"I think he's ready."

"Hm?" Julia Rothman turned to the speaker, Dr. Karl Steiner. He had come to her office first thing in the morning, and she was still working on her first cup of coffee. Simply put, she really didn't feel like listening to sudden statements that came out of thin air.

She glared at him, silently letting him know that his intrusion was not welcome. Steiner did not seem to be fazed in the slightest.

"Alex Rider, Julia dear. You told me to let you know when he was ready." He met her frigid gaze calmly.

"I. . .see." She wrapped a cool hand around the styrofoam cup, and peered intently into its steaming contents. "And you think it is time, then."

"Ah..." Steiner smiled. It was not a happy, friendly, or amused smile in any way. "It all depends on what you have in mind. If you are thinking of bringing him into the fold, so to speak, then perhaps not yet. Instead, maybe a mission. . .?"

"A test, Steiner?" Rothman lifted her sharp gaze upwards, and frowned deeply. "He has already passed the last one quite satisfactorily. I see no need for another."

"Ah, but this is something quite different. If you would just listen. . ."

"Very well, Steiner. Out with it." She straightened up in her chair, sitting primly, and doing her best not to look too interested in what the Doctor was saying. For in all truth, with every word that passed from his lips, she began to grow very interested indeed.

oOo

She took the last step from the stairway, her right foot the first to touch the ground of Venice. Jack Starbright took a moment to just stand there, and look around.

Alex. . .you're here. ..

Somewhere.

"Ma'am?" A dark-suited man came down the steps, and stood directly behind her. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," she snapped. What was with all these dark suits? They were imbeciles! Ever since they had come to get her from her house, her life had been ruined.

It wasn't their fault, really. It was Alex who had -

Scrunching her eyes shut, she gave her head a tight little shake. Don't think about that. Just concentrate on finding Alex.

With a small sigh, she gripped her purse slightly, and raised her head, her lips pressed together in a grim line. "Take me to the hotel," she said. "I need a hot shower and some food."

"Yes, ma'am."

"This way, Ma'am," Another dark suit stepped forward, and gently took her elbow. He lead her to the waiting black car that ran only a few meters away. Jack had to stop herself from scowling. These suits were here only for her protection. They were meant to help her find Alex. But really, did Blunt have to send such annoying stiff-necked worms?

She got into the car, her temporary annoyance quickly fading into worry. And fear.

Alex. . .Why did you do it? How could you do it?

As the vehicle began to roll away, she leaned against the cold window, and stared outside. Her worried gaze didn't take in any of the breathtaking scenery, though. Instead, she focused on something that she couldn't see; something that she feared was fading away, never to be found again.

Where are you?

oOo

"A mission?"

"Yes, Alex," Julia Rothman said. "Since you are doing extraordinarily well, we think it is time for your first mission."

Alex didn't say anything. Inside, he dully wondered who he would be required to kill. And when that time came, would he . . . would he be able to do it again? Would -

"Since it's your first solo mission, we gave you something simple, although its length could be a week to several weeks."

Solo. . .?

Simple?

Was murder ever simple?

"Here's the files, Alex." He limply reached out, and took the thick envelope she held out. She went on, not noticing his lack of enthusiasm.

"To put it simply, your target is Gerald Stronson. He is the Vice Principal of Rockshire High School. He may seem like a nice, compassionate man, but in secret, he is really up to things which you don't need to hear about.

"Now, Alex, this should be very easy for you. Rockshire is a casual school, so there's no uniform or strict rules. All you have to do, is get close to Stronson's son, thereby getting close to the man himself. Understand?"

Alex gave a hesitant nod.

Mrs. Jones smiled, mistaking his quiet unease as simple nervousness. "Don't worry, Alex. I'm very certain you'll do just fine. Now, you better get those files read over, because you're leaving tomorrow morning."

Alex took that as a dismissal, and wordlessly turned around, and left the room. The files were held in a grip so tight, the knuckles were bone white. The hand that grasped the files was shaking, but nobody noticed that.

Not even Alex.

oOo

Simple.

Easy.

Not hard at all.

That's what they all say.

But it isn't; don't they realize?

Murder is never simple.

I know. Because I've done it once. And it ruined my life.

Because I'm about to go do it again.

Murder. Take another's life. Kill.

It's so very complicated. . . I - I. . .

I can't do this. Not again.

Please. . .not again. . .