There was a pause as Geraint tapped a few buttons on his laptop. ‘Peng’s plane lands at Heathrow Terminal Three tomorrow at 12.35.’

Jake shook his head. ‘It doesn’t leave us much time to do the usual maintenance route and sort out getting in as an approved supplier.’

I had an idea. ‘Peng and the delegation will be put in Suite One, won’t they? The one reserved for heads of state and A-listers?’

Geraint’s fingers flew across his laptop as he scanned the screen. ‘I’ve hacked the bookings spreadsheet for Suite One and Peng is the only one listed for that day.’

‘We have to use a Golden Wolf to get in there,’ I said. ‘One of us can join them as part of their entourage and we fix the room with listening devices. G-Force, scan the list of anyone we have currently abroad that we can get on a flight landing back into Heathrow tomorrow morning.’

Metal Wolves were celebrities. They did the same job as Wolves just with an added sprinkling of star status. Ranked according to their level of fame: Gold, Silver and Bronze. Metal Wolves were sometimes recruited but often made. In exchange for a deal with the devil they were given the career of their dreams – with just a small sideline in serving their country as and when requested.

‘There’s only one Golden Wolf with status high enough they’d definitely be guaranteed Suite One. He’s currently in Dubai and there’s a flight we can get him on landing into Heathrow at 9.05 a.m.’

‘Who is it?’ asked Hattie.

Geraint cleared his throat and looked at me. ‘Johnnie Mac.’

Brilliant.

I needed to think fast. ‘Can’t we get Cameron to talk to Track 101 and send us a Kardashian? That would work?’

Hattie shook his head. ‘We only turn to Track 101 for emergency favours. We can do this with Johnnie Mac.’

Jake laughed. ‘So the success of this operation relies on Johnnie and Lex working together. Boss, you do realise these two can’t manage to be in the same room together without there being sex, shouting, screaming and swearing. Sometimes all at the same time.’

‘Don’t be ridiculous, Jake. What do you—’

‘I was in the next-door hotel room on that tour in 2012. Remember?’

Hattie observed us quietly. ‘I note there is history there, Lex.’

‘Yes, boss.’

‘We want no drama. You just need to greet him off the flight, accompany him to Suite One, get the audio transmitting devices and the receiver installed, and then get out of there. I’ll talk to Demon and make sure he’s been briefed too. We don’t want any undue attention.’

‘Does it have to be me? Maybe it’d be better if Jake did it?’