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haven’t actually introduced ourselves,‛ Alex said.
    ‚Her name is Fiona.‛
    ‚Fiona Friend.‛ Alex smiled. ‚That’s not a name I’ll forget.‛
    ‚I’m sure the two of you will get along fine.‛ Sir David didn’t sound convinced. He gestured back toward the house. ‚Why don’t we go and talk in the study?‛
    Alex followed him back across the drive and into the house. The front door opened into a hall that could have come straight out of the pages of an expensive magazine. Everything was perfect, the antique furniture, ornaments, and paintings placed exactly so. There wasn’t a speck of dust to be seen and even the sunlight, streaming in through the windows, seemed almost artificial, as if it was there only to bring out the best in everything it touched. It was the house of a man who knows exactly what he wants and has the time and money to get it.
    ‚Nice place,‛ Alex said.
    ‚Thank you. Please come this way.‛ Sir David opened a heavy, oak-paneled door to reveal a sophisticated and modern office beyond. There was a desk and two chairs, a pair of computers, a white leather sofa, and a series of metal bookshelves. Sir David motioned at the chair and sat down behind the desk.
    He was unsure of himself. Alex could see it immediately. Sir David Friend might run a business empire worth millions—seven billions—of dollars, but this was a new experience for him. Having Alex here, knowing who and what he was, he wasn’t quite sure how to react.
    ‚I’ve been told very little about you,‛ he began. ‚Alan Blunt got in touch with me and asked me to put you up here for the rest of the week, to pretend that you’re my son. I have to say, you don’t look anything like me.‛
    ‚I don’t look anything like myself either,‛ Alex said.
    ‚You’re on your way to some school in the French Alps. They want you to investigate it.‛
    He paused. ‚Nobody asked me my opinion,‛ he said, ‚but I’ll give it to you anyway. I don’t like the idea of a fourteen-year-old boy being used as a spy. It’s dangerous—‛
    ‚I can look after myself,‛ Alex cut in.
    ‚I mean, it’s dangerous to the government. If you manage to get yourself killed and anyone finds out, it could cause the prime minister a great deal of embarrassment.‛ Sir David sighed. ‚I advised him against it, but for once he overruled me. It seems that the decision has already been made. This school—the academy—has already telephoned me to say that the assistant director will be coming here to pick you up next Saturday. It’s a woman. A Mrs. Stellenbosch. That’s a South African name, I think.‛
    Sir David had a number of bulky files on his desk. He slid them forward. ‚In the meantime, I understand you have to familiarize yourself with details about my family. I’ve prepared a number of files. You’ll also find information here about the school you’re meant to have been expelled from—Eton. You can start reading them tonight.‛ Alex took them and he went on. ‚If you need to know anything more, just ask. Fiona will be with you the whole time.‛ He glanced down at his fingertips. ‚I’m sure that in itself will be quite an experience for you.‛
    The door opened and a woman came in. She was slim with dark hair, very much like her daughter. She was wearing a simple mauve dress with a string of pearls around her neck.
    ‚David,‛ she began, then stopped, seeing Alex.
    ‚This is my wife,‛ Friend said. ‚Caroline, this is the boy I was telling you about. Alex.‛
    ‚It’s very nice to meet you, Alex.‛ Lady Caroline tried to smile but her lips managed only a faint twitch. ‚I understand you’re going to stay with us for a while.‛
    ‚Yes, Mother,‛ Alex said.
    Lady Caroline blushed.
    ‚He has to pretend to be our son,‛ Sir David reminded her. He turned to Alex. ‚Fiona doesn’t know anything about MI6 and the rest of it. I don’t want to alarm her. I’ve told her that it’s connected with my work … a