Crocodile Tears

you I’ll look after him. Like I said, I’m a fan. And after what he’s been through, he deserves to rake it in. From what I hear, MI6 hasn’t even paid him a regular salary. Now that’s what I call exploitation.”
    “ Suppose I’m not interested,” Alex said. “Suppose I don’t want the story to be told.”
    Bulman drank more of his beer. The chewing gum was still in his mouth. “It’s too late for that now, Alex,” he explained. “It’s going to happen anyway. The story’s out there and someone’s going to write it, even if I don’t. If you sit back and refuse to cooperate, it’ll only make it worse. You’ll have to live with what people say about you and you won’t get a chance to set down your own side of what happened.
    “ But in a way, if you don’t mind my saying so, you’re lucky that you’ve got me in the driver’s seat.
    You think anyone else would offer you equal partnership? In fact, most other journalists would have just gone ahead and broken the news without even coming here. I can imagine you’re probably a bit confused right now, and I’m sorry I pulled that stunt on you in the cemetery. But believe me, once you get to know me better, we’re going to be friends. I’m a professional. I know what I’m doing.”
    Bulman finished his beer and crumpled the can. Alex didn’t know what to say. Too many thoughts were going through his head.
    Fortunately, Jack was never at a loss for words. “Thank you for being so frank with us,” she said. “But if you don’t mind, we’d like a little time to think about what you’ve said.”

    “ Of course. I can understand that. You have my number. I can give you one week.” Bulman stood up.
    “I reckon it’ll be quite fun, Alex. I’ll come here every evening and we’ll talk for a couple of hours.
    Then I’ll write it up the next day while you’re at school. You can read it over for accuracy on weekends.” He gestured at the photographs. “You can hang on to those. I’ve got copies.”
    He went over to the door, then turned around one last time.
    “ You’re a real hero, Alex,” he said. “I hope I made that clear from the start. There aren’t many boys your age who actually believe in their country. You’re a patriot and I respect that. I’m really privileged to have met you.” He waved a hand. “Don’t get up. I’ll show myself out.” And then he was gone.
    Neither Jack nor Alex said anything until they heard the front door close. Then Jack went out to make sure the journalist had really left. Alex stayed where he was. He was in shock. He was trying to think of what it would all mean. He would become world famous. There was no doubt of that. His photograph would be in all the newspapers and magazines, and he would never be able to walk down the street again, not without being pointed out as some sort of curiosity … a freak. He would have to leave Brookland, of course. He might even have to leave the UK. He could say good-bye to his home, to his friends, to any chance of a normal life.
    He felt a black anger welling up inside him. How could he have allowed this to happen?
    Jack came back into the room. “He’s gone,” she said. She sat down at the table. The photographs were still spread out in front of her. “Why didn’t you tell me about the cemetery?” she asked.
    There was no accusation in her voice, but Alex knew she was upset. “I wanted to,” he said. “But it happened so soon after Scotland that I thought you’d be worried.”
    “ I’d be more worried if I thought you weren’t telling me when you were in trouble.”

    “ I’m sorry, Jack.”
    “ It doesn’t matter.” Jack gathered the photographs into a pile and placed them facedown. “He wasn’t quite as clever as he thought,” she said. “He didn’t know everything about you. He’d only found out about three of your missions. And he said you trained in the Lake District. He got that wrong too.”
    “ He knew enough,” Alex said.
    “ So what are we going to do?”
    “ We can’t let him write this story.” Alex felt a hollow in his chest. “He doesn’t care about me. He just wants to use me. He’s going to ruin everything.”
    Jack reached out and took his hand. “Don’t worry, Alex. We’ll stop him.”
    “ How?” Alex thought for a moment, then answered his own question. “We’re going to have to go and see Mr. Blunt.”
    It was the only answer. They both knew it. There were no other options.
    “ I don’t like