Chapter 5

A few minutes later, Tom pulled up at a very ordinary house.

'A politician lives here? It's so, small.'

Tom gave her a funny look.

'You think Mr Abbott is a politician?'

Steph frowned.

'I just assumed. You know, the rigorous security for his children and yet never having time to come to a parent teacher meeting or even have a phone call?'

Tom got a dim look in his eye as he led her to the gate.

'Please try not to be too hard on him.'

He touched the gate and it slid open.

'Where's all the security? Surely his home would be more of a target than his children's school.'

'Oh, there's security alright. Believe me, that gate wouldn't have opened if you'd touched it.'

They went up the steps to the door.

'It doesn't look like anyone's home,' Steph said, taking in the house's darkness.

'He's home,' he said before keying in a code by the door.

'How well do you know Mr Abbott, Tom? I mean, you basically have a key to his door!'

'Well-enough to have known him by a different name. You'll understand when you see him.'

Steph was puzzled by the glint in his eye. Was he amused? In fact, now that they'd talked it out in the car, he was slowly regaining his usual energy. He had the same tense, but excited, posture he had when his plays were reaching a point that the students had struggled with during rehearsals, but he knew they were going to nail.

He reached for the doorknob but then turned to Steph.

'I just want you to know that you don't have to do this if you don't want to. And if you ever feel like it's too much just say the word and we'll leave. But you need to know that very few people know the truth about Mr Abbott.'

Steph shook her head firmly.

'Now that I know something has been going on, I see how it's been eating away at you. You don't have to do this alone. I don't want any more secrets, okay? We're not teenagers anymore.'

Tom nodded before opening the door and turning on the lights.

The house was exceptionally neat. She saw a family photo and realised Mr Abbott was nothing like what she was expecting. He was in his 40s, fairly tall and had greying hair. She tried to find Jackie but frowned when she realised none of the children looked anything like him.

'This way Steph.'

He led her to the open plan living, dining and kitchen area. As she took a seat, she heard soft footsteps from the other entrance way.

She was expecting Jackie due to the light steps but when she saw who it was she was stunned.

It was the man who'd checked her ID all those weeks ago at the staff meeting.

'Mr Abbott?' she asked hesitantly.

The man gave a grin as he glanced at Tom.

'You haven't told her yet?'

Her husband shook his head and gave the man a tight hug.

'Not my place to.'

Mr Abbott chuckled.

'You just wanted to escape the hard stuff didn't you.'

Tom shook his head firmly.

'I just wanted to make sure we only talked about what you were okay with. Are you sure you want to do this?'

Steph frowned. She wanted answers.

'Yes,' Mr Abbott said firmly. 'She's your wife Tom. You've been carrying this far too long on your own. You're always too busy trying to protect everyone around you that you neglect yourself.'

Tom snorted.

'You're one to talk.'

Mr Abbott gave a small smile.

'She should have known about this years ago. For her sake as well as yours.'

'I just don't want her to get hurt,' Tom said quietly then he quickly looked up at Mr Abbott, 'Sorry Alex.'

Something stirred at the back of Steph's mind after hearing Mr Abbott's first name as he, Alex, smiled and patted Tom's back.

'I'm not that fragile Tom, not anymore. Come on, Steph's going crazy wondering what all this secrecy is about.'

'Oh, right.'

Tom's eyebrows creased as he opened his mouth.

'If you ask me one more time if I'm sure about this I will hurt you!' Steph said.

For some reason Tom laughed.

'You'd have to go through him for that,' her husband said gesturing at Mr Abbott who rolled his eyes as he sat across from Steph.

'It's nice to see you again properly, especially now that you're Mrs Harris,' he said with surprising warmth as he held out his hand.

'Please, Steph is fine Mr Abbott,' she said shaking it, trying at the same time to shake off the strange stirring in her mind.

'It's actually Mr Rider, but I prefer Alex,' he said smiling.

Everything clicked. Steph dropped his hand. Alex Rider's hand. She looked from him to Tom and back again.

'Is this a joke?' she asked finally.

'No,' Tom said and quickly continued before she could, 'It will all make sense if you let us explain. I promise.'

'Then start explaining.'

Alex nodded.

'Just before we delve into that I wanted to see how you're holding up. Today must have been pretty terrifying.'

Steph frowned.

'What's wrong?' Tom asked.

She shook her head and looked at Alex.

'Your son's life, at least I assume he was actually your son, was just threatened and here you are asking about me. You're not… I'm just really confused. When Tom said he was going to bring me to see Mr Abbott, you were about the furthest thing from my mind.'

'Well, unfortunately this isn't the first time my family or I have been threatened and it will certainly not be our last. Besides,' he said looking at Tom and then back at Steph, 'I trust those I've put in charge of my family's care.'

Tom smiled as the doorbell rang.

'That will be Kyra. She insisted on being here as emotional support.'

'Shouldn't she be with the kids?' Steph asked.

Alex smiled.

'They're with their Uncle. They couldn't be safer.'

'Unless they were with you,' Kyra said, laughing as she appeared through the doorway. She was accompanied by a delicious smell.

'Hello Steph, I'm so sorry for the danger we put you in today. I'm glad Tom's finally decided to let you in on all this. Here, I'm sure you're all hungry,' she said pulling out a paper bag of chips before sitting beside her husband.

'Now, I'm sure Steph is sick of the suspense, since I'm positive neither of you knuckleheads have said anything worthwhile yet.'

Tom ducked his head and Alex grinned sheepishly.

'Very well,' Kyra turned to Steph, 'Alex is a spy.'