Agent Rider-Personal Narrative

Three more guards stand in front of another, much more fortified door. A large computer monitor shows Alex, attached to more sensors than Fox cares to count. He 's sleeping, a calm expression on his face that reminds Ben of all the nights he coaxed Alex back to sleep after the teen had a nightmare.

Immediately, he pushes those images out of his head. Thinking of what used to be brings back the pain of Alex 's death--or disappearance, or whatever had happened--all over again.

"Can we go in?" he asks.

"Absolutely not," Mrs. Jones says immediately. "He 's dangerous. And, in this state, not exactly what I 'd call trustworthy."

He sighs. It 's a fair point. But he never really stopped missing Alex when he was gone, and it hurts to have him this

"I refuse to interrogate him," she says firmly.

"Why?" Cohen demands. "He 's an internationally wanted criminal. You 've seen the files. You know what he 's done. He 's a monster."

Mrs. Jones remains impassive, though she can 't help but feel a pang at the word monster being applied to Alex. "He 's Alex," she says. "Agent Rider is one of our own."

"Not anymore. All due respect, ma 'am, but I think you have a bit of a blind spot-"

Mrs. Jones stands up suddenly, slamming her hands on the table--an unusually emotional display. "This is my decision, Cohen, and I say no interrogation! I 'm not daft, I haven 't completely disregarded it, I just refuse to permit it at this moment! There 's something here that doesn 't feel right, and if I can figure it out..."

"I think you 're making a mistake," Agent Cohen says bluntly. He stands. "If I may be dismissed?"

"You may," she says.

As soon as he leaves, she sits down and allows herself to slouch a bit, striving to calm her hands still shaking with anger. Maybe she does have a soft spot for Deathmask--Alex--but she thinks his lack of memory is something that can be fixed. Alex isn 't gone. She refuses to believe it. Refuses with all her heart.

The next morning, a much more calm, cool, and collected Mrs. Jones prepares herself to speak to the