The TSA official has a hang-dog face. Several hours repeating the same phrases, performing the same tasks, and dealing with hassled passengers for barely above minimum wage had taken its toll.

He passed the boarding card back to the woman and waved her to the left and a new queue. He gestured for Harry to step forward.

‘Your boarding card please, Sir.’

Harry handed it over.

‘Look into the camera here. Look up a bit. That’s it. Can you proceed to that queue over there please, Sir.’ The official held out the boarding card and gestured right.

‘Over there,’ Harry confirmed, pointing.

‘That’s the one.’

This was the second time in a row that he’d been selected for a special security check. Two months ago it had taken him over an hour to clear through to departures. He glanced at his watch. An hour this time would see him missing his flight. There wasn’t another until the following day, which would totally mess up his schedule. And since it wasn’t an ‘act of God’ the company would expect him to pay if a new ticket was needed.

‘Is there a reason I keep getting picked?’ he asked the official.

‘I’ve no idea. I just follow what it says when the barcode’s scanned. 4Ss. Secondary Security Screening Selectee.’

‘You think I’m a security risk?’ How could he be a risk, Harry mused. He hadn’t even had a parking fine, let alone done anything to warrant special attention when flying.

‘Not me personally,’ the agent said, looking over Harry’s shoulder at the next passenger. ‘The system. Probably something odd in your data. Or a glitch. If you don’t mind, Sir, you’re holding up the queue.’

‘But I might miss my flight.’

‘We tell everyone to arrive at the airport in good time. Please, sir, that way.’

Reluctantly Harry headed as directed joining the back of a short queue of ten people. At its head were two agents that were quizzing passengers before directing them to the hand luggage screening behind them. He hoped the queue would move quickly. He glanced at his watch again; he should make it. Fingers crossed.