Point Blanc by Anthony Horowitz

"What you did back there ... it was
fantastic. Alex, I'm sorry I've been so awful to you all week. I
thought--because you were here only for charity and all the rest of
it--I thought you were just an oik. But I was wrong about you.
You're really great. And I know we're going to be friends
now." She half closed her eyes and moved toward him, her lips slightly
parted. "You can kiss me if you like," she said.
    Alex let go
of her and turned away. "Thanks, Fiona," he said. "But
frankly I'd prefer to kiss the horse."

    ----
SPECIAL EDITION
    ^ >>
    THE
HELICOPTER CIRCLED twice over Haverstock Hall before beginning its descent. It
was a Robinson R44, fourseater aircraft, American built. There was only one
person--the pilot--inside. Sir David Friend had returned from London,
and he and his wife came outside to watch it land in front of the house. The
engine noise died down and the rotors began to slow. The cabin door slid open,
and the pilot got out, dressed in a one-piece leather flying suit, helmet, and
goggles.
    The pilot
walked up to them, extending a hand. "Good morning," she shouted
over the noise of the rotors. "I'm Mrs. Stellenbosch. From the
academy..."
    If Sir David
and Lady Caroline had been thrown by their first sight of Alex, the appearance
of the assistant director left them frozen to the spot. Sir David was the first
to recover. "You flew the helicopter yourself?"
    "Yes
... I'm qualified," Mrs. Stellenbosch answered.
    "Would
you like to come in?" Lady Caroline said. "Perhaps you'd like
some tea."
    She led them
into the house and into the living room, where Mrs. Stellenbosch sat, legs
apart, her helmet on the sofa beside her. Sir David and Lady Caroline sat
opposite her. Tea had been brought in on a tray.
    "Do you
mind if I smoke?" Mrs. Stellenbosch asked.
    She reached
into a pocket and took out a small packet of cigars without waiting for an
answer. She lit one and blew smoke. "What a very beautiful house you
have, Sir David. Georgian, I would say, but decorated with such taste! And
where, may I ask, is Alex?"
    "He
went for a walk," Sir David said.
    "Perhaps
he's a little nervous." She smiled again and took the teacup Lady
Caroline had proffered. "I understand that Alex has been a great source
of concern to you."
    Sir David
Friend nodded. His eyes gave nothing away. For the next few minutes, he told
Mrs. Stellenbosch about Alex, how he had been expelled from Eton, how out
of control he had become. Lady Caroline listened to all this in silence,
occasionally holding her husband's arm.
    "I'm
at my wit's end," Sir David concluded. "We have an older
daughter, and she's perfectly delightful. But Alex'? He hangs
around the house. He doesn't read. He doesn't show any interest in
anything. His appearance ... well, you'll see for yourself. The Point
Blanc Academy is our last resort, Mrs. Stellenbosch. We're
desperately hoping you can straighten him out."
    The assistant
director poked at the air with her cigar, leaving a gray trail.
"I'm sure you've been a marvelous father, Sir David,"
she purred. "But these modern children! It's heartbreaking the way
some of them behave. You've done the right thing, coming to us. As
I'm sure you know, the academy has had a remarkable success rate over the
years."
    "What
exactly do you do?" Lady Caroline asked.
    "We
have our methods." The woman's eyes twinkled.
    She tapped
ash into her saucer. "But I can promise you, we'll straighten out
all his problems. Don't you worry! When he comes home, he'll be a
completely different boy."

    Alex had
reached the edge of a field about a half mile from the house. He had seen the
helicopter land and knew that his time had come. But he wasn't ready yet
to leave. Mrs. Jones had telephoned him the night before. Once again, MI6
wasn't going to send him empty-handed into what might be enemy territory.
    He watched as
a combine harvester rumbled slowly toward him, cutting a swathe through the
grass. It jerked to a halt a short distance away, and the door of the