Hattie cut in. ‘This Snake will be selling information on all our security protocols and the best opportunities for Peng’s assassination. To do this they must have up-to-date intel on the delegation’s movements, maybe even have a source inside the delegation. Peng will be having numerous meetings that aren’t on her official schedule as she tries to broker other deals off the books. Our intel suggests the Chinese People’s Alliance have hired a Coyote. A lone gun. The Snake will be in direct contact with the Coyote – giving them the intel they need to make the hit.’

Geraint looked up. ‘Tenebris know the authorities are circling so they’ve no doubt specified an IRL directive for any information transfer.’

‘In Real Life,’ Pixie said in response to Hattie’s frown.

‘Right. Exactly,’ said Hattie. ‘If they’re having to communicate in person, if we find the Snake they’ll lead us to the Coyote.’

‘Dugdale and I have narrowed down the Snake’s identity to three analysts at Six.’ Frederick handed a USB stick to Geraint. ‘The Snake will be hoarding hidden cash – we estimate they would’ve earned a tidy five to eight million for the information they’ve sold so far. These analysts all had access to the intel that tanked the last few missions and they all have links to China from previous postings, meaning there’s a chance they could have someone inside the delegation.’

‘Why don’t we just kill them all? Wouldn’t that be the safest way?’ asked Cameron.

All heads round the table swivelled to her.

‘Cameron,’ I sighed, ‘these people are our colleagues. Two out of three of them are completely innocent.’

She rolled her eyes. ‘We’re talking about the greater good. Your Security Services being compromised. All our Security Services being compromised. If this was happening back home they’d all be dead by now. And we’d be on to the next mission.’

‘We aren’t as trigger-happy as you Americans. We also prioritise getting information out of them first.’

Hattie stared at Cameron. ‘The Committee has authorised that when it comes to our own people only the Snake gets popped, and that’s only once we have confirmed proof of their guilt, and after we’ve interrogated them for all usable intel on Tenebris. If you’re “assisting” us, Cameron, you’d better abide by our rules.’

Cameron gave Hattie a small salute. She took out her gum and stuck it under the table. ‘What?’ she said to Hattie’s grimace. But she unpeeled the gum and dropped it in an abandoned mug of coffee on the table.

Geraint plugged in the USB stick, clicked a few buttons and up on the whiteboard flashed a photo of a portly man in his fifties with greying hair and round glasses.