‘Peng arrives into London tomorrow and she’s here for six days. This is our one chance to end the Tenebris Network. Once Peng is assassinated or leaves the country, the trail for both the Snake and the Coyote will go cold. With no active mission they both disappear back into hibernation. Right now, they’re the only lead we have to Tenebris. And we need that website offline. By any means necessary.’

I sensed the Committee had authorised multiple bloodshed. This was a website that had the power to completely shut down Platform Eight and severely incapacitate Five and Six. And that was before you added into the mix a dead high-level Chinese minister on our turf.

‘I’ve actioned a Six initiative that was still in the development stage,’ said Dugdale. ‘Lex, you will be the primary contact on the “We are Family” programme.’

I frowned. ‘The what?’

‘ “We are Family” is designed to make the families of everyone at Six feel that they are all in this together. One big happy community. A series of meet-ups where they all get to bond over how tough it is having a partner who can’t talk to them about their work. A safe space where everyone understands the downsides as they are living it too.’

‘So that’s the fluffy HR version – what’s the truth?’

‘That you will be using it as cover to get to grips with the three Pigs’ home life. If there’s extra money coming from somewhere then their other halves are going to know. The Snake has been very good at covering their tracks at work, but with any luck they will be less careful at home. Frederick will continue to monitor them in the office. The two of you can use the nursery pick-ups to swap intel.’

Hattie leaned forward as he looked at Frederick and Dugdale. ‘Joint missions with Pigeons never tend to work out well. I will not have egos and tantrums about who’s in charge. Let me state it once and once only: this is now Eight’s mission. You’ve brought it to us and we now take over. You abide by our rules. Our protocols. Frederick, I’ve seen your record. It’s impressive. But if you’re going to work with us you need to understand Lex is in charge. You report to her. You follow her orders. Is that clear?’

‘Completely.’ Frederick shrugged. ‘We’re in your hands.’ Frederick turned to me. ‘I have an informant inside the Chinese Embassy. Codename “Y”. I’ve been using him for the last two years. He’s a mid-level Embassy employee. I trust him. It’s best you take over as his handler. I can’t risk being seen with him. I’ll set up a meet for after the nursery’s Natural History Museum trip.’