Inside the crate was stuffy, the air thick. The heavy smell of sweat and wood chippings. I looked at Robin’s cut and bloodied face. I couldn’t see if his chest was moving.

The bomb beeped.

59 seconds.

The final countdown.

The defuser had three different-sized cable heads coming out its side – the hope being one of them would slot into the bomb. There was a small port on the side of the flashing red incendiary device.

My hands shook as I tried to attach the defuser.

The first two cable heads didn’t fit.

The third did.

I let out a breath.

20 seconds.

‘Defuser attached.’

I gently leaned over and felt Robin’s neck. A very faint slow pulse.

‘Robin’s alive. But barely.’

15 seconds.

I looked at the defuser screen and pressed the ‘start’ button. Numbers started scrolling across the screen as it got to work, hacking the bomb’s detonator.

Eighty-nine per cent success was a great result when in the testing lab.

Not so much in the field.

Not so much when an eleven per cent failure rate meant being blown apart and never seeing your husband and daughter again. The defuser screen went blank and then started counting down in sync with the bomb’s timer. Thoughts flew round my head.

10

This could be it. Fuck, this could be it.

9

What did I last say to Will?

8

Did I tell him I loved him?

7

Or was it to have a go about the bins?

6

God, I think it was about the bins.

5

Gigi.

4

She’ll be broken.

3

I love you, baby girl . . .

2

So much . . .

1

Gigi.

‘DISARMED,’ announced the screen on the defuser.

The lights on the bomb all went green.

I let out a sob.

Christ.

It was going to be OK.

I cleared my throat.

‘OK, everyone. The bomb is disarmed.’

‘Good work, Lex. Good work.’ I heard Hattie let out a long breath. ‘G, get back in there and clear the device. Medics are on their way for Robin.’

I felt Robin’s skin. He felt very cold. ‘It’s OK, Robin, you’re going to be OK. Just hold on.’ I patted his cheek.

Jake crackled in. ‘This way, sir, this way . . . Come on, people, let’s speed this up! . . . Lex. Thank fuck.’ I heard the smile in his voice. ‘I would’ve made a shit step-mum. Peng has left the building. Just getting the last few people out now.’

Chapter Thirty-Two

Chapter Thirty-Two

SKY NEWS REPORT: Piccadilly evacuated upon discovery of an unexploded WW2 bomb.

My phone had pinged with a news update on our way to the Platform. Protocol 324. Rolled out whenever we wanted an area cleared for reasons we didn’t want to explain. Robin had been whisked away in an ambulance straight to the Chelsea and Westminster. The Kensington Wing had already been briefed to give us constant updates as to his condition. His vitals were very weak but we were all hopeful.