Later, I was sat on the spare bed in Robin's apartment. Robin came in and sat down on the other end of the bed, facing me and said "So, tell me, Alex. Why did you run away?"

"I-" I began, not sure what to say, "it's complicated."

"Look, if you tell me, I can help you out. I can't let you go back onto the streets or this will happen again."

"I got involved with some people and now I can't shake them off. I'm trying to get away from them."

"People?" Said Robin "I could do something about that...I think. Depends who they are. As you've probably noticed, something's not quite right with me. I'm part of the Mafia and I have quite a high position so people listen to me."

"The Mafia?" I said, my heart skipping a beat. "But...but you helped me?"

"I know." Robin sighed "I'm not what you'd call a typical family member, I'm more of a rebel. But whoever these people are, I can probably sort them out." Then she said a little more quietly "Alex, you didn't fall off your bike did you?" I shook my head, no point in lying when she already knew something was up. "I know a bullet wound when I see one. Sniper?" This was scary, she even knew what gun it was that shot me. I nodded again. "Those people...it was something to do with them, right?"

"Yes, but, you don't want to get involved-" Robin's phone rang then and she said,

"Sorry, I'm just going to have to answer this...hello?" As Robin spoke on the phone I thought about how to get out of the questions she was asking me. If she found out I was a spy then she'd turn me in, no matter how nice she was. She was part of the Mafia! They'd torture me for information I didn't have. My thoughts stopped when I heard Robin say "I can't believe they'd do this! MI6 are meant to be the 'good guys', how could they stoop so low? And then they moan about us using kids...yes...I know, but we've been searching for weeks now...this is useless, we're never going to find anything. Someone else will find out before us and then that'll be it. So much for trying to help...yes, ok...let me know if you get anything...bye." Robin hung up. My heart was racing at just the mention of MI6. "Do you mind me asking what that was about?" I said.

"Well, I don't suppose it could do any harm...just don't go to the police or something." She laughed "not that they could do anything about it anyway. Anyway, MI6, British Intelligence, you heard about them?"

"Yes." A little more than I would have liked, I thought bitterly, my relationship with them could have been a little less personal. "Well, they're not just in stories and films, they're real and I thought they were all good and honest until now. The Mafia uses children all the time because you're sort of born into this thing and MI6 have always frowned upon this, not that they can do anything about it. But now, what do they go and do? They go and recruit a teenager to be a spy!" I almost choked at this and I glanced nervously at Robin to make sure she hadn't noticed. She hadn't because she was staring out of the window. "Did they even bother to think about what could happen to him? Not only does this make them hypocrites but cruel as well. We survive here, in the Mafia, because children are brought up to survive, but it's our way of life. No matter how good this spy is, he's not going to be ready for what's coming."

"What's coming?" I asked, trying not to let my voice give anything away.

"The whole of the Mafia are looking for him, that's what. They think they can use him as either bait or for information...probably both. But then there's me and the other rebels, we're like a group who...well, are better than common criminals and try not to do too many bad things, and we're trying to find this spy before everyone else does so we can protect him. It's hard going though, all we know is he's about 14 and a boy. We haven't even got a name, just that he has a connection with Ian Rider." She smiled at me "not that you'd know who he was but sometimes...it helps to tell people about things."

"So...why do you want to help this spy? What's in it for you?" I was surprised at how steady my voice was because, inside, my nerves were falling to pieces. "Nothing, I guess." Said Robin shrugging "I just want to help. It...it reminds me of the position I'm in. Apparently, MI6 blackmailed this boy into becoming a spy, threatened him in some way. After the first time they used him, he tried to pull out...but they wouldn't let him. You see, Alex, I have no choice but to stay here. I hate being a criminal but if I try and leave...well, you wouldn't want to know what happens to traitors."

I didn't know what to do, how did I know if Robin was telling the truth? But...if she was, I was done for. There was no way I could hide from the whole Mafia, no way. They'd get me in the end. The way things were going at the moment though, it looked as if someone was going to get me anyway. How would I tell her though? I could hardly just say 'oh great! You're on my side. By the way, I forgot to mention earlier, I work for MI6 and might be this spy you're looking for.' No, it wouldn't work that way. I sighed, she'd probably find out anyway, she would see right through my lies. "So, Alex," said Robin "enough of my problems, tell me about yours."

"I..." I couldn't do it. I was scared, so scared of telling her.

"Ok, we'll start with basic things then. Your name, age, where you live, what you like to do in your free time, friends..."

I took a deep breath and said "alright, Robin. I'll tell you a story. You want to believe it, you can. If you don't...well, your loss. My name is Alex Rider and I'm 14 years old. Once upon a time I was a normal kid, living in Chelsea with friends at school and an Uncle to look after me at home, since my parents died when I was too young to remember them. I had...have a house keeper called Jack, who looked after me when my Uncle went away. Then my Uncle died and my life went downhill because, turns out, my Uncle wasn't a bank manager, but a spy...and he worked for MI6. Guessed who I'm running away from yet?" There was silence as Robin just sat there and stared at me with wide eyes.

"I can't believe it..." She said slowly "that was...you weren't lying."

"True story." I sighed "so, you want any more information so you can find me before the others?"