I said, ‘Peng is attending an event where she’s going to be surrounded by people holding loaded shotguns?’ Just when we thought the security aspect of this mission couldn’t get any more challenging.

Hattie nodded. ‘It’s going to be impossible to vet everyone at the shoot and the dinner, not to mention the risks involved in an overnight stay in a private residence with multiple entry points.’

‘Can I go to this castle?’ asked Cameron. ‘It sounds like the fairy tale Britain I actually want to see – not this,’ she gestured round the room, ‘grotty underground reality of—’

I cut her off before she could launch into another attack on the Platform, London, us. ‘Can’t we just advise her security detail for her to not attend?’ Considering we were up against an unknown hostile in an unknown location, our chances of keeping Peng alive were slim.

‘It’s the main event of Peng’s whole trip to the UK. There’s not just the potential joint venture with Wycombe’s family business at stake but all those attending the dinner are big powerhouses in the aviation business. There is no way they would cancel. Especially as we can’t give them information on what the threat exactly is.’

I saw now how it was urgent we found the Snake and Coyote as soon as possible. Having to try and protect Peng at the shoot was going to be a logistical nightmare.

Hattie leaned over to Geraint’s laptop and pressed a button. The whiteboard updated to a photo of a pretty Chinese woman in her twenties. The text next to it stated she was ‘Ling Ling Chuan, Minister Peng’s PA’.

‘Next step: we need access to Ling Ling’s Dictaphone so we can install a bug. Being able to listen in on every meeting they have will give us a major operational advantage.’

‘Any chance of doing it today?’ I asked.

‘Ling Ling is at the Embassy all day with Peng. I’m going to join Robin there as soon as we’ve finished here but it’s unlikely we’ll get an opportunity to get close enough to her to do it.’

As Protection Officers they would be able to keep watch on Peng and intervene if there was any incoming threat, but getting to Ling Ling’s Dictaphone without being noticed would not be easy.

‘Robin and I will keep an eye on her movements. Wherever Ling Ling goes after the Embassy could present an opportunity for us to get to the Dictaphone.’

Hattie nodded at Geraint and the whiteboard screen updated to three columns, each headed up with photos of Ronald Bowcott, Suzannah Sheldon and Neil Hicks.

‘Let’s move on to the three Pigs.’ Hattie turned to Geraint and Pixie. ‘Now you’ve been through all the data and recordings, anything to note?’