‘We need to be incredibly efficient,’ said Hattie. ‘Unmasking the key players is how we destroy them. I will focus on identifying the Coyote. Lex and Frederick on identifying the Snake. Jake and Cameron will be working through a list of hackers that we believe have the necessary expertise to fortify and manage the Tenebris website. We just need one of us to succeed. Exposing one of them will help topple the others. We need to get Tenebris offline and keep Peng alive.’

Cameron looked back to her phone and read out, ‘Authorised force level – light. Maimed or critically injured computer programmers could warrant unwanted attention.’ Cameron sighed. ‘You Brits are so boring.’ She finished her chocolate bar, scrunched up the wrapper and dropped it on the floor.

Robin waved his phone at Hattie. ‘So I’m just providing support to everyone.’

‘Yes. G and Pixie will be supporting us on the tech side and you will be actioned in the field as and when it’s needed.’

‘There are no small parts, only small agents.’ Robin grinned. ‘Don’t worry, boss, I won’t let you down. We can call this my graduation mission, right? The one where I prove I deserve my own unit?’ He looked round at Jake and me. We averted our eyes and tried not to notice his face fall. It was like kicking a puppy. I would talk to Jake later. Things were complicated enough without me having mum guilt over our treatment of Robin.

‘You all have your orders. Now get out there.’ Hattie spread his hands. ‘We need your best work. The quicker we solve this, the quicker we get Eight back up and running. I expect regular encrypted updates.’

We all stood up. Robin with his box of toys was the first out the door. Off to a running start to make a good impression.

Jake came up to me. ‘What do you think of Frederick?’

‘Fine. He seems fine.’ I avoided meeting his gaze.

‘I don’t like him.’ This was no surprise. Jake didn’t like most people. ‘Having some pretty-boy Pigeon along for the ride is only going to make things more complicated.’

‘We wouldn’t even know about Tenebris if it wasn’t for him. And we can’t do this without him. We need someone inside Six monitoring the Pigs day to day.’

‘He’d better be up to the job.’

‘I’ll make sure of it. You’re the one who’s going to have it tough.’ I motioned towards Cameron, who was already by the door scowling at us.

‘I can’t wait for this mission to be over,’ sighed Jake as he went to join her.

Pixie bounded up to me, pineapple earrings jangling. ‘Sweetness, I need to see what’s in your handbag.’

‘What? Why?’

‘We need inspiration on what options we have for hidin’ kit in. We’ve just finished the items you’ll need for the Natural History Museum.’