As ever, my thanks to my agent Broo Doherty at D H H Literary Agency; Martin Hay and Paul Swallow at Cutting Edge Press; to Sean Costello for incisive editorial comment and correction and, last but not least, to Ian Seymour for reading early drafts.
I’m indebted to Paul Barrett, fire officer at Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service for providing technical information in the cellar scenes. Immensely patient, he was also generous with creative input. If I have inadvertently made any technical errors, the fault is mine alone.
Again, I’m indebted to the works of two writers who have expert knowledge on matters of national security. These are Gordon Thomas: ‘Gideon’s Spies’ and Christopher Andrew: ‘The Defence of the Realm.’
I’m not sure a writer has ever thanked a town before, but I’d like to thank Cheltenham where most of the action takes place. I’ve taken one or two liberties for dramatic purposes and hope locals will not be offended.