New Guard (CHERUB) - Robert Muchamore Page 0,45

James found himself with another reason to hate politicians.

‘Gentlemen,’ the head of MI6 said firmly, as he got to his feet. ‘It’s not essential that we send in British soldiers, with British uniforms and equipment. What we need is a small force of trained operatives with no links to the British military. If the operation goes wrong, we can deny all knowledge.’

The colonel bristled at this idea. ‘What’s the point having British special forces if we’re afraid to use them?’

But the three politicians instinctively liked the idea of a mission where their asses would be covered if things went wrong.

‘The team can be assembled and trained using British resources,’ the MI6 head said, smiling as he sensed that the politicians were with him. ‘We’ll need someone to lead the operation. It’ll be better if they’re up to speed on the situation and have both combat training and significant experience of working under cover. Of course, they’ll have unofficial assistance from UK special forces, and MI6 can source further expertise from ourselves and the intelligence services of our allies in the Middle East.’

James shuddered as he realised that the head of MI6 and several other pairs of eyes had settled on him.

The deputy prime minister smiled. ‘I’m told your record as a CHERUB agent was outstanding, and you seem like a very bright young man.’

James felt like his tongue was ten times normal size as he looked around at John for support.

‘Can you spare your boy to run this one, John?’ the colonel asked jovially.

John looked at James and cracked a big smile. ‘I think I’ll manage without him for a few weeks,’ he said. ‘So, James, do you think you can pull this off?’

‘I guess,’ James said, half hoping that he was about to wake up and find that he was still in bed next to Kerry.

25. TEETH

John seemed proud as they headed out of the conference room. ‘Good stuff,’ he told James. ‘I’m glad they’re not just gonna abandon Sachs and Yuen.’

‘I don’t know where to start with this,’ James admitted.

But John was glancing at his watch. ‘I’ve got another meeting over at MI6. Chat later!’

Then James found the deputy prime minister shaking his hand. ‘I’ll need progress reports,’ he said. ‘I have every confidence in you.’

James wanted to speak with the special forces colonel, but these were important people and they all dashed off, leaving him alone in a hallway. He loosened his tie and felt shaky as he stumbled into a bathroom, slammed a cubicle door and made a dry heave over a toilet bowl.

James had a pain down his side and realised he needed to sit still for a moment, so he put the toilet lid down, sat and took a slow deep breath. He pulled his phone and tried getting his head around the problem he now had to solve. When the screen came on, he spotted a forty-minute-old message from Kerry.

You’ll knock ’em dead in the meeting. X.

James erupted in a big smile. Thinking how much he loved Kerry. How empty his life would seem if she wasn’t around. He called Kerry’s number.

‘Hey you,’ Kerry said, sounding like she was walking fast.

‘You OK?’ James asked.

‘My boss just dumped on me from a great height,’ Kerry said, her voice all high and stressed. ‘There’s a mistake in a contract I’m working on. Two hundred pages and I’ve got to go through marking up all the mistakes before the lawyer comes in tomorrow. So I’m sorry, but there’s no way I can meet you for lunch today.’

James sighed, but wasn’t surprised. He rarely stayed with Kerry in London during the week, because it was all work and sleep.

‘So how was your meeting?’ Kerry asked, and then she sounded angry after he’d explained. ‘You agreed to do what! Are you nuts?’

James had no way of knowing who was outside the toilet cubicle, so he spoke in a whisper. ‘It was so much pressure,’ he admitted. ‘My boss, a full colonel covered in medals, the intelligence minister, the deputy prime minister. All smiling at me and I’m like, OK, yes sir, I’ll do it, sir.’

‘Islamic State chop people’s heads off,’ Kerry said. ‘This is no CHERUB mission. This is off the chart dangerous.’

‘You think I should pull out?’ James said.

Kerry’s voice calmed down. ‘Only if you really want to.’

‘Are you pissed off at me?’

Kerry sighed. ‘If I sounded that way, it’s because I was shocked. But I’ll support you if this is what you really want.’

‘I want to