I recieved several reviews for this story asking for an update and I cannot help but oblige!
For those of you who are not familiar with the elite branches of the UK's military, the SRR is short for Special Reconnaissance Regiment. It is basically a combat unit that has been trained for recon missions, so sort of like MI6 on a smaller level, for the army. They are trained for combat and have engaged enemies before.
If you want more information then go research it. Really. Do it.
Four hours later Neil and Laura Wallace were sitting side by side on a black leather couch, facing an impeccably dressed man with graying hair. A red haired woman sat next to Laura. They clutched each other's hands though the tears had stopped nearly an hour ago.
The door to Blunt's office was shoved open and a tall, stern woman marched through, holding a very thick file in her manicured hand. Her face was grim.
"We lost our trace on them through Rider's mobile." She informed the silent room. "It's been stationary for the past forty minutes. When agents arrived they found it in the gutter along with a watch and pocket knife." She withdrew a plastic bag from a pocket in her power suit and handed it to the redhead.
"Ms. Starbright, are these Alex's?" She asked in a softer tone. The woman nodded. Neil desperately searched for her name. Laura had mentioned it. Jenna- no, Jack! "They were headed in the direction of the Chunnel. We have people there already, they won't be able to leave the country and if they are seen the men will be arrested."
"But you haven't found my son." Laura stated dully. She looked up at Mrs. Jones with eyes bright with tears. "They say that the first forty eight hours are the most important. After that…" She burst into a fresh round of sobs, clinging to her husband's arm, burying her face in his shoulder.
"It has only been four hours, Mrs. Wallace." Blunt said, standing up. He held a clipboard that he handed to Neil. "I need both of you to sign this, please."
"What is it?" Neil asked, looking at the papers with suspicion.
"I need you to sign it before we continue. It simply states that you will not repeat anything outside of this office." Blunt paused, watching the couple. "Every moment you waste is a moment further away your son travels."
Neil gritted his teeth angrily but scribbled his name. Laura copied him and handed the clipboard back Blunt.
"Thank you. Now, I believe that in order to understand what we believe his happening, you will need to have some background information on your babysitter," Blunt began.
"He has a record?" Neil interrupted. Blunt did not answer with anything but a sharp glare.
"No. Not with the police, he does, however, have a record with us. Alex Rider was first employed by the Royal & General nearly one year ago, in place of his uncle who had recently been killed in action. Since that time he has completed several other missions, becoming our most effective agent. However, as I am sure you know, Mr. Wallace, being with the SRR, a spy makes several enemies. It seems that one of these enemies has decided to exact revenge on Mr. Rider while he was away from home, where we would have been able to prevent it."
"You employed a fourteen your old boy?" Laura sniffed. "To spy for you?"
"Indeed. And because of this quite a few people's lives were saved," Blunt stared at them sternly. "We are not here to debate the morality of Mr. Rider's career."
"So why did they take Sean? Why not leave him?" Neil asked.
"Because, he makes for very good leverage." Blunt explained. "Rider, on his own, would not care about personal harm, but he won't do anything to endanger another person- especially a child. Scorpia is ruthless. The death of one child will not bother them."
"I want him back." Neil said, standing. "I'm going to go to my superiors and ask for permission to go after them."
"We thought that you would." Jones spoke up. "We have already arranged for you and one of our agents to fly into Baghdad, where we believe Scorpia to be operating at the current time. You will be supplied with everything you need. A room has already been reserved for you in a downtown hotel."
"Mrs. Wallace and Ms. Starbright will be moved to a safe house and kept under watch. You will have limited communication, only in the case of an emergency," Blunt hesitated. "Scorpia is a ruthless and cruel organization, Mr. Wallace. Our agent has limited experience with them and suffered severe injuries. They will not take kindly to the fact that you are attempting to take away their prisoner or their leverage over Rider. They will not hesitate to kill you."
"I know. That's a risk that I was aware of when I joined the military." Neil said. "I'm going to get my son back. There isn't anything that you can tell me that will change my mind."
Blunt nodded, "Very well. In that case, I wish you the best of luck with your endeavors."
Anyways... what did you think? Of the characters, or whatever... tell me!