The pause was not missed by Major Ellis. ‘You must be pleased, surely. It’s what you wanted.’

‘Yes. Yes, I am. I’m very pleased. Just a little concerned. Did I do something wrong?’

‘Not that I’ve heard.’

‘Did they do something wrong?’

‘Again, not that I’ve heard.’

‘Then why now?’

‘Perhaps they’ve decided not to tie up a good officer.’ He eyed her. ‘That would be you.’

She said nothing.

‘Anyway, I’m glad you’re here. I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you for serving on my team, no matter how briefly.’

‘My pleasure, sir. Although . . .’

‘Although what?’

‘I’m not sure . . .’

‘About what? Come on, Celia. Speak up.’

She appeared to make up her mind. ‘Nothing, sir. It’s just . . . well, as I said, they were just beginning to gel. And I know none of them are Time Police material, but . . . well, we have plenty of conventional officers already and I rather thought theirs was an interesting way of going about things. Now, of course, a fourth member will change that dynamic completely.’

‘True, but for the better, one can only hope.’

‘They could hardly get much worse.’

There was a slightly awkward pause and then he said cheerfully, ‘And you’ll soon be off to Hunter Division. You’ll be a member of the elite. You’ll get the best assignments. You can choose your own people. Autonomy – if you want it.’

‘Did you have anything to do with that, sir?’

‘I wrote the usual recommendation, yes.’

‘Thank you, sir. And if Commander Hay confirms, of course.’

‘Oh, she will. She always keeps her word. Congratulations.’ He cocked his head. ‘That was always part of the plan, wasn’t it?’

‘Plan?’

‘Your career path? You’ve ripped through the ranks and now becoming a Hunter is the next step. You told me between ten and twelve years.’

She said absently, ‘Between ten and twelve years until what?’

‘Ten years until you’re running this place.’

She laughed. ‘I’m flattered, sir, but you overestimate my abilities.’

‘But not your ambition?’

‘Well . . .’

‘That was why you left St Mary’s, wasn’t it?’

She smiled.

‘Well, I’m glad you made the jump. So to speak.’

‘I never congratulated you on your promotion, sir.’

‘Yes. Well.’ He looked around and lowered his voice. ‘Sometimes I’m not sure I’ll be around to enjoy it for very long.’

‘No, that’s what I was thinking.’

He blinked. ‘Were you?’

‘I’m not an idiot, sir. I can see the way things are going. The conflict between the old ways and the new. And if anything were to happen to Hay . . .’

‘We’re living in worrying times, Celia.’

‘As you say, sir. And those three –’ she nodded her head in the direction she assumed Team 236 to be at that moment – ‘might be the first pebbles of a larger landslide.’

‘A good landslide?’