Tall, broad-shouldered and fair-haired, the man stood out among the usual marketplace denizens. He moved quickly through the press of eager merchants. He had an appointment to make.

M9's network of agents and contacts had broken down twice in the past year. It was a messy business; that was why he was involved. He must reconstruct the ring, draw out the opposition forces and eliminate the threat they posed to the new network.

Suddenly a bullet hissed past his head, knocking his trilby to the ground. He ducked quickly into an alleyway.

This was going to be an interesting assignment.