alex was sure if this had happened eighteen months ago he would have been mortified but now school children didn't bother him. Alex saw Tom giving Alex a sympathetic look. Alex just calmly walked out obviously not one bit bothered. Alex was sure that this would give the students further things to gossip about.
Alex then saw the old grey haired, wrinkle faced, violet eyed woman who was dressed in smart black trousers and a horrible lime green jumper. Alex checked her up and down instinctively for the look of any concealed weapons on her person. Alex was pleased to note that there was none. Alex ignored Mr. Teague's worried look when he saw that Alex had an appointment with a psychologist but didn't really mind. Alex walked over to the old lady who he walked in companionable silence towards her office.
Alex refused to sit down until the psychologist had done so in her leather computer seat behind the computer screen. Alex then sat down on the comfy seat obviously there to put him at ease. Alex looked around. There was only one, large window which Alex made to stay away from in case of any snipers. He was sat where he could see the door so that if anyone came he couldn't be taken by surprise. He could easily hide behind the desk or get to the window to climb out and could get to the door to run out.
'So Alex, can I call you Alex?' asked Dr Kaspar.
'Of course,' shrugged Alex.
'Good,' smiled Dr Kaspar, 'I suspect your wondering why you're here.'
Alex wasn't he had already come to the conclusion that someone had said they were worried about him due to his long absences. Alex could understand this if a child was off for long for long regular intervals and then came back covered in bruises and scars it was natural to worry. Add in his uncle's death and the sudden lack of friends and the look in his eyes. Well it was to be expected that someone would recommend him to a psychologist. But Alex was thinking about what to say to that question.
Knowledge was power Alex had often found it better not to give everything away. So Alex wasn't about to admit he knew exactly what the reason was that the psychologist had pulled him out of class for. He had no qualms about appearing like an idiot at times; it kept people off the truth. But what did she want. Alex looked at her as the silence drew out between the two of them. Alex then decided it was best to act like a regular teenager for once in his life so gave a noncommittal shrug of his shoulders.
'Your English teacher Miss Collins marked your essay on heroes. She thinks you sound depressed and I think I agree with her,' Dr Kaspar said. 'Do you think you're depressed?'
'No,' Alex said.
Dr Kaspar sighed, 'so why have you been off.'
Alex briefly deliberated telling her the truth just to see what she would say to that. She would probably have him really committed to a mental ward until MI6 saved him. What could he that he was a teenaged spy who worked for MI6 who would leave school for weeks at a time to do almost suicidal missions and then return to school afterwards. Dr Kaspar would probably think he was lying like Sabina had or think he was having delusions of grandeur or something like that. It didn't bother Alex what she thought of him but being in a mental ward was such a waste of his time.
'I've been ill,' Alex said deciding to tell the lie that he had been sent back with.
Another sigh from the doctor, 'then may I ask where you obtained the knife wound from.'
'I fell when I was cutting bread and cut myself with the bread knife,' lied Alex.
'How's your home life?' asked the psychologist.
'Good,' Alex said.
'Your guardian Ben Daniels am I right?' asked the doctor.
'Yeah,' Alex shrugged.
'Do you get on with him?' asked Dr Kaspar.
'Yeah Ben's great,' Alex said knowing she was checking for child abuse. 'Though don't let him bring Rory Edwards,' Alex shuddered.
'Does this Rory hurt you?' asked the psychiatrist.
At this Alex couldn't help but laughing, 'what Rory?' snorted Alex. 'Nah he's just like a hyper kid,' shrugged Alex. 'Let me tell you if you want your kitchen to be intact when he's finished don't let him near caffeine, sugar or alcohol or anything with E numbers.'
'Okay so your absences started with your uncle's death. May I ask why?' asked the psychologist.
'The initial stress of Ian's death caused my immune system to lower,' shrugged Alex.
'Ian not uncle?' asked Doctor Kaspar.
'He said uncle made him sound old,' shrugged Alex.
'Okay how did you feel about your uncle's death?' asked Doctor Kaspar.
Alex frowned wondering what to say here once more. It was obvious that he couldn't tell the truth. How could he tell her the confusion about all the lies being told? How could he say that things didn't add up? How could he talk about the fact that he realised he barely knew the man at all? How could he even begin to explain the fear when he realised that Ian hadn't died in a car crash but had been shot down by an assassin. How could he explain the betrayal when he realised he had been lied to all his life.
'Shocked,' Alex finally said. 'Worried about who was going to take me. Sad that I'd never see him again,' Alex said.
'Did it depress you?' asked Doctor Kaspar.
'I told you I'm not depressed,' Alex said angrily.
'Did you ever see the body?' asked Doctor Kaspar.
'No,' Alex shook his head.
'How did you come to terms with his death?' asked Doctor Kaspar.
Again another question Alex couldn't answer truthfully at all. Alex had got the name off the breakers yard off the school directory. Alex had then snuck into the breakers yard where he was almost caught several times. Then he had seen the car splayed with machine gun fire. And he had known right then and there what had happened. Ian Rider had been murdered. And it couldn't have been faked. Then he had almost been killed by a car crushed and then fought with an MI6 agent. Not that Alex had been aware of this till a few days later.
'I just knew it in my heart of hearts that he wasn't coming back from the business trip,' Alex finally said.
'Did he leave you a lot?' asked Doctor Kaspar.
'He worked,' replied Alex.
'Since he adopted you?' asked the doctor.
'Since I was seven and he employed a housekeeper,' Alex said.
'And where is she now?' asked the doctor.
'Died in a car crash when we were holidaying in Egypt,' Alex said tensely.
'When?' the doctor asked gently.
'Last summer,' Alex told her stiffly.
'Did that hurt?' asked Nancy Kaspar.
'Of course,' Alex scowled.
'Have you come to terms with it?' asked Kaspar.
'I saw it, didn't I?' scowled Alex.
'Have you gotten any help before?' asked the psychologist.
'I don't need help,' Alex said again.
This went on like this for a while before sighing the psychiatrist called it to a halt, 'okay I think we should arrange a time to meet. How about my house on Saturday; is one O'clock okay for you.'
Alex thought he was still of duty.
'Fine,' Alex said reluctantly.
