Dominic Allen

Dominic is one of Penny's closest friends, an American boy about a year older than her.  She first met him when he and his family were on a Christmas holiday in London and the two became involved in various shenanigans (see the story A Parallax Christmas).

Shortly afterwards Dominic's family moved to London and on Louise and Penny's advice he was enrolled at Westminster Public School, the same institution that Penny attends.

He is tall for his age, with brown hair and eyes and a cheeky but charming grin.  He is well aware of the effect his smile has on other people, especially impressionable female adults, and is quick to play on it.  Like most boys his age his main interests are computer games and sports, but he seems a bit more willing than most to have girls as friends rather then viewing them as the Enemy.  He has a perpetual air of nonchalance that infuriates many adults (such as his teachers).

He has a number of talents not shared by most boys his age, including martial arts, lockpicking skills and several elements of espionage tradecraft.  These were learned from his father, Hal Allen, who up until recently was an infamous CIA field operative code-named 'Stinger'.  Hal Allen was recently promoted and is currently Chief of London Station, holding one of the CIA's most prestigious overseas posts.  Dominic's mother, Kelly, is a design engineer for Cable & Wireless.

Dominic has seemingly inherited his father's skills in observation and spycraft, and plans to use them to become a great detective when he grows up.  His insouciant manner hides a mind like a steel trap and a great capacity for what Penny calls 'creative deviousness'.