Four days of talking about everything and nothing. Alex learned that Richard's wife had died six years ago. Depression had led him to loose his creative drive and forsaking his Cornish home, family and friends. His two daughters kept in touch sporadically. One had married and was expecting his first grandchild. Alex spoke of Jack, Ash, Ian and Jon. Loss and grief. Alex still hoped to reconnect with Tony, but their relationship had changed from parent/son to almost nothing. Alex had cut the apron strings, giving Tony space to heal and find his bearings after loosing the axis to his universe.

Later that week, Alex lay on the bed as Richard painted him for the first time. Quick strokes, bold impressions on the canvas, filled with colour. Richard pulled another cover and rearranged Alex to sit and another canvas was produced before nightfall.

Tony was exhausted. Theatre runs were draining. What had possessed him to tackle a musical. Tony was ecstatic he had learned to tap dance. He had noticed the usual weekly message from Alex was missing. The schedule meant he'd probably spent the last week partying with his team mates in Athens. Alex should be back at Peter's now. Peter had spent the last six months reassuring Tony that a bit of independance would be the making of Alex. Alex had been training hard and had taken his A levels. Tony had been so proud of Alex's academic achievements. In a few days he'd be off to Cambridge. His little boy was all grown up. Tony phoned Alex's mobile and a stranger answered. "Hello, Mr Fletcher."

"Oh hi Can I speak to Alex?" Tony was worried. Since the Lambeth Bridge incident Alex had always kept his phone with him. Something was not right.

"Umm Mr. Fletcher. Its Nigel Collingwood, we met in April at Sheffield. I talked to your brother earlier this week. Alex left Athens on last Monday, we've not heard from him since. He left his return ticket, bank card, his SOS bracelet and phone behind, but took his passport."

"Alex left. Did he travel back to England early?"

"Umm. He could have. He did not come back with the team."

Tony racked his brains but he had not heard any news from Sylvia or Peter. "What happened?"

"Alex's godfather died. Someone called Ash who lived in Australia. Alex was very upset."

Tony's blood ran cold at the thought of Alex's birth family. "What did Peter say about all this?"

"Errr, that boys will be boys. Alex was off enjoying himself and not to worry, and that he'd bollock him when he turns up for college in a couple of weeks."

"Well that sounds about right." Tony would not only bollock Alex but ground him until he was old and grey.

"Umm. Mr Fletcher, didn't Alex tell you he deferred his entry to Cambridge until next year. He was adamant about not returning to Loughborough this autumn. We'd already discussed his taking a break until February. I don't expect to see Alex for six months."

"Thank you for telling me. I think I have a missing persons report to file."

Tony phoned Ben Daniels who filled him in on his last conversation with Alex. Ben was a bit shocked that Alex had all but disappeared. Tony then phoned the mysterious Marc Damon. Alex had instructed the executor of Mr Howell's estate that he wanted nothing from Ash. An upset Alex had fucked off without a meaningful word to anyone.

Finally Tony phoned his brother.

"Alex has disappeared."

"Don't worry. Alex is off sunning himself before uni starts in two weeks."

"With no plane ticket and no bank card." Tony began to wonder just how big a bit of miscommunication he was dealing with.

"Alex needs to stand on his own feet. You were ruining that boy by mothering him."

"Ruining him... Alex is off god knows where with no intension of returning to England. He deferred his place at Cambridge. Alex is still 17."

"He did fine on his own at Loughborough."

"How many times have you seen Alex since January. I have seen him four times. So Peter why was Alex unusually quiet about my move to New York?" Tony was now seriously concerned.

"So he should have been, Tony. I told him in no uncertain terms to let you have some space. Loosing Jon was devastating. You need to think of yourself."

"So you have not seen nor spoken to Alex since July. Alex is off dealing with the news his godfather killed himself. The godfather that left him with that bastard Ian. Alex is still and will always be an abused neglected child profoundly affected by what Ian did to him. The news about his absentee godfather will have dredged up all that maelstrom of hurt and you say Alex is off sunning himself. I could hit you Peter. You promised me you'd look out for Alex." Then Tony changed tack. "I was under the impression he'd let you have his assigned family tickets."

"Tickets?"

"For his races in Athens." Tony could not face going to the Paralympics without Jon. The national championships had been hard enough.

"Come on, Tony. its not as if its a proper competition. Why would I fork out for flights and accommodation at ridiculous prices for some some trumped up right on second rate spectacle."

"You told Alex that didn't you, you bastard." Tony then put the phone down. Alex probably thought Tony could not be bothered about him and all his hard work as well. Shit Tony had talked to Nigel Collingwood and had not even asked how Alex did.

Sargent Dixon placed a photo on the noticeboard at Hereford, sent by Fox. The photo was of Cub holding two gold medals with a half smile on his face, a smile that did not quite reach his eyes. Fox had scrawled across it. 'Have you seen Cub? Last seen Athens 25th September 2004'. Cub was now a statistic, one of hundreds of missing teenagers.