Hi! So, I'm sorry if I am a late updater. I will try to get the next chapter up faster, but no promises. Sorry, my seclude is highly unpredictable.

Anyway, the response to my first chapter was overwhelmingly positive for a newbie like myself, so my most sincere thanks.

Side note- I don't own Alex Rider. If i did, the series would probably have a slightly less ambiguous ending.

Yours truly,

Ramona Fox

Alex arrived at the library at 9:55, entering through the automatic doors. The library had not been what he had expected. It was newly built, airy and filled with light from sky lights and windows. The whole adult section was surrounded by glass overlooking a park, and wooden statues dotted the room.

Alex turned to see Lexi walking up to him. "Cool, huh? They finished construction a few months ago." Lexi looked completely in her element, and she had lost the slight tensity she had every other time he saw her. "Come on, I reserved a study nook for a few hours. It's this way." And Lexi led him deeper into the library.

"So, have you got a library card?" Lexi asked as she navigated towards the study area. "No." Josh replied. Lexi frowned. Each library card had one hour of computer time per day. Two hours might be overkill, but she had reserved the nook for five hours. Of coarse, if the study session ended early, she only needed to tell the librarian and the small room would be available to others. But it might be more difficult to find information if the internet wasn't an option.

"See that computer?" Lexi paused to point out the almost futuristic-looking screen and keyboard. When she saw Josh's gaze had landed on it, she continued. "You don't need a library card to use it, and you can search for helpful books that are at this library. It will tell you where to find them."

Lexi wondered vaguely why Josh wouldn't get a library card. It would only take a few minutes. Lexi didn't like giving personal information to people, but she trusted those whom she gave it to. Within reason. That was why she gave her number out. But there was a different kind of trust for Josh and the library. The library was familiar and comforting, but hardly secure. Josh, well, Lexi instinctively felt she could trust him with her life.

Josh was a mystery, and she wanted to know her trust was not misplaced.

Alex felt uneasy. The 'study nook', as Lexi had put it, was glass facing the library and had windows facing the street and sidewalk. It was a perfect position for a sniper. "Can I close the shades?" He asked.

Lexi looked up in surprise. "Sure." She seemed confused at first, but then glanced out the window and a flash of understanding crossed her face before she turned back to making flash cards from a timeline they had found online.

Sometimes Alex wondered how much she might really know.

Lexi glanced at the clock. "Hey, Josh." She said. Josh looked up from the book he had been reading, World War Two in Fifty Pictures, and met her gaze. "It's almost lunch time. There are a couple restaurants on the other side of the street, Mexican and a cafe. Or the library has vending machines."

"Is it okay to leave the building? Won't we loose our spot?" Josh's voice always seemed to have an oddly calming quality to it, something Lexi found rather endearing. She felt her cheeks grow warm, but knew it wouldn't show. Fortunately.

"No." Lexi shook her head. "The librarian should keep it reserved if we tell him we're just leaving for lunch. If we don't take to long, anyway."