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like James Bond accepting a mission. This training session was going to be unlike any other, she’d told herself as she marched inside. Gone were the days of being a klutz. She was going to be the best, most agile agent there ever was.
    â€˜We’re ready,’ she announced to Alex. ‘Where do we begin?’
    Alex launched into the evening’s schedule, but despite Max’s resolve, this training session turned out to be worse than all the others.
    The last task was to outwit the Intruder Robot but after the tenth attempt, Max ended up scrunched in its arms, squirming like a piece of live bait.
    â€˜Okay, Max. That'll do.’ Alex hit the remote and the robot dropped her to the floor.
    â€˜Oooph!’ Max looked up at the robot. ‘Maybe you could be a bit gentler next time, you hunk of technology?’
    Max picked herself up while Alex finished her notes and packed her bag without a word.
    â€˜I guess that means we can go,’ whispered Linden.
    When they were outside, Max stopped. ‘I forgot something,’ she said as she turned back towards the doors.
    Linden sensed this could mean trouble. ‘Max?’
    â€˜Hmmm?’ she mumbled innocently.
    â€˜Try not to upset her.’
    â€˜Who said anything about upsetting her?’
    Linden sighed as she turned on her heels and went inside. ‘Just a hunch.’
    Max stopped abruptly in front of Alex.
    â€˜Yes?’
    She took a deep breath. ‘I think you’re being really unfair and way too hard on me considering this is my first week of training and anyone can see I’m trying as hard as I can to do everything you want me to but for some reason you don’t want to see that.’
    Alex studied Max as though she was a bug under a magnifying glass. Max’s heart thumped and her throat seized up. Maybe she’d gone too far. Maybe Alex would refuse to train them. Maybe her big mouth had really blown it this time.
    Alex said in a voice so quiet Max had to lean in to hear it, ‘If you want an easy ride here then you should quit now. Spyforce isn’t a holiday resort, it’s an intelligence agency for fighting crime.’
    She said it like she was speaking to a small child and if there was one thing Max hated, it was being spoken to like a kid. She gritted her teeth and felt her anger grow inside her, splitting imaginary clothes like the Incredible Hulk in a bad mood.
    What Max wanted to say was this: ‘I can do anything you or Spyforce ask me to do, but what I’m really sick of is your big-headed attitude that makes me feel like I’m the biggest failure who ever lived and who will never be able to do even the simplest spy work when, in case you’ve forgotten, I’ve saved the world twice.’
    Max felt good until she realised she’d only said it in her head and Alex was still looking at her expectantly. ‘Is there something else you’d like to say, Max?’
    She struggled to make her lips move, suddenly not feeling as brave as she had.
    â€˜You’ll never get anywhere in this world without finding things a little hard sometimes.’
    Max tried to think of something to say, but came up with zero.
    â€˜Now have a good night’s sleep and I’ll see you tomorrow.’
    There was nothing else for Max to do but walk outside to where Linden was waiting.
    â€˜Are we in for it? Because I don’t think my body can take anymore perfecting,’ Linden joked, flexing his muscles.
    Max didn’t answer.
    â€˜It’s okay, Max. You’ll get it.’
    â€˜I know I will. I just wish she wasn’t so mean.’ She was only just holding back a sloosh of tears.
    â€˜I guess being gushy isn’t her style.’
    Max looked up and smiled, but as she did, she saw someone across the street staring straight at her.
    â€˜Hey. I think I’ve seen that guy before.’
    â€˜Which guy?’
    A bus pulled up on the opposite side of the street