Camryn took a few cautious steps backward. Alex was still out of sight. He pulled the gun form his waistband and switched off the safety catch. Akira stepped into the basement, gun pointed at Camryn's heart.
"Don't move," Alex warned, aiming the gun.
"Drop it, Brian," Akira replied, unwavering. "You're outnumbered."
The other five Kawasaki members filed into the basement quickly and in an organized fashion (Tai was still asleep). It seemed like a practiced move.
"I knew there was something wrong with the two of you. Who are you?" Akira demanded. It was obvious that he hadn't seen this coming, but he tried to act tough anyway.
Camryn slowly raised the blue folder in her hand. "I know you guys are working for the DIH."
"DIH?" Alex asked.
"Japanese Defense Intelligence Headquarters."
"Okay, so you know who we are," Daisuke cut in. "Now who are you?"
"Put the guns down, and we'll tell you," Camryn said.
"We will?" Alex questioned.
Camryn nodded. Kawasaki agreed and disarmed.
"You too, Alex."
Alex hesitated. He switched on the safety catch and let the gun drop. Camryn took out her ID badge. Alex followed suit.
"Alex Rider."
"Camryn Albright."
"British MI6," the two teens said in unison.
"You don't sound British," Mahiro said to Camryn.
"I was born American. I used to work for the CIA in New York, but I transferred to London. I resigned and now I'm working for MI6."
"So two years ago, you were here with us for a mission with the CIA?"
Camryn nodded.
"Aren't you a little too young for government work?" Mahiro asked.
Alex rolled his eyes. "Tell my superior that."
"That's impossible."
"Actually, it's not," Akira said. "I started working for the DIH when I was eighteen."
"Well, we're only sixteen," Alex admitted.
"Alex, are you related to John or Ian Rider?"
Alex nodded. How did this guy know Alex's father and uncle? "John Rider was my father, and Ian Rider was my uncle."
"My father worked with them on an international mission about twenty years ago. The spy thing runs in the family, I guess."
"So what are you doing in Los Angeles?" Alex asked.
"We're trying to track a morphine dealer," Daisuke answered. "Two years ago, someone bought a butt-load of opium from some junkies in Tokyo. The same person keeps buying from the same guys, we found the suppliers, but we're letting them go for now, so we can find the buyer. Whoever the buyer is, he or she, or even they, are producing and dealing morphine worldwide. This team got involved to hunt down the dealer. But instead of selling morphine, we've been selling a placebo."
"A few months ago, this dealer contacted us," Mahiro said. "He said that he would pay us to sell the morphine produced from his lab. We took up the deal, hoping to drag him out. Some of the people who have bought from us for the past few months have died, but their bodies disappeared. We were contacted again recently, and the dealer said that he would pay us ten million dollars to give him our best chemist."
"What did you tell him?" Alex asked.
Daisuke glanced at Camryn. "We said that our best chemist was arrested two years ago, and we haven't heard from her since."
"When did the dealer contact you about this?" Camryn asked.
"Only a few days ago when we were in London. We decided to come back to the U.S. to look for Halie, but now we know that Halie McCullough doesn't exist."
"I doesn't matter what name I used. I was your best chemist, and I still am."
"Cam, are you…" Alex began. Was Cam really going to go work for this crazy madman?"
"It's the only way to get information."
"How will you get information to us?" Akira asked. "You'll be monitored day and night."
"I can wear a wire and a camera so you guys know what's going on."
"You'll be searched for any transmitting devices."
"Cam, do you still have that ring from Smithers?" Alex asked.
"Yeah, why?"
"Remember, there's an audio microchip in it to record things. You can then load the files onto an e-mail and send it."
"Alex! You're a genius!"
"But be warned: you will be followed everywhere you go. This guy will probably never let you out of his sight. He'll probably tag your phone, your car, maybe even Alex if he can get his hands on him," Akira said.
"I know but I'll do it."
"I'll contact the guy tomorrow morning. I'll call you with details as soon as I get them."
"Cool."
"You know this is going to get really messy right?" Daisuke asked.
Camryn nodded.
"Putting three agencies from totally different countries can turn out to be hell. The CIA, MI6, and DIH all on one mission without really knowing it – this can get bad."
"Yeah. That's why we're going to be the only ones who know."