TWENTY-TWO
SHEBBEAR, EXMOOR AND NORTH HILL, SOMERSET, 2023 AD
“Are you going to tell me?” Alice’s exasperation burst forth.
“What?”
“Why you’ve been sitting in that armchair like a bear with toothache for the last hour.”
“I’m sorry. It’s this damned Operation Black Panther on my mind.”
Alice frowned and put a hand flat on her chest. “Didn’t you say you’d dealt with the Beast once and for all? I thought we’d be going home today.”
Jake scowled. His tone was incensed and sharp as he said, “I told you last night I still have to conclude the operation before we can go home. Is there something wrong with your hearing?”
“No need to be narky! Is it anything you want to talk about?”
He sat in silence for a while, then smiled and, in a gentler tone, said, “I’m sorry, love. I get like this w
