Scorpia

remarked.
    “Yeah. But I was lucky. Everything sort of went upside down, but the next thing I knew, we’d stopped and I was able to get out and run away. Eventually I reached a phone box and called the number you gave me—and here I am.”
    Nile had been watching him closely through all this. “How did it feel, Alex?” he asked. “Killing Mrs Jones.”
    “I didn’t feel anything.”
    Nile nodded. “It was the same for me, the first time. But you will learn to enjoy it. That’ll come with time.”
    “You’ve done very well, Alex.” Mrs Rothman spoke the words, but she still sounded doubtful. “I have to say, I’m quite astonished by your daring escape. I saw it on the news and I could hardly believe it. But you’ve certainly passed the test. You really are one of us.”
    “Does that mean you’ll take me back to Venice?”
    “Not quite yet.” Mrs Rothman thought for a moment and Alex could see she was coming to a decision. “We’re just at the critical point in a certain operation,” she revealed. “It might interest you to see the climax; it’s going to be quite spectacular. What do you think?”
    Alex shrugged. He mustn’t look too keen. “I don’t mind,” he said.

    “You met Dr Liebermann; you were there at Consanto when dear Nile dealt with him. It seems only right that you should see the fruits of his handiwork.” She smiled again. “I’d like to have you with me, at the end.”
    So you can watch me die, Alex thought. “I’d like to be there,” he replied.
    Then her eyes narrowed and the smile seemed to freeze. “But I’m afraid we’re going to have to search you,”
    she said. “I do trust you, of course. But as you’ll learn when you’ve been with Scorpia for a while, we don’t leave anything to chance. You were taken prisoner by MI6. It’s always possible that you were somehow contaminated without knowing it. So before we leave here, I want you to go into the bathroom with Nile. He’ll give you a thorough examination. And we’ve got you a complete change of clothes. Everything has to come off, Alex. It’s all a bit embarrassing, I know, but I’m sure you’ll understand.”
    “I’ve nothing to hide,” Alex said, but he couldn’t help running his tongue over the brace. He was certain she’d see it.
    “Of course you haven’t. I’m just being overcautious.”
    “Let’s do it.” Nile jerked a thumb in the direction of the bathroom. He seemed amused by the whole idea.
    Twenty minutes later Alex and Nile came downstairs. Alex was now dressed in loose-fitting jeans and a round-necked jersey. Nile had brought the clothes with him, along with fresh socks, trainers and pants. Mrs Jones had been right. If he’d had so much as a penny on him, Nile would have found it. Alex had been thoroughly searched.
    But Nile hadn’t noticed the brace. Alex’s mouth was the one place he hadn’t looked.
    “Well?” Mrs Rothman asked. She was in a hurry to leave.
    “He’s clean,” Nile answered.
    “Good. Then we can go.”
    There was a grandfather clock in the hall, standing in the corner on the black and white tiled floor. As Alex moved towards the front door, it struck the hour. Two o’clock.
    “Is that the time already?” Mrs Rothman said. She reached out and stroked Alex’s cheek. “You have just two hours left, Alex.”
    “Two hours until what?” he asked.
    “In two hours’ time you’ll know everything.”
    She opened the door.
    There was a car waiting for them outside. It took them across London, heading south. They drove round the Aldwych and over Waterloo Bridge, and for a moment Alex gazed out over one of the most startling views of the capital: the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, with the Millennium Wheel on the opposite bank. What would it look like two hours from now? Alex tried to imagine the ambulances and police cars screaming across London, the crowds staring in disbelief, the undersized bodies strewn over the pavements. It would be like another world war—but without a single shot being fired.
    And then they were on the south bank of the river, making their way through Waterloo, heading east. The buildings they passed became older and dustier. It was as if they had travelled not just a few miles but a few hundred years. Alex sat in the back, next to Nile. Mrs Rothman was in the front with a blank-faced driver.
    Nobody spoke. It was warm inside the car—the sun was shining—but Alex could feel a tension that made the air cold. He was