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Chapters (52)
  1. Title
  2. Copyright
  3. About the Book
  4. About the Author
  5. Also By
  6. Contents
  7. Dedication
  8. Roll Call
  9. A Brief History of the Time Wars
  10. Jane
  11. Luke
  12. Matthew
  13. 1
  14. 2
  15. 3
  16. 4
  17. 5
  18. 6
  19. 7
  20. 8
  21. 9
  22. 10
  23. 11
  24. 12
  25. 13
  26. 14
  27. 15
  28. 16
  29. 17
  30. 18
  31. 19
  32. 20
  33. 21
  34. 22
  35. 23
  36. 24
  37. 25
  38. 26
  39. 27
  40. 28
  41. 29
  42. 30
  43. 31
  44. 32
  45. 33
  46. 34
  47. 35
  48. 36
  49. 37
  50. Epilogue
  51. Author’s Note
  52. A Note on Recruitment

It was, he reflected, a blank, brutal, brick structure. If ever a building reflected the true nature of its occupants and the job they did – this was it. He wondered whether it had been allocated to the Time Police or whether they had appropriated it for themselves. The subject had probably been touched upon during one of their training sessions – History of the Time Police – and he’d missed it. His mind had almost certainly been wandering in the direction of the blonde from Logistics – to be followed shortly afterwards by the rest of him.

Illegally entering through the front doors – as a trainee he was only entitled to use a side entrance – he made his way through the almost empty atrium. Bored officers watched him go. One actually made a movement towards him, recognised him and decided he wasn’t worth the effort. Which pretty much summed up his life, he thought.

He pulled out his ID and was waved through. His footsteps echoed in the vast space. The moving staircases were silent and motionless, the walkways empty of people. Even the electronic boards listing what the world persisted in referring to as Time Crimes were switched off. He walked past the pool, the indoor trees and the spectacular planting.

Passing out of the public area, he skirted the interview rooms, the presentation area, the Records Department with its vast storage banks, past the secure area housing the Time Map, through R&T and took the lift to the second floor.

Going straight to the bar, he ordered a large drink he couldn’t really afford, found a seat as far away from everyone as possible and slowly, but with great deliberation, drank his drink.

When he’d finished, he took himself off to MedCen and asked to see Ellis. The medtec peered doubtfully at him, no doubt clocking the smell of alcohol.

‘It’s all right,’ called a voice, and he was ushered into one of the convalescent rooms. North was sitting in the visitor’s chair and a number of open files littered the bed.

North took one look and stood up. ‘I’ll organise us a coffee.’ She left the room. Luke made no attempt to take her chair.

Ellis looked at him. ‘All right?’

Luke sighed heavily. ‘I think so, yes. His sister is going to put the money away for a rainy day.’

‘Honour satisfied on both sides, then?’

Luke nodded.

‘Get some sleep, Parrish.’

‘Goodnight, sir.’

North stood in the doorway, a cup of steaming coffee in each hand. She watched him walk away.

‘Did he finally call you sir?’

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