‘The team can be assembled and trained using British resources,’ the MI6 head said, smiling as he sensed that the politicians were with him. ‘We’ll need someone to lead the operation. It’ll be better if they’re up to speed on the situation and have both combat training and significant experience of working under cover. Of course, they’ll have unofficial assistance from UK special forces, and MI6 can source further expertise from ourselves and the intelligence services of our allies in the Middle East.’

James shuddered as he realised that the head of MI6 and several other pairs of eyes had settled on him.

The deputy prime minister smiled. ‘I’m told your record as a CHERUB agent was outstanding, and you seem like a very bright young man.’

James felt like his tongue was ten times normal size as he looked around at John for support.

‘Can you spare your boy to run this one, John?’ the colonel asked jovially.

John looked at James and cracked a big smile. ‘I think I’ll manage without him for a few weeks,’ he said. ‘So, James, do you think you can pull this off?’

‘I guess,’ James said, half hoping that he was about to wake up and find that he was still in bed next to Kerry.

25. TEETH

John seemed proud as they headed out of the conference room. ‘Good stuff,’ he told James. ‘I’m glad they’re not just gonna abandon Sachs and Yuen.’

‘I don’t know where to start with this,’ James admitted.

But John was glancing at his watch. ‘I’ve got another meeting over at MI6. Chat later!’

Then James found the deputy prime minister shaking his hand. ‘I’ll need progress reports,’ he said. ‘I have every confidence in you.’

James wanted to speak with the special forces colonel, but these were important people and they all dashed off, leaving him alone in a hallway. He loosened his tie and felt shaky as he stumbled into a bathroom, slammed a cubicle door and made a dry heave over a toilet bowl.

James had a pain down his side and realised he needed to sit still for a moment, so he put the toilet lid down, sat and took a slow deep breath. He pulled his phone and tried getting his head around the problem he now had to solve. When the screen came on, he spotted a forty-minute-old message from Kerry.

You’ll knock ’em dead in the meeting. X.

James erupted in a big smile. Thinking how much he loved Kerry. How empty his life would seem if she wasn’t around. He called Kerry’s number.

‘Hey you,’ Kerry said, sounding like she was walking fast.

‘You OK?’ James asked.